Saturday, December 4, 2010

Survey of millionaires’ attitude to philanthropy

A new survey from Barclays Wealth ranks attitudes toward philanthropy and giving among millionaires.  Australia ranks near the bottom; whilst the top three are the United States, South Africa and Saudi Arabia (respondents who say philanthropy is one of their top three spending priorities.)

In each of these three cultures philanthropy has a particular cultural significance.  Most of you are familiar with the cultural weight that US Americans place on philanthropy and its origins in its founders,  who wished to start a new society based on Christian principles.  Black South Africans share a philosophy called Ubuntu.  The Zulu say , “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (“a person is a person through other persons”).  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has noted  “You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity.”   And for Saudis, charity (Zakat)is one of the five pillars of Islam: "For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold ."(Koran 57:18).

What can we do in Australia (and New Zealand) to build similar attitudes?