Art of Philanthropy : Wendy Kohli Views

“The art of philanthropy is a spiritual act, an expression of caring for one’s fellow human beings. It is a belief in the future and that the future can be good. It is investing in that future. It is helping to make the dream come true“
Arthur Frantzreb

Mrs. Wendy Kohli believes that philanthropy is innate, a voluntary act which cannot be manufactured. One doesn’t need to be rich to be a philanthropist – it’s all about your passion and the choices you make in life.

Philanthropy is a provision of opportunity and considering that FundaKohli is making every possible effort to create opportunities for the youth and underprivileged children in Costa Rica.

In spite of what many may say, one of the great myths of philanthropy is that you need to be extremely rich, if not a multi-billionaire on the level of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, or the Rothschild family.

But it’s fair to say that the Lion’s share of donations come from people at the lower end of the social and economic strata.

Therefore, one can conclude that although wealth can and will be a factor in the art of philanthropy, it’s more the mindset of each individual donor that counts, and their desire and commitment to make absolutely certain that every penny they donate provides the maximum benefit to their intended recipient.

Another truism of philanthropy is the ability to think outside the box, particularly when it comes to providing help to those in need.

Whilst fundraising and philanthropic actions form part of a worthwhile life, the underlying cost aspect of such deeds must not be overlooked. This is especially true in tough economic times, where not only is the philanthropic dollar coming under increasing pressure, but following a string of high-profile company frauds and the toxic debt created by Banks and Hedge Funds, there’s also an expectation of the highest ethical and cost-effective standards in all walks of life.

A new paradigm shift where even philanthropic donations are not immune from the closest public and government scrutiny.

This fundamental change in perception, heightened by greater skepticism, demands of philanthropists a multi-faceted approach, where all their skills and talents are combined, both in fundraising and use of skills, to achieve the common goal of attacking the root-causes of their chosen cause’s woes.

Such philanthropic gestures may even attract a certain unpopularity, based on the premise that the local economy (and population) is struggling, and “charity begins at home”.

That said poverty is relative, and what constitutes “abject poverty” in their eyes may represent an abundance of riches to the needy citizens of both the overseas country where aid is being directed, as well as those occupying the bottom rung of society in their own land.

Unlikely though this resentment of so-called “good works” may seem, philanthropists of all persuasions must be prepared for such a popular backlash of opposition to what in their eyes appears a worthy and laudable project.

On the other hand, the skilful use of the art of philanthropy will do much to quell these problems, whilst at the same time providing a vital humanitarian service to those who need it most. Benefits which far outweigh any negative sniping from those not in a position to judge the effects of this valuable work.