Why your New Year’s Resolutions should focus on being a Successful Philanthropreneur
Entrepreneurs and businessmen like Carnegie and Rockefeller donated large portions of their wealth after they reached financial success, but we are here to tell you why you should do it now and how you can be a successful philanthropreneur while you are at the pinnacle of success like Richard Branson.
Who is a Philanthropreneur?
The concept of “Philanthropreneurship” combines Philanthropy and Entrepreneurship therefore, a Philanthropreneur is an entrepreneurial philanthropist. If we were to literally break down the terms and extract their meanings, it would roughly translate to an individual who seeks to promote the welfare of others by investing rather
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Philanthropreneurship is seen as the beginning of a new era in the field of philanthropy and is characterized by the integration of business practices and development of a philanthropist’s role.
The entire world is captivated by this new version of philanthropy and why shouldn’t it be? Philanthropreneurship is vastly different from the traditional forms of philanthropy as it not only includes business discipline but also entrepreneurial know how and strategic thinking.
Earlier, jobs in the non-profit sector or philanthropy-focused jobs in the for-profit sector, was not considered beneficial to the economy. However, today more and more organizations are finding ways to merge their strategic goals with philanthropic focus to impact bottom line results.
Today, benefit corporations are on the rise and profit maximization is no longer any organizations only formally recognized objective. These organizations are attracting employees, especially millennials, who aim to do societal good with an employer who shares these values. According to a survey by the 2012 Edelman goodpurpose® study, 57 percent of employees said that they would want to work for an organization that actively supports a good
During the industrial revolution, leaders of industrialism were brilliant, innovated, and ambitious men who rejuvenated the American economy decades after the Civil War. Andrew Carnegie is one of these industrial leaders who had a positive impact on society. He is considered to be a true “captain of industry” (Shi, "Robber Barons") , not just because of the businesses he developed, but because of his desire to better society for all people and not just for himself (Shi, "Robber Barons"). Carnegie believed that those of mass wealth should make a moral choice to make it their responsibility to share their wealth for the utilitarianism of society. 1.)
Carnegie thinks it is better to build public institutions than give charity to the poor because the poor need to have the “desire to improve” and find help in these public institutions. (Carnegie 30). He believes that rather wealthy “Men who continue hoarding great sums all their lives” can find the proper use for their money, which is to help the community. (Carnegie 29). By just giving money to the poor the wealthy are doing all their work and instead the poor should find the assistance they need to improve their lives.
The Gospel of Wealth. Line 55-60 P.209). Carnegie’s main idea was that you don’t give out handouts, you give them a way to bring themselves out of the bottom. That is a huge thing because he saw himself as an example of someone who brought themselves out of a poor situation. So for him this was a way of giving money back to the community and he was a very charitable man.
Now, I found this baffling considering everyone at the time sees Rockefeller and Carnegie as robber barons. Additionally, when comparing Rockefeller’s and Carnegie’s philanthropy actions to today’s modern market, you do not see business owners contributing to society to the same magnitude as Rockefeller and Carnegie.
To begin with, the economic model has a management style that mirrors that of market-driven businesses, aligning goals and objectives with business principles such as supply and demand (Brainard & Siplon, 2004). On the other hand, the voluntary spirit model relies on a management style that is intentionally different from product and services businesses (2004). In other words, the voluntary spirit model insists that nonprofit missions are not business-like, but instead, are centered on solving problems and nurturing relationships (2004). Next, the organizational structure for the economic model has a relatively strict hierarchy where decisions are driven from the leadership, but the voluntary spirit model’s structure relies on collaboration among members to collectively determine goals and objectives (2004). Lastly, since the economic model is business-like, the incentives for staff appeal to self-serving needs, which means the incentives are often materialistic or monetary (2004).
What he did was give money to organizations, but not to the community who actually needed it. “The duty of the man of wealth is to set an example of modest living” (Document M). This says that all rich people should try and hide the money they have but, not all do that. Many people, like Carnegie, who are rich will flaunt it and not care what others say. That is not being moral or having integrity.
Carnegie, who was a believer of Social darwinism, which was a belief held by many that stated that the rich were rich and the poor were poor due to natural selection in society. This was the basis of many people who promoted a laissez faire style of economy. He believed if you worked hard, you could be successful. He believed that a man of wealth should set modest examples and help those in need (DOC E) Carnegie donated more than 150 billion of dollars for libraries, colleges and concert halls. The high population density of the early twentieth century put pressure on fragile infrastructures and demanded insight from urban planners and politicians.
In Andrew Carnegie’s essay “Wealth,” he believed that he had a responsibility to spend his money on something to benefit the greater good. He believe that the rich should distribute their wealth responsibly to benefit society. One of his quotes say, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” Carnegie starts off talking social Darwinism, the issue of inequality and how and if he could fix it. Capitalism ensured that the smartest and most talented people would rise to the top.
The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.
Their admirers argued that they were captains of industry who built the core american industrial economy. For example, Carnegie donated more than 90 percent of his fortune and said that philanthropy was an upper class duty the “Gospel of Wealth”. Rockefeller donated more than $500 million to various charities, slightly more than half his entire net worth. Gilded Age politics called the “ Third Party System”, featured very closed contest between the republicans and democrats. Progressivism was caused by the gilded age.
The captains of industry believed that the poor people were inferior to the rich people. The rich were superior because they had “wisdom, experience, and the ability to administer”. The duty of a rich person was to help out a poor person which was what was said in the Gospel of Wealth. The Gospel of Wealth is about how the rich person's responsibility is philanthropy. Carnegie believes in charity work so he would donate to libraries, and universities and schools and etc.
For instance, Carnegie presented his library named Carnegie Library, he considers this “the best kind of philanthropy” (Ernsberger). By this he indicates the correct way a wealthy individual should live,is by giving back to the community. On the contrary, Richard argues this as negative affect to the company due to the loss of income. Richard believes that Carnegie shouldn’t have spent his money on helping the community instead, he should have continued to invest it on the steel industry. Overall, Richard views Carnegie as “little capitalist who urged presidents to do right things in Philippines, Panama and international diplomacy [but] had never done the right or moral thing as a businessman,” (Ernsberger).
Thoreau’s claim that philanthropy is “overrated” is clear when he goes on to state “it is our selfishness which overrates it.” (Thoreau, 1962, p. 170). The meaning of philanthropy in itself, during the Socrates era may have been true to its Greek etymological meaning of “love of humanity”, but as Thoreau expresses, “his goodness must not be a partial and transitory act, but a constant superfluity, which costs him nothing and of which he is unconscious” (Thoreau, 1962, p. 171) clearly express how when we attempt to do good for the sake of others, it should not be to elevate ourselves or intend to acquire status. I agree on Thoreau’s points by which when one practices the worship of fasting, or volunteers their time and services, they should
Underpinnings and Effectiveness of Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth” In Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth”, Carnegie proposed a system of which he thought was best to dispose of “surplus wealth” through progress of the nation. Carnegie wanted to create opportunities for people “lift themselves up” rather than directly give money to these people. This was because he considered that giving money to these people would be “improper spending”.
Cornel West discusses courage in many aspects. In the first section, he talks about how it takes courage to examine yourself. Often times, we are quick to judge others on their decisions and beliefs. However, when the tables are turned around, we cower when having to criticize ourselves. In order to help fix the flaws in our system, we need to be able to critically think about ourselves.