Philanthropy

Since 2015 I have been actively donating to Charities, Nonprofits, and Philanthropic Organizations. I have donated in the U.S. and Internationally and I still donate actively today.

I care about a lot of causes, but I mostly care about:

  • “Is this nonprofit doing what they say they are doing?” Like if they say they help people with __ do they actually? Is it effective? 

  • “is this going to be a successful nonprofit initiative and venture?” bc I don’t want to donate to an organization that is gonna go under in 3 months or if one bad thing happens to them. I want the nonprofits I support to be savvy and wise and disciplined. I want them hungry and ruthlessly going after their goals

  • Are they diversified in their income streams and sustainable?”

  • “Do they want to exist forever?” if a nonprofit exists and wants to exist forever then they’re probably not for me. I want people who want to end problems so that they don’t have to exist anymore. I know that’s a pie in the sky and for most nonprofits they’ll never get there, but I think if you’re not thinking like that, then I don’t think you think about How to help the world like I do. And I think they’re actually our problems we can solve. Real change that can make parts of nonprofits obsolete: and that should be the goal. Peoples lives better in sustainable ways that are now a flywheel that doesn’t need any pushing.

But all that being said here’s a list of some of the causes I’ve donated to support:

  • Dignity, support, and care for the Homeless

  • Financial Inequities, Injustice, and Poverty (e.g. the staggering Wealth Inequality in the U.S. and how that affects all Americans both the same and differently)

  • Inequities rooted in Race, Gender, or Sexual Orientation (et al.)

  • Mental Health and Addiction

  • Education, Families, and Children

If that’s too vague, I get it. Here’s a few concrete examples:

  • I have funded a Community “Shark Tank” event in Powderhorn Park Neighborhood where small businesses looking to get started (or already established ones) pitched to get more funding. I’ve also help fund their “Art Fair” which brings in 10,000+ visitors and a literal park-ful of artists and booths.

  • I have funded an organization that supports Single Mothers experiencing Poverty in all sorts of ways.

  • I have supported an organization in North Minneapolis that works to help young men thrive and also works for nonviolence in the community.

  • I helped fund the building of a new community center in South Minneapolis that turned the unused basement of a church into a thriving community space, which has hosted many community services (including but not limited to): coworking space for the community, a food shelf (but like it looks like a grocery store / is dignified) and an addiction support group.

There’s more, but I’m not sharing any of this so you’ll “think I’m a good person”. I’m really not that good of a person. I’m just normal (like you).

I see Philanthropy less as “Oh this makes me a good person” and more as an expression of: “Hey we’re all just humans here with the same worth and value. Why don’t we all start acting like it?” 😏 🔥 🤷🏼‍♂️