Wednesday, July 1, 2009

History of America's Donation Mindset



I love Charity Navigator. From the beginning of our organization (CPIHaiti.org), we have modeled our internal standards of performance based on Charity Navigator's rating system. They are the best guide to intelligent giving.

Through a Tweet from @CharityNav, they showed a time line of giving in America. Or, at least a breakdown of the key events in the mindset of America regarding giving.

The thing I found most interesting is that it shares that in Democracy in America (by Alexis de Tocqueville from his legendary trip to the U.S. in 1835), Philanthropy is hailed as one of America's top traits. This mirrors Peter Drucker's opinion that the nonprofit organization (the organized form of philanthropy)is the apex of American society.

Other highlights of humanitarianism in the united states of America:
The world's first community foundation
Philanthropic giving is usually a majority of individual givers, out-donating foundations, corporations and funds
A possible motive for the founding of the Rockefeller Foundation

View it at CharityNavigator.org.