Nonprofit Business: Sustainability and Volunteers

Introduction

Over the last few years, there has been an observed decline in not only the amounts contributed towards charitable causes, but also the number of persons willing to serve as volunteers. There are a number of reasons for the said decline some of which will be highlighted in this text. To a large extent, this paper concerns itself with philanthropic instruction in academic settings, specifically at the university level. In so doing, it will not only assess the relevance of such instruction, but also how it could be incorporated into the curriculum. It will also suggest an innovative pedagogy for deployment in institutions of higher learning.

Discussion

Definition

From the onset, it would be prudent to note that philanthropy does not have an exact definition. This is especially the case owing to the fact that in the past, multiple authors have floated a wide range of definitions in an attempt to define this very term. Philanthropy, in the words of Scharf and Tonin (2018) could be deemed "the act of doing charitable work, or an activity designed to improve human welfare (113). This is the definition that will be embraced in this write up. To a large extent, there are a wide range of philanthropic undertakings that individuals could engage in. These are inclusive of, but they are not limited to; paying hospital bills for patients incapable of settling the said bills themselves especially those in need of undergoing costly diagnostic and treatment procedures, helping needy families in disadvantaged communities by donating various basic-need items such as blankets and clothes, providing presents to children in children homes during certain occasions such as Christmas, etc. Philanthropic efforts could also be more structured and strategic, i.e. in those instances whereby persons elect to fund certain causes, i.e. finding a vaccine for HIV/AIDs or cure for cancer. There is no shortage of philanthropists who have in the past assigned their time and resources to diverse causes meant to promote the wellbeing of fellow humans. It is also important to note that apart from making actual material contributions, individuals could also elect to donate their time towards the advancement of the welfare and wellbeing of others. This is what is referred to as volunteering. For instance, an individual could volunteer in community service initiatives. Here, an individual would not ordinarily expect to be compensated for their time and effort.

Decline

Various authors have made the observation to the effect that there has been a sustained decline in philanthropic giving over the last few years. As a matter of fact, according to Price (2017), available data indicates that persons are giving far less to charitable causes than they were doing approximately one decade ago. In the words of the author, a report released by Indiana Universitys Lilly Family School of Philanthropy indicates that volunteering and charitable giving overall has dropped around 11% since the early 2000s (Price, 2017). This is the very same finding that Rooney (2019) makes in a feature titled, where have all the donors gone? According to Rooney (2019), there has been a noticeable decline in the amount of donations made to various organizations by small and medium-sized donors over the last two decades. However, the author is categorical that available data appears to suggest that big donors, i.e. large corporate organizations, have increased their charitable giving. It is important to note that in the latter case, the said change could be associated with the increase in the popularity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in recent times. The decline in philanthropic activity, specifically among small and medium-sized donors could be attributed to a wide range of factors. Rooney (2019) is of the opinion that one of the key factors happens to be public policy. For instance, according to the author, tax policy could have a significant impact on the ability and willingness of persons to give. This is more so the case given that whereas tax rate cuts mean that consumers have more in terms of disposable income, tax rate hikes result in less money in taxpayer pockets. When taxpayers have less in their pockets, they are less likely to donate to charitable causes. Yet another related factor that could be linked to decrease in charitable giving is significant downturn in economic activity. This could especially come in handy in efforts to explain the decline in philanthropic efforts over the last two years which has been even more pronounced than has been the case in recent years. To a large extent, this has been as a consequence of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. With people being laid off and businesses posting decreased profits, donations are likely to nosedive.

However, one other factor that has not gathered as much attention as some of the other issues highlighted above is lack of understanding among potential donors as to the why, what, and how of giving (Westheimer, 2015). While what has got to do with the causes for which to give or volunteer, how largely relates to the various avenues that exist for adding value in as far as philanthropic and volunteering efforts are concerned. Lastly, why focuses on the various reasons for giving or offering oneself as a volunteer. It is important to note that it is not uncommon for most persons to have little insight on these three crucial elements. For instance, an individual could be unaware of the various causes that deserve his or her attention, or exactly where their donations would make a difference. This is more so the case given that amongst some, philanthropic efforts could appear to be an undertaking reserved for the rich or corporate bodies. However, there are multiple other areas in which a common citizen could direct his or her philanthropic efforts to. With poor understanding of the nature and conduct of philanthropy, most persons fail to make any meaningful contribution towards the same.

Student Philanthropy Instruction

In seeking to reign in the trend higlighted above particularly in relation to the lack of understanding among potential donors as to the why, what, and how of giving - there are a number of courses of action and strategies that have been suggested in the past. One such strategy is the initiation of philanthropy learning in school. This is what this discourse is all about. It is important to note that this particular strategy is specifically suited for promoting awareness on this particular concept and nurturing the intrinsic desire to engage in philanthropic and...

…form of philanthropy, service learning, as well as engaged scholarship. The success of community engagement initiatives such as the Student Philanthropy and Community Engagement Program (SPCEP) is a clear indication of their effectiveness. Indeed in the words of Benz, Piskulich, Kim, and Barry (2020), there is evidence that SPCEP has been effective in increasing students philanthropic inclinations while also increasing their engagement with and knowledge of the local community (59).

The only concern about the approach suggested above happens to be the source of funds. This is more so the case given that one instrumental aspect of experimental philanthropy as an innovative pedagogy happens to be the offering of funds to learners (i.e. as a class or group) for them to select the best causes to give to at the community level. Under normal circumstances, institutions of higher learning do not have the said funds reflected in their annual quarterly or annual budgets. This is a problem that can be solved by reaching out to the relevant stakeholders. For instance, a university could reach out to Once Upon a Time Foundation or the Learning by Giving Foundation, which happen to be some of the foundations structured to lend support for innovative pedagogies of this kind.

It should be noted that what is specifically instrumental about philanthropy instruction is that it targets students from across the board. This is to say that students majoring in all kinds of courses, from astrophysics to business and chemistry etc., get to benefit from philanthropy instruction. As has been indicated elsewhere in this text, philanthropy instruction equips students with not only the why, but also the what and how of philanthropy. It is only after students get to know the relevance of philanthropy, the various approaches towards the same, and where to direct their efforts that they can become dedicated future givers and volunteers. The approach suggested largely encourages research in charitable causes of relevance a skill that could be hugely instrumental in future giving engagements. Indeed, Olberding (2011) makes a finding to the effect that students who are introduced to student philanthropy early on are likely to engage in philanthropic engagements long after they graduate. According to the author, this is more so the case given that students in this case get to benefit from further exploration of their awareness, learning, beliefs, and intentions about philanthropy (Olberding, 2011, p. 32).

Conclusion

In the final analysis, it should be noted that on the basis of the discussion above, it is clear that indeed, philanthropy can be taught. This text has also demonstrated that the relevance of philanthropy instruction, specifically at the university level, cannot be overstated. This is more so the case owing to the need to further increase the number of persons willing to be future volunteers, while at the same time promoting giving. Some of those cited in this discussion are categorical that there has been a decline in philanthropic contributions over the last few years. There is also the observation that the number of those willing to serve in volunteer positions has been on a steady decline in the recent past. Thus, in the final analysis, the arguments presented in this paper in terms of the need to incorporate philanthropy in the curriculum are not only valid,…