What do we mean when we talk about philanthropy? An upcoming documentary by Grand Valley professor Salvatore Alaimo reveals how little we really know. “I don’t know. I think it has something do with money, maybe?” “Usually that’s when a rich person does something without taking a profit for someone in need.” More often than…
Adventurers and activists unite! Nature Iraq is offering the opportunity of a lifetime in the form of a boat trip down the Tigris River. For 2-14 days in September, the Tigris River Flotilla invites you to explore the riverbanks of Turkey and Iraq and team up with local communities to help conserve the natural environment….
The philanthropic community has the opportunity to make 2013 a historic year for immigration policy. Earlier this year, the Obama administration proposed a four-pronged approach to comprehensive immigration reform: Strengthening Border Security Cracking Down on Employers Hiring Undocumented Workers Implementing a Pathway to Earned Citizenship Streamlining Legal Immigration These measures are meant to protect civil…
Cats have it pretty easy: all it takes to please them is some quality petting time, a saucer of milk, and a nap in the sun. Humans are decidedly more complex, although napping in the sun sounds pretty appealing! Shopping for a new item of clothing or the latest music from your favorite artist will…
Without a doubt, immigrants have dramatically shaped the American business landscape. Did you know that half of all entrepreneurs are immigrants? If you take a look at some of the largest American companies (Google, Yahoo!, Facebook), chances are you will find they have foreign-born founders. Because the U.S. acts as an incubator for innovation and…
The end of Ramadan is always marked with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims break their fast after 30 days of dawn-to-dusk abstinence of food and drink. This time of year is also highly charitable, as adherents to Islam offer “Zakat al-Fitr” to those who are most in need. Zakat is one of the…
Part of CAAP’s Living It Up While Giving series on millenials and philanthropy One of the challenges we all face when it comes to charitable giving is finding that bit of extra room in our budgets. Fortunately — with just a few changes to your daily routine — you can find a way to make…
Traveling abroad can be an opportunity to engage in philanthropy wherever you go. As part of our Travel Philanthropy series, we’ve taken you to Morocco, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and now—our second featured stop this summer—Lebanon. The country is home to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, and together they reflect the tremendous diversity of the…
A new short film produced by the Ford Foundation asks the question: “What do we mean when we talk about civil rights?” Youth of all ages and backgrounds offer their thoughts on racial equity, discrimination, and diversity in America. They discuss the relevance of affirmative action, school and career opportunities for minorities, and what civil…
When everyone chips in and contributes, individual charitable giving doesn’t need to be too big to make a difference. In Ireland, a new campaign based on the power of small, nationwide giving serves as the perfect example of this. The One Percent Difference, an initiative launched this year in Dublin, seeks to raise giving levels…