The economic inequalities seem to be rising. Last year, the poorer part of the world became poorer still, while the multi millionaires became richer at the same procentual rate. Even though it is true that there is a growing conscience about the growing inequalities, there is very little public participation around the question. The fault should not be on the shoulders of the most powerful people, but on the systems of inequalities and injustice that is in the immediate need of a reform. The most efficient way of changing this is through long term economic changes, but there are also ways that the philanthropists can result productive in decreasing of the economic inequality.
The objective, ideally, is not to use philanthropy as a way to relieve the occurrence of poverty, but as a way to remedy its underlying causes. The philanthropy has to aim to do more work behind the scene in order to form a political change.
The are three reasons to highlight the role that philanthropy can have:
- The trusts and foundations enjoy a special privileged point of view, as they have a wider view that allow them to identify sponsors that the organizations working in the field many not see sometimes.
- The private philanthropy can take risks, because they can work on problemematics that are not very popular or that other actors cannot work on.
- The philanthropists have the liberty of think long term, not as the Civil Society Organizations that have to orientate towards more tangible projects when looking for funding.
The private philanthropy and the Civil Society need a relationship that goes further than mere financing. The private philanthropy exists in a space that can support and alert the forces with more sovereignty and liberty, than the NGOs and national or international institutions. Furthermore, another important element is that in the world of political decisions, private philanthropy is usually seen as more trustworthy by decision-taking people than the voices of NGOs.
Although it is true that international political institutions and NGOs are working forwards a structural economic change in different nations, private philanthropy can be a more accessible option to foment the reduction of inequalities until the world becomes a place where you can make a economic change in the big scale.