How to Live Philanthropically
Keywords:
Act of Philanthropy
YGFGfocus
Youth Advisory Committee
Video Clip and Discussion Guide: Participants explore a variety of philanthropy behaviors as part of life-long action. They reflect on their philanthropic dreams and goals, focusing on what they can give and the difference they can make.
What habits can you incorporate into your lifestyle that promote the common good? How can you plan for your future to ensure you live philanthropically?
Time:
40 minutes
Materials:
- Your Life, Your Legacy handout below
- self-addressed, stamped envelopes
Activity:
Watch the three videos below that provide an understanding of what it means to live philanthropically. This activity is used as a reflection in a study of philanthropy. It is a very personal activity, and the reflection does not require sharing.
Live Philanthropically with Your Time
Live Philanthropically with Your Treasure
Live Philanthropically with Your Talent
- Discuss the content after viewing each video. What are the ideas for how to live philanthropically with your time, talent, and treasure? Discuss different ways our family, friends, and careers help us choose to live with meaning.
- Discuss movies, books, and conversations in which people talk and learn about the value of doing good during their lifetimes. How have these people, in a small or large way, helped others and made the world a better place for one person, a few, or all of us?
- Ask, "Do you think young people are fortunate to be able to arrange their life today so that they control how they spend their time and their money? Are they less likely to feel regret for what they did or did not do, as some adults may feel?" Talk about the opportunity to plan how they will give of their time, talent and treasure, during their lifetime, to the local and global community.
- Distribute the handout and ask the participants to find a quiet space and begin to think and write about what they might do to begin or continue their philanthropic actions. The participants write down those things that they would like to accomplish NOW and in the FUTURE.
- The facilitator brings the group together and asks for volunteers to share what they choose to share from their “Your Life, Your Legacy” handout. Do not require anyone to share.
- Distribute the stamped envelopes and instruct the participants to place their “Your Life, Your Legacy” in the envelope and seal it, then self-address the envelope. The facilitator will collect the envelopes and tell them that the envelopes will be put in the mail at a time agreed upon by the group (after several weeks, the end of the meeting year, or even years later).
Reflection:
- What are some strategies you will use to begin to do what you have determined to do?
- Will you need to gain any special knowledge and or skills to do this? What are they?
- How will you hold onto this philanthropic vision through the unknown, and perhaps unexpected, circumstances of life?
- With whom will you share your vision?
- How might someone be changed because of this thought process and what impact might it have on their future?
