Who are citizen philanthropists?

The early Greeks distinguished four kinds of loving relationships: (1) agape—a spiritual love between a person and a higher power; (2) storge—a parental love between a mother or father and their children; (3) eros—a romantic bond between lovers; and (4) philia—a brotherly love between equals. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle described this latter one, philanthropy, not in his chapter on the virtue of generosity, but on friendship.

Today, I believe justice and love is at the heart of philanthropy. I use the term “citizen philanthropists” as people from all walks of life who actively care for the wellbeing of community members, cultivating a public kinship. In this way, citizen philanthropists are not wealthy benefactors donating money to grateful recipients. Citizen philanthropists bring a spirit of “We’re in this together!” We all have it in us to be citizen philanthropists. We can build trusting relationships in our communities, listen and learn from each other, and combine our unique resources to imagine and co-create the world we want to see. I find hope in the wisdom, agency and dreams of resourceful citizens working together toward a shared vision.

Let’s replace the belief system that some people are more valuable and have more resources than others with a new model that values human beings and contributions equally. Let’s grow our circles of engagement with an expansive group of people and commit to lifelong learning. Let’s say “yes” to the beauty and potential of us as a collective body, interconnected and interdependent. When we arrive at this level of community building, truth telling, and equity loving, there’s no stopping us from a world that flourishes.