Philanthropy

This is a lightly edited version of a personal statement I first published on an earlier version of this website in 2010.

You don't have to be particularly sensitive or aware of global affairs to see that life is pretty awful for many of those passing through it.

If you are one of the relatively lucky few who has at least managed to solve the immediate problems of feeding, clothing and sheltering yourself and your dependants, and are free to indulge in less urgent pursuits, then it could be argued that you have a responsibility to others who are not in such a fortunate position. You have probably seen charity adverts explaining that a couple of pounds can vaccinate someone, or a few dollars can feed someone for a period of time. It is possible to resent these adverts for making you feel guilty, but it is worth acknowledging the unnecessary expenditure in our lives and how it could be put to better use. The utility of small sums of money to us is clearly much less than it is to many people in the world.

If you really think about it, unless you are an extremely exceptional person, much of the reason you are better off than other people is pure luck. Chances are that if you are reading this, you were born into circumstances in which relative wealth was much more attainable, even if you have had to work very hard for it. Furthermore, depending on your views on capitalism and international trade, some of the relative wealth we enjoy may have come at least partly at the detriment of people elsewhere.

If those arguments don't persuade you, I can also advocate giving to charity for purely selfish reasons. Generosity makes you feel good about yourself. Feeling that you have enough wealth to give some of it away can itself make you feel wealthier. Researching potential beneficiaries also makes you realise just how lucky you are. It doesn't particularly matter if someone gives partly because it makes them feel better: the philanthropic action still has the same effect. Criticising people for giving to charity because it makes them feel good seems beside the point. Someone benefits, and if the donor feels better too, that is just fine.

I personally recommend giving a certain percentage of your income to charity each month. You can budget for it, vary the recipients, and avoid having to decide repeatedly how much in total to give. The amount automatically rises or falls with your income. You can also look back over time and take some pride in what you have been able to contribute.