PHILANTHROPY THE SUSTAINABLE WAY

Many people believe that tithing and giving will bring them more wealth. However, I think we need to redefine that wealth. What if we lived simpler lives and consumed less so that we didn’t need millions of dollars? What if we valued our ecosystem services enough to put a dollar value on that?

If we changed our priorities to value true health, wealth and happiness, we could live in a way that didn’t do the damage and harm to people, animals and ecosystems and we wouldn’t need so many non-profit organizations to put a band-aid on the symptoms while the problems persist.  

As a society, we tend to focus on creating mass amounts of monetary wealth, while polluting and exploiting local and global communities and ecosystems, and then we call ourselves good citizens for our philanthropy and tithing. We need to break this cycle. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do believe in donating and volunteering with good non-profits, but if we truly value the mission of these organizations, then why don’t we focus on changing our behaviors first to prevent or reduce many of the problems associated with our high rates of consumption, and then we can supplement with charitable giving for those things that we cannot impact by our lifestyle choices?

Trying to treat the symptoms interdependently without solving the systemic problem is not sustainable. The first step is to reduce the impact, then supplement with better alternatives.  

It is simpler than you think to make these choices and it will optimize your health, wealth and happiness. Who wouldn’t want that?

Here are some examples:

-          If you are concerned about poverty and foreign conflict, buy local or buy fair trade.

-          If you are concerned about children getting asthma, focus on reducing air pollution by minimizing trash generation (even recycling), driving less and curtailing your energy consumption.

-          If you are worried about childhood and adult cancers, don’t buy products with chemicals.

If you must consume, research and understand the life cycle of that consumer product from extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal. So, once you are aware of the life cycle of a product, then buy responsibly, buy (use) less, and buy local or fair trade.

Even 'green' products such as solar panels have a negative life cycle impact on communities and the environment, but they are better than fossil fuels, so reduce energy use first, then supplement with alternatives.

Remember that consumer decisions that encourage and support health, wealth and happiness for others will bring better results for lifelong content. That is real philanthropy. That is sustainable philanthropy.

Some further suggestions for sustainable best philanthropic practices:

- Pick up trash while on a walk or run.

- Help out an elderly, sick, disabled or underprivileged community member.

- Ditch the puppy mills and breeders and adopt a pet. 

- Support local and sustainable farming.

- Use less plastic.

- Drive less.

- Fly less.

Suggested reading: Life's Operating Manual, by Tom Shadyac; Slow Money, by Woody Tasch