Blog - Philip Burroughs | Philanthropist

3 Things To Do Before You Donate Money

On December 5, 2018

The holiday season is a joyous time for many, but not for all. Many organizations and nonprofits are always looking for additional resources or monetary donations to stay running. If you are in the market to donate this year, follow these tips to ensure that your gift makes the impact you want.

Research, Research, Research

This point cannot be stressed enough. Start by researching the types of causes that you want to help. If you are interested in helping animals in need, consider looking into the World Wildlife Fund. The WWF helps conserves animal habitats and endangered species. If you are more interested in helping children around the world obtain their education, then you might want to look into Pencils of Promise. Find an organization that makes an impact that aligns with your goals.

Once you find an organization, the next step would be to research it. If you don’t know where to look, go to their website or do a simple search online. Read up on how they have helped communities through the press. Otherwise, look for articles online explicitly saying how they have impacted the industry they are helping. Don’t donate without doing your research.

The last thing that you want to do is evaluate their finances. You want to review how much of the donations are being used for their intended cause versus the amount being spent on advertising or salaries. Find an organization that makes the most impact for your contribution. If you are in a rush and unable to page through a company’s annual financial report, use CharityWatch, an online website that reports how efficient an organization is with their donations.

Ask For Recommendations

If you are looking to donate within your community, seek advice from trusted family members and friends. They can share their experiences or viewpoints on local organizations. If there is a very specific or niche target you want to donate to, get insight from community professionals. For example, ask your doctor for organizations they would recommend for specific disorders or diseases. When you get multiple viewpoints, you can make an informed decision easier.

Donate Items Or Time

While donating money will help keep the organization’s doors open, remember that you can also give goods or your time. There are many elements to ensuring that a cause stays open. For example, cleaning supplies, and office supplies are always needed. Many organizations need help distributing their resources to the community or organizing their business. Donating your time is crucial and easy to do. The less the organization has to spend on items or paying a wage, the better they can help their community.

Any organization that you donate your money, resources or time to will be grateful. Don’t sell yourself short if your budget is “too small,” or you feel you could have done more. The holiday season is a time for giving and you have made an enormous impact already.

Common Myths Surrounding Philanthropy

By Philip Burroughs

On October 2, 2018

In Cancer Research, Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Philanthropy is a way to improve our planet and society. Many people love to use the term, but few people truly know what philanthropy actually is. Because of this, philanthropy has gotten something of a bad reputation. There are so many different myths surrounding the topic today, and in order to help dispel some of those myths, I’m going to see if I can set the record straight.

Charities Only Serve the Poor

Many people quickly assume that the term charity means you are giving money to the poor. While a great deal of charitable organizations do focus on providing assistance to those who are in unfortunate financial situations, not all charities exclusively work with the poor. The amount of diversity between charities is quite impressive. Charity specialities range anywhere from health services to scientific research. If you’re interested in donating to a charity that doesn’t benefit the poor, there are several options for you.

Charitable Giving Only Happens Because of Tax Incentives

You’ve probably all heard of the myth that the world’s billionaires donate heaps of money in order to reap even more through tax incentives. Not only is that myth flat out false, but the world’s wealthiest people are not necessarily the most charitable. In fact, more low-to-middle-income citizens donate to charity than wealthy citizens. That’s right, these low-income households are donating to charities more than wealthy households, and they don’t often take advantage of the US’ tax incentive system. Believe it or not, but many people give to charity because it is the right thing to do.

Supporting a Charity is Easy

As much as I wish this was the case, finding a single charity to donate to and support can be rather difficult. Not only are there over one million registered charities in the US, but finding compelling statistics to know exactly where your money is going is not always easy. Finding a worthwhile, trusted charity to donate to requires research. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to do that research, but if you take the time to do the leg work, it will be well worth it. Utilize sources like GiveWell to find charities that are actually effective.

Philip Burroughs | Money Cryptocurrency Technology Currency Bitcoin

What Is Akoin?

By Philip Burroughs

On July 17, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Over the last few years, cryptocurrency has taken the finance world by storm. Investors and finance analysts alike are intrigued by the possibilities afforded by decentralized digital currencies. Although crypto coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently the most popular cryptocurrencies available, there are now more than 4,000 different alternative crypto coins to invest in.

And now Akon has decided to throw his hat in the cryptocurrency ring.

During a recent presentation Akon gave while attending the Cannes Film Festival, the Grammy-nominated singer debuted his new cryptocurrency, AKoin. Akon, who is was born in Senegal, believes that the blockchain and cryptocurrency could act as a savior for African businesspeople and entrepreneurs. This is why he’d been so motivated to design and build his own crypto coin.

What Makes AKoin Unique

According to Akon, AKoin was decided to help young entrepreneurs living in Africa. And that’s what makes the coin so unique in the increasingly crowded cryptocurrency space.

Unlike other alt-coins, the price of AKoin is pegged to a hard asset — something like mobile phone minutes, wi-fi, or technology services. This means that the price of AKoin is much more stable than other crypto coins out there, which are often hampered by volatility because they are not tied to anything tangible.

AKoin is also working with various global brands to provide incentives and prizes for coin owners. Akon and his company refer to these brand-related programs as being part of the AKoin Ecosystem, which brings together AKoin’s digital wallet, different brands, foundations, and charities, as well as other phone apps to create revenue opportunities for the young and gifted.

AKoin has also created something called the Partner Accelerator program to help coin owners interact and engage with companies and charities that have a solid track record of success. This is just one example of how Akon wants AKoin to help connect the individuals with successful business ventures on a direct, one-to-one level.

Akon suggests that AKoin can revolutionize the way individuals and corporations do business in Africa. On one hand, AKoin opens up a whole new world of commerce and business opportunities for young, up-and-coming visionaries throughout Africa. At the same time, AKoin will also help brands, companies, and corporations establish a business foothold on the continent, where corruption and government bureaucracy have hindered the ability of companies to build a presence in various countries.

Kate Spade Donates $1 Million To Mental Health

By Philip Burroughs

On July 17, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

It’s been over two weeks now since handbag designer Kate Spade’s suicide rocked the world. It was more than a fashion story; the lurid details of her death were posted in every corner of the internet, and her family was left to deal with the aftermath of this tragic event. Although Spade sold her eponymous company several years ago, Kate Spade New York was still very invested and sad to hear about the shocking death. Instead of being content to wallow in this sorrow, however, they chose to make a difference for others who may be suffering with mental health crises. Since the company already has an offshoot devoted to charity—Kate Spade & Company Foundation—it made sense to make use of that asset and donate a million dollars to making mental health a priority, as well as preventing suicide. But the brand even took it a step further—not only did they donate to these causes, but they encouraged others to donate as well. On their Instagram statement, they informed followers that they would be matching donations.

One of the charities the company donated to was the Crisis Text Line. Providing invaluable assistance during times of need, this non-profit offers modern solutions for the age-old problem of depression. After all, many who are suffering from depression do not want to make a phone call or reach out to friends and family. However, in the depths of despair, some find that they are still able to text. For these people, the Crisis Text Line can mean the difference between life and death.

Indeed, the death of superstar designer Kate Spade shook many to the core. If Spade, a woman who was considered to have “everything”—could suffer from such advanced depression, then anyone could. The shocking suicide of TV chef Anthony Bourdain, which occurred very soon afterward, only confirmed this fact. With suicide rates on the rise in the U.S., everyone is searching for answers, as well as better funding for mental health programs. Kate Spade, with her colorful, joyful designs, impacted the lives of young women everywhere. After her death, many of these women took to Twitter to praise her. With this new donation, her namesake company is attempting to make her legacy one of hope.

Avicii’s Charitable Nature Becomes Even More Apparent After His Tragic Death

By Philip Burroughs

On May 15, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Swedish DJ Avicii’s successful career came to an abrupt end after he was found dead on April 20 at the age of 28. The artist, whose real name is Tim Bergling, had taken the electronic dance music world by storm with such hits as “Hey Brother”, “Pure Grinding”, and “Divine Sorrow”.

Since his 2011 platinum-hit, “Levels”, Avicii had made it a point to bring awareness to serious issues like world hunger, gang violence, HIV/AIDS, and human trafficking. Through performances like his 2012 House for Hunger tour, which raised $1-million for the Feeding America charity, Avicii always gave back, choosing to use his fame and notoriety to benefit those in need.

His quick rise to the top and grueling touring schedule took a toll on the artist’s mental and physical health, though. In 2012, he was hospitalized for nearly two weeks with acute pancreatitis due to his excessive drinking. After releasing his sophomore album “Stories” in 2015, directing two music videos, “Pure Grinding” and “For A Better Day” which highlighted violence by gangs and human trafficking, and embarking on a worldwide tour that amassed him a fortune of $19-million, the DJ decided to take a break from touring to focus on his health.

In March 2016, Avicii performed for the last time at club Ushuaia on Ibiza, telling fans that he wouldn’t return to touring for a very long time. Although he never toured again before his death, he did write in a 2017 message to his fans that he had returned to the studio and that although his live performances were finished, it wasn’t the end of Avicii.

Throughout his career, Avicii gave millions to multiple causes, such as the Swedish charity Radiohjalpen, the FEED Foundation, (RED)’s Global Fund, and his own nonprofit organization, House for Hunger, which he co-founded with his manager, Ash Pournouri.

Although the DJ’s cause of death is unknown, a letter released by his family led fans to believe that he had taken his own life. They said that the stress Avicii had endured during his busy career had led to multiple mental and physical health problems that the musician was unable to overcome. Despite it all, music was still a major part of his life right up until the end.

Philip Burroughs How to Donate To Your Community

The Most Unexpected Ways to Donate to Your Community

By Philip Burroughs

On May 15, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

People who give back to their community show that they care about helping it thrive. Check out some of the most unexpected ways to donate to the community below.

Give Goods
Many people have an excess of goods in their homes, whether that is clothes, electronics, books or something else. Do not throw out the items. Donate them to a community organization, reuse center or a charity like Goodwill. Give the items another life and keep them out of the landfill. Donating goods also helps the environment. People who donate their goods clean out their homes and closets, which can make room for things that they need, and want, to store. Finally, there is nothing quite like the satisfaction that one gets when they clean out their old belongings. The start of a new season is a convenient time to do this.
Give Time
Some community members donate their time through volunteering. People can find and take time to volunteer even if they are busy with other things such as work or school. Many places offer one-day events that need volunteers. Those with more time could opt to teach a class, tutor or take on other tasks for a nonprofit or community organization. United Way and other databases can give an idea of some organizations and volunteer projects that need to be completed. People who want to volunteer keep their interests, schedules and goals in mind when they help to make the greatest impact they can.
Give Money
Have too much going on to volunteer? If so, spread the wealth by giving to those committed to the greater good. Whether it is a campaign, team, school, organization or cause, money helps these things survive and flourish. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, Americans gave $390.05 billion in 2016, a 4.2 percent increase from the previous year. Corporate and foundation giving each rose 3.5 percent, to $18.55 billion and $58.28 billion, respectively. Individuals were the largest source of charitable giving at $281.86 billion, which accounted for 72 percent. Ready to join them? Consider giving some of the year’s earnings. Here is a list of some different places to donate funds.
Give goods, time, and or money and help make a community a better place in which to live. Give back today!

5 Charities to Donate to This Memorial Day

By Philip Burroughs

On April 13, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

In the wise and timeless words of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” This Memorial Day, give back to your community and showcase your support tangibly by making a charitable donation! Not sure where to begin? No worries! The list below compiles five incredible and reputable charities where you can rest assured the impact of your donation is handled consciously and intentionally:

1. The Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project strives to not only honor and raise awareness of the valiant efforts of veterans, but also to empower them. Whether this empowerment comes in the form of connecting veterans with the proper mental health resources, employment opportunities, or educational sources, The Wounded Warrior Project will see that those needs are made into accessible reality.

2. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society partners with the Navy and Marine Corps to furnish both active and retired Marines and Sailors with the assistance and resources they need. Through counseling, budget planning, and loan services, veterans and their families are able to achieve the financial stability they need.

3. Fisher House Foundation

The Fisher House Foundation provides a network of “comfort homes” wherein veterans’ families are able to acquire housing free-of-charge while a loved one is receiving treatment. This incredible organization also offers the Hero Miles program, which accepts donations of frequent flyer miles to aid in transporting families to the bedside of an injured service member.

4. Homes For Our Troops

Homes For Our Troops is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building homes and rebuilding lives for post-9/11 veterans and their families. In addition to donating, Home For Our Troops provides a variety of ways to get involved with their projects; from hosting fundraisers to taking on a marathon to volunteering hands on, there are numerous ways to help construct a future for those who have sacrificed for freedom.

5. Hope For Warriors

The mission of Hope For Warriors is to assist veterans in the transition from military life to mainstream society upon their return home. Through peer engagement and community resources, Hope For Warriors provides a space through which veterans can seek support and rehabilitate a firm sense of self.

Lyft’s New Charity Program

By Philip Burroughs

On April 13, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Lyft is instituting a new charity donation program for its riders, though the focus of the donations isn’t very well defined. The program is called “Round Up & Donate” and the company is promoting it by telling its passengers that they can “take a seat to take a stand.” The program offers riders a chance to round up their fares to the nearest dollar, so the difference can be donated to charity.
Where it gets confusing is in the description of the charities to which Lyft will donate the money. There seems to be no way to determine where each passenger’s money will go. The funds will go toward organizations fighting for causes that are “impacting everyone everywhere, from climate change to the pursuit of equality,” according to the company.
Even the phrase “pursuit of equality” is vague, leaving more questions about the program.
For riders eager to participate and give back to their community, signing up for the donation program is easy. The rider simply logs into the app and a single tap will opt them into the program. Unless they go back to change the setting later, they will remain in the program in the future.
For users unsure about joining the program, Lyft posted a description of the process. It may help passengers to know just how the donations will be adapted.
“If a passenger has opted into the program and their fare is $12.75, we’ll round up the total to $13. That difference of $0.25 will then be donated to a charity,” reads the description on Lyft’s website.
Lyft isn’t the first place to offer this type of donation. Many grocery stores and some fast food restaurants offer the option of rounding up your bill for charity, especially near the holidays. The few cents donated by each person adds up across the board. While it may not feel like a great sacrifice, that change multiplies and leads to a significant contribution.
In a New York Times print ad, Lyft advertised the “Round Up & Donate” program as a way for people to take care of their own communities. The ad points out that participating in the donation program will help every rider give back.
In a separate statement, Lyft said they will be monitoring the progress of the program to determine its effectiveness and popularity.

Most Charitable People In the World

By Philip Burroughs

On April 12, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Who are the most generous people in the world? The following people outrank almost 99% of the rest of the world in their philanthropic giving.

Bill and Melinda Gates

Bill and his wife Melinda have donated over $27 billion in their lifetime. While Bill is mostly known for founding Microsoft, he and his wife now spend most of their time supporting philanthropic causes. They use their foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to issue grants for initiatives and programs across the globe, focusing on agricultural development, emergency relief, global libraries, urban poverty, global health, and education.

Azim Premji
Azim Premji Is worth $16 billion and has donated $8 billion of that, making his generosity index 50%. Azim focuses his philanthropy on working to reform India’s school and examination systems. He is also a member of The Giving Pledge, a pledge to give away more than half of your worth to charity. He has also twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by TIME Magazine.

Jon Huntsman Sr.
Jon Huntsman Sr. is the founder and executive chairman of Huntsman Corporation, a chemical product manufacturer. Huntsman has survived both prostate and mouth cancer and, as a result, established the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. He makes most of his donations to cancer research centers as well as colleges and universities.

Gordon Moore
Gordon Moore currently runs the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with his wife. This foundation focuses mainly on the San Francisco area, environmental conservation and science. In December 2007, Moore and his wife donated $200 million to Caltech and the University of California for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, which is expected to become the world’s second largest optical telescope in 2020.

The philanthropic ventures of Bill and Melinda Gates, Azim Remji, Jon Huntsman Sr. and Gordon Moore are so grand that many of them have given more to charity than they are worth.

Dolly Parton Has Donated Her 100 Millionth Book

By Philip Burroughs

On March 20, 2018

In Philanthropy, Philip Burroughs

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was honored by a special ceremony at the Library of Congress on March 1 when that event also became a kick-off for a new initiative between the two. Beginning this month (March), for the next six months, the Library of Congress’ Young Readers Center will present a monthly program for children throughout the USA with a story time featuring music and guests. It will be shared by live-streaming to libraries across the nation.

At the March 1 event, Dolly shared the special presentation and story time on her Facebook page by reading from her children’s book, “Coat of Many Colors.”

Dolly is known as “The Book Lady.” Her nonprofit organization was founded in 1995 in Dolly’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. In 2002, the Native American Communities were added. By the end of its first ten years, it had sent one million free, high-quality books to children in participating communities throughout the world by mailing them to young readers from their birth to their start in Kindergarten, regardless of their family’s income. Now they have celebrated sending out the 100 millionth book.

The Imagination Library has committed to inspiring a lifelong love for reading in young people, helping them succeed in academic endeavors, and aiding in shaping the next generation of readers, philanthropists, and writers. The program sends out the books across the United States, launched into Canada in 2006, into the United Kingdom in 2007, added audio and Braille Books in 2011, and went into Australia in 2013. In 2016, the Imagination Library began sending out the amazing number of one million books every month. In 2017, the official Dolly Parton license plate was made available in Tennessee to benefit the Imagination Library.

This extraordinary gift to humankind provides opportunities for children everywhere to have fun and engaging reading experiences and enrich their lives.

Dolly has made headlines for her philanthropy many times. For example, in 2016, after fires wreaked a great deal of destruction in Tennessee, her home state, where the fires also claimed the lives of seven people, the singer’s foundation, My People, donated over $8 million to families that were affected by that tragedy. Every month, Dolly donated $1,000 to each homeless family, and eventually survivors received an average of $10,000.