William Schambra in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, "It's Time for Humble Philanthropy." Small grants given locally by donors who made their mony locally and who are embedded in the local networks of business, worship, conviviality, rooting for the home team, volunteering for Rotary, showing up for PTA meetings, is this not about as good as philanthropy gets? Leveraging, lobbying, inventing whole universes of double bottom line blarney, why bother? Is it not good enough to do a little good, with an active personal interest in the outcome? Bill writes in part:
By being responsive to the pleas of local community institutions, small foundations also help remedy one of the larger social or moral problems of our times: the sense among everyday citizens that they are helpless before the enormous social and economic forces that seem to have turned their worlds upside down. Supporting local civic institutions, whatever their specific functions, which cultivate and sustain morale and pride within communities, is one way foundations can sustain civic engagement and democratic aspirations in a dark time.
By helping to restore the spirit and cohesiveness of local communities, foundations will also thereby be helping to restore a sense of balance to American values and beliefs. For too long, we have tended to celebrate only the most daring feats of financial success and the flashiest lives of fabulously wealthy and powerful global elites.
It's time to remind ourselves that true worth is to be found instead within our families, neighborhoods, houses of worship, and voluntary associations, where Americans everyday exhibit the solid and modest virtues of citizenship and compassion that built our nation.
Bill has a bit of the Morals Tutor in him. And the bruises on fists and backside to prove it.
