The Generosity Crisis

INTRODUCTION

The future of generosity in America is not guaranteed.

—The Generosity Commission (2020)

Uninterrupted, those who engage in traditional philanthropy will cease to exist in 49 years. This is a problem of monumental proportions. If the love of money is the root of evil, generosity is the salve that makes the world go around. The challenge is most of the public doesn't realize charitable giving underpins so much of our daily lives and thus it operates without much consideration as to how their personal connection to generosity has immeasurable consequences.

Providing untold benefits, charitable giving offers relief and assistance to the poor and disadvantaged as well as the victims of wars and catastrophes. It also supplies shelter, educational resources, medical cures, advances, and care for our most vulnerable. Besides aiding with environmental causes, generosity contributes to the economy, especially concerning the arts and culture. A 2019 report by the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University states that nonprofits account for roughly 1 in 10 jobs in the US private workforce, with total employees numbering 12.3 million in 2016.

Despite all this, too many people don't realize the dangers should philanthropy continue its downward trajectory. Today's hospitals, food pantries, homeless shelters, colleges, museums, and the arts would all suffer—if not outright vanish. We had a preview of this risk in 2021. Activists and other concerned influencers ...