For
nearly forty years the annual charitable contributions in the United States
have hovered around 2% of the GDP. Today that represents about 300
billion dollars in resources available for charitable organizations to help
address the social ills of the world. While this seems like a large
amount of money, it is only a fraction of the resources needed. These limited resources are utilized by over
a million non profit entities to provide aide to millions of men, woman and
children who are under serviced and under supported. It is important that we continue to empower
and sustain these organizations in the important work that they endeavor to
provide.
The
question is, “How do we empower non government charities”? The instinctual
response to this question is usually financially directed. Most people think that non profits simply
need donations. While financial donations are an important part of the
success equation, they are not the only necessary element.
So,
if money is not the greatest need, you may ask, “What do non-profit entities
really need to be successful, to rise above the growing social needs, and make
lasting changes”? I would submit to you that what they need is Freedom!
Non Government Organizations need freedom from the legal and philosophical
limitations that hold them back from becoming self reliant and financially responsible.
They need the freedom to function like business entities. They need
access to capital investments, cutting edge marketing strategies, and
adequately compensated workforce. They need the autonomy to create long
range business strategies and the flexibility to implement these strategies
without unbalanced scrutiny. They need incentives to take risks and to
spend for the future. They need to be encouraged to seek collaboration
and inspired to develop efficiency.
Sounds
a lot like capitalism, doesn't it. So I ask, “Is capitalism the solution
to all of the world’s social ills?”! I am not talking about competitive
capitalism, where there is a winner and a loser. I am talking about conscious
capitalism and collaborative capitalism where all parties benefit from working
together in harmonic and holistic approaches. It may be bold to ask, but
can capitalism save the world?
At
Ascend Alliance Humanitarian we believe in the power of collaboration and the
strength in conscious capitalism. This
is why we working hard to promote our socially responsible business community
and to forge strategic partnership with other powerful humanitarian
organizations. We are committed to
building a connection economy of businesses and individuals who believe in our
mission; a mission to empower individuals to become self reliant and
prosperous. As a 30 year old nonprofit
organization, we are proactively striving to live in harmony with this same
message, as we generate our own financial resources and build bridges of
collaboration across the globe. We are already
enjoying the freedom that comes from these socially minded efforts.
I
watched a video the other day on the internet, where the speaker predicted the end
of humanitarianism. He argued that the
day would come that non-profit organizations would become extinct. He felt that the era of conscious capitalism
would expand and social enterprise would eradicate charitable giving. I do not necessarily agree with this finality
of thinking, but I do sense that there will be significant changes in the
future of this industry; changes which will impact our personal lives and our future
business relationships.
I
can imagine a day when humanitarian organizations will proactively contribute
to the overall gross domestic product; rather, than hoping to find access to a
small portion of the resources currently available through the generous giving
of others. Join us in the movement towards redefining
humanitarianism. Become a member of our socially
responsible business community and help us empower others towards self reliance
and prosperity.
--Matthew Casto
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