Philanthropy is not about easing one's conscience.

The crisis caused by the Covid pandemic hit the poorest hardest and made Brazil go through a very difficult period in its history. While many sectors of society were still trying to organize themselves to provide assistance, the resilience of civil society organizations (CSOs) was able to bring quick and effective responses to society.

The trust placed in philanthropy through thousands of small donations helped prevent millions from being left destitute.Mobilizations, campaigns, and networking cannot be limited to emergency situations only.

Actions to support organized civil society need our constant support for Brazil to enter a positive cycle of social transformation. And this change depends on strengthening the culture of giving. 

By normalizing the habit of giving, we plant the seeds of inspiration to one day reap the rewards of change. The exercise of citizenship through recurring financial donations or volunteering helps build a more just and mature society. While we cannot embrace every cause, we can change "small worlds," and by combining our efforts, we collaboratively have the power to transform the community, the city, the country, and the planet.

Nurturing this culture and supporting CSOs to accelerate systemic transformation are the major challenges in the face of the current adverse Brazilian scenario.

Our country appears in 54th position in the Global Ranking of Solidarity, the World Giving Index 2021, a study by the Charities Aid Foundation based on research in 114 countries last year. We are even far behind our neighbor Paraguay, which occupies the 23rd position. 

The cultural factor is so significant that the ranking is led by Indonesia, a country with far less economic power than the United States, which appears only in 19th position.

In another study, IDIS (Institute for the Development of Social Investment) analyzed the profile of the Brazilian individual donor with the  2020 Brazil Donation Survey and identified that the practice of donation by individuals showed a significant decrease compared to 2015. The amount donated over the respective years fell from R$13.7 billion (0.23% of GDP) to R$10.3 billion (0.14% of GDP).

Today, with technological advancements, it is easier for NGOs to account for the use of their resources and for society to access transparency reports online. Knowing how donation money was invested and what the positive impact is creates an invitation to increase engagement and attract those who are not donors. 

Telling stories of people who have benefited from donations also has enormous inspirational power, as we can see in the guidelines of the document " For a Brazil That Is Always More Donor-to-Don," prepared by the Movement for a Culture of Giving.

Through example, by generating empathy, the desire to contribute to further change tends to increase.

By understanding that philanthropy is not a matter of easing one's conscience, but rather an investment in the collective future and, above all, an act of citizenship in the search for solutions, we can build together a country of immense opportunities. 

By Carola Matarazzo

This text was originally published on the Folha de S.Paulo website.

Image Credit: Press Release/MBM