Philanthropy: Cornerstone to a Meaningful Life

By Lisa Bennett

I just learned something troubling:

A study in January this year by U.S. Trust revealed that only 36 percent of the wealthy and very wealthy consider "making a positive impact on society" an important use of their wealth. And only 13 percent consider it important to "leave a legacy of contribution to society."

A 2007 Bank of America study said 98 percent of high-net-worth households give to charity, and most of them give to multiple organizations.

If so many wealthy people are giving to charity, why isn't using their wealth "to make a positive impact on society" a higher priority for them?

I was surprised to learn that the top three priorites cited in the US Trust study were "financial security," "financial freedom" and "travel." Maybe these donors are not giving enough thought behind their philanthropy. Maybe their gifts are at a dollar level not "meaningful" to them.

Philanthropy can be a cornerstone of building a meaningful life by using one's wealth to help create lasting, positive change.

Ask yourself, "When people speak my name after I'm gone, what would I like them to say?"

How would you like to be remembered?

Thoughtful, meaningful philanthropy is one way to seek and find the answer to these questions. Philanthropy that goes beyond the merely transactional and soars into the transformational will help us all - the donors no less than the recipients.

Think about it.