philanthropist fə-ˈlan(t)-thrə-pist

noun: one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare

“The only essential is this: the gift must always move.” - Lewis Hyde

When you hear the word philanthropist, who comes to mind? MacKenzie Scott? Andrew Carnegie? Bill Gates? Oprah? Do you think of yourself?

Philanthropy is quite simply the transfer and exchange of gifts—money, service, or knowledge—from those who have some to spare to those who do not. Wealth is not required.

Love for humanity, the core definition of philanthropy, encompasses anything and everything we do to support one another: It is the friend who organizes a fundraiser for a loved one battling cancer; the driver who hands a few dollars to the person at the intersection asking for help; the retiree who, like clockwork, writes a check to their favorite charity every year (or every month or every week); it is the neighbor who sits with the children of a single parent; the parent who volunteers to serve lunch in the cafeteria or coach the baseball team; and, yes, it is wealthy individuals who contribute to causes that benefit others, often many others.

It’s all philanthropy and it’s beautiful. Perhaps it is even why we are here.

I am not suggesting the philanthropy of wealthy individuals doesn’t warrant celebration. Of course it does—large donations have broader impact than smaller and are essential to meet today’s needs. I fear, however, that as society and nonprofit organizations increasingly focus on large donations and the wealthy individuals who (usually) make them, we are doing so at the expense of other philanthropy—missing the forest for the trees, if you will—unintentionally suggesting only the largest donations are important. That simply is not true.

The beauty and truth of philanthropy is that it belongs to us all. Beneficiaries are as necessary to the equation as givers. Each of us is a philanthropist throughout our lives, often giving and receiving simultaneously. (Even the wealthiest benefit from the generosity of others.) This flow of generosity among and between us, this is philanthropy. Let’s celebrate it.