November 15th: National Philanthropy Day

Today, November 15th, is National Philanthropy Day.

When people hear the the word “philanthropist”, I’m guessing that the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Angelina Jolie come to mind. You know, very wealthy people who regularly do incredible philanthropic work on a global level. People who donate on a large-scale should absolutely be commended for their hugely generous hearts and wallets.

But then there are regular folks with middle-class means who donate their money or time to worthy causes as well. I believe that people who generously donate, despite a limited budget or average means, are the best kind of philanthropists. These are the people who are teaching the next generation an important lesson – it’s always good to give back, no matter your circumstances, because there are always people less fortunate than you.

I want to use National Philanthropy Day to highlight one outstanding non-profit organization that is all about regular people working together to make a difference. The One Percent Foundation (OPF) is an organization created by young philanthropists who believe that, despite income and resources, everyone can make a difference in the world. One of the best ways to make a difference on a limited budget is to pool money together with other philanthropists. Members of OPF nominate, evaluate, and vote for excellent organizations to donate their combined resources. The goal of OPF is for members to donate 1% of their income and many members have done so through the 1% Pledge. In the past year, OPF will have given 4 grants to 4 different organizations for at least $8,000 each. They truly are doing incredible work and making a huge impact for many well-deserving organizations. Please take a few minutes to click on the OPF website to learn more about this wonderful non-profit philanthropic group. (continues…)