Generosity Commission Update
The start of a new year is traditionally the time to think anew, to imagine what we might accomplish in the weeks, months and year ahead. This particular New Year beckons with the need for reimagining more than ever. We remain committed, through the work of the Generosity Commission, to be a strong contributor to the crucial efforts taking place across the country to rebuild better, stronger and more united.
Each of us as has an important role to play to reimagine what is possible in 2021 and beyond. We must better understand and reverse decades-long downward trends, rebuild from a global pandemic and reimagine generosity in a way that better captures the broad range of giving, voluntary action and civic engagement in America today. We must better support the nonprofit sector, which plays a crucial role in the quality of life in every community, acting as a social safety net, weaving together a strong civic and cultural fabric and a shared sense of meaning.
We are grateful that you are on this journey with us.
With warmest regards,
Ted Grossnickle
Chair, Working Committee
The Generosity Commission
Member Profile
Amir Pasic, Eugene R. Tempel Dean of Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Professor of Philanthropic Studies
About Amir:
Amir leads the first school devoted to research and teaching about philanthropy. Prior to the Lily Family School of Philanthropy, Amir was the vice president of international operations at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the associate dean for development and strategic planning at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) as well as executive director of its Foreign Policy Institute, where he continues to serve as a fellow. Amir also served as deputy director of the world security project at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, deputy vice president for advancement at The George Washington University and a former librarian at the Library of Congress.
In Amir’s words:
Why is the work of The Generosity Commission so crucial?
It is crucial to understand generosity and the roles it plays in enabling a thriving society. The commission’s goal of bringing generosity to our collective attention could not be more vital today given the profound challenges we are facing in our civic life.
What are some of the most important insights we’ve gained through recent research and how will they be helpful in reimagining generosity?
We are seeing a growing body of evidence on the importance of generosity in communities and in civic life as well as for individual happiness. Research is showing that generosity is also often taken for granted, part of the air that we breathe. We notice it most when it is gone. And in too many places in our civic life today its supply is diminishing. But as I have seen with the community of thinkers and doers that are coming together through the commission, there is great power and great hope when well-meaning, curious people from diverse backgrounds assemble to make a contribution to the public good.
“There is great power and great hope when well-meaning, curious people from diverse backgrounds assemble to make a contribution to the public good.” – Dr. Amir Pasic
Current Insights on Generosity
The RAND Corporation
COVID-19 Has Offered Opportunities for Communities to Come Together.
Despite challenges that people across communities faced in 2020, opportunities for generosity and service have remained. The RAND Corporation found that, “In these difficult times, many respondents, despite struggling themselves, are engaging in activities to help their neighbors and their communities.” Read more: COVID-19 Has Offered Opportunities for Communities to Come Together.
Blackbaud Institute
How Companies Are Creating Impact in 2020.
Companies can play an important role in building a culture and practice of generosity, often through corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropic efforts. When done well, comprehensive CSR programs fully integrate and align to the needs and values of the business, employees and community, which brings benefit to both the community and the business. The Blackbaud Institute’s recent report showcases the ways businesses are embracing their responsibility to improve the lives of their communities and are stepping up to respond to current events. Read more: Blackbaud Institute: Comprehensive Social Responsibility – How Companies Are Creating Impact in 2020
The Stanford Social Innovation Review
How Can Philanthropy Help Rehabilitate US Democracy?
In a time when democracy and democratic institutions in the United States face big challenges, the Stanford Social Innovation Review shares thoughts on how thoughtful philanthropy can play an important role in rebuilding. Read more: How Can Philanthropy Help Rehabilitate US Democracy.