Many wealthy philanthropists tend to keep a low profile, but a new online video forum will give a face – or faces – to the British culture of major giving.
AmbassadorForPhilanthropy.com was launched this week by the Bristish government’s ambassador for philanthropy, Dame Stephanie Shirley. The site is comprised of brief YouTube interviews with major donors, aiming to "give philanthropists a voice."
Shirley told Civil Society she thinks this website is essential to fulfilling her newly-created role as the nation’s first philanthropic ambassador. She thinks it will help banks increase donor-advised funds and build a philanthropic summit to advise the government.
AmbassadorForPhilanthropy.com features some of the UK’s top givers talking about what motivates them to donate. In one sense, the site has the potential to speak to the consciences of others with the means to give about why they should contribute.
David Erasmus, who donates to American organization Acumen Fund – which fights global poverty – says, "Who is my neighbor? In the old days maybe it was the guys down the street; but actually now it is these guys in Africa. I feel responsible to connect in and be a part of the solution."
The site also has the potential to showcase the missions of nonprofits around the globe. Currently, the participating philanthropists’ favorite organizations become the topics of conversation for the duration of their interviews. Soon, the site will allow international charities to join and promote their missions by participating in discussions about their work, reports Civil Society.
Roberta d’Eustachio, chief of staff for the ambassador of philanthropy, told the source that the site expects a charity and social enterprise membership to reach "at least 10,000 organizations worldwide, with the largest slot going to the USA."
Here’s hoping this PhilanthroTube site becomes as visited as YouTube and global organizations see donations as a result.
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It is great that more and more people with the means to help are stepping up to invest in the non-profit world. Although many of the charities getting the attention are still the big ones, those that have many resources and are already well known. I look forward to a movement that focuses small, shoestring groups (like ours) that are taking on issues and causes that don’t get the attention of the public. Those tackling issues that are more difficult to fund yet, which may have long term impacts on human life and future medical research.