For Love and Philanthropy
Overview: Episode 08
L. Joy opens this episode on the porch by unpacking the difference between charity, philanthropy, and government responsibility. She explains that charity is personal and immediate, philanthropy is institutional where a small group decides which problems matter and governs without public accountability, and government, she reminds us, is supposed to be us: the collective decision-making that uses our tax dollars to guarantee basics like food, housing, healthcare, and dignity. Teresa Younger, president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, joins L. Joy at the front of the class to expand the conversation.
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Lessons from the Porch
Democracy is measured by how well it cares for the people, not by the generosity of individuals: Charity and philanthropy can respond to immediate needs but are not substitutes for government.
Public policy reflects values not inevitability: Budgets, tax codes, and public investments are moral choices. When governments prioritize advantages for the wealthy over investment in community, the people must realize they have the power and responsibility to demand different priorities.
Lasting Change requires systems thinking, not single issue-advocacy: Housing, environmental, and reproductive justice, along with education, economic opportunity and voting rights are deeply interconnected. Effective civic engagement recognizes addressing issues at the intersections not in silos.
Dream of an American democracy that is worth fighting for.
Notice what is already working in your community that could be scaled by government. Find out who decides where money goes, everything from city budgets to alumni funds to workplace giving and the like. Insist that the people holding power, no matter if it is government or philanthropy, use our resources in service of community.