Philanthropy is not just for billionaires
An interesting article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle from a local Rochester, NY foundation, and the impact they are having with the assistance of local philanthropists:
Fortunately, you don't have to be a Buffett, Gates or Carlson to become a philanthropist — nor do you need the Gates Foundation to get good results. Community foundations like ours were invented in response to the first golden age of U.S. philanthropy, when industrialists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller formed foundations to address the challenges of a changing society. Community foundations allow people of every means to create and name a lasting legacy for their communities, causes or favorite charities.
The author does lower the bar for entrance, but still makes the case that philanthropy is primarily for the affluent. I would argue that harnessing "people-powered philanthropy," seen for decades in such local scenarios as bake sales and 10k sponsor runs, can have tremendous global impact if done in a scale that creates a community of critical mass.