HOW DO YOU GIVE?
is a publication and community of undergraduate, student voices with the mission to cultivate a culture of involvement at Penn and to bring awareness to the social impact activities of students, alumni, faculty, and organizations in our immediate and global community. Valentina Raman Frances Starn Tyler Sullivan Dany Rifkin, Jordan Huynh, Sam Friedlander Aaron Wolff, Brennan Cusack, Callie Woods, Cheyenne Rogers, Christine Hu, David Baker, Emily Chisholm, Emily Silberstein, Esther Yoon, Grace Jemison, Isaac Silber, Jerusalem Girmay, Jordyn Horowitz, Justin Sheen, Leora Mincer, Lindsay Wong, Mayookha Mitra-Majumdar, Monica Dyches, Nicolette Tan, Rosemary Santos, Saraf Ahmed, Stephanie Nam, Taylor Hosking, Toshe Ayo-Ariyo, Yuqi Zhang Justin Barry Grace Jemison, Dylan Smith, Morgan Snyder, Ciara Stein, Sandra Loza-Avalos, Kelsey Williams Nicole Laczewski Abdel-Aziz Kamoun, Alyssa Kennedy, Charlotte Breig, Emily Chen, Iris Kim, Jade Huynh, Jenny Koff, Jerusalem Girmay, Jordyn Horowitz, Mayookha Mitra-Majumdar, Michael Stanton, Peter Barna, Sami Bronner, Saraf Ahmed, Shamarlon Yates, Toshe Ayo-Ariyo Kaustubh Deo Abigail Graham, Chelsea Williamson, Chidera Ufondu, Connie Fan, Dani Castillo, Dylan Smith, Jenna Goldstein, Sara-Paige Silvestro, Stephanie Nam Paula Mello Ferber Elena Nikonova, Galit Krifcher Brian Rawn, Byrne Fahey, Connie Fan, David Baker, Jordan Huynh, Jun Yoo, Katharine Viola, Monica Dyches, Taylor Nauden Souhail Salty Oona Yadav Aditi Shroff, Kathleen Zhou, Nicole Laczewski, Nikhil Devnani, Saraf Ahmed Dina Zaret Abhiti Prabahar, Catherine Darin, Jane Chen, Kopal Goyal, Shamarlon Yates, Sibel Ozelik, Valeria Dubovoy, Yousra Kandri Daniel Brooks The Wharton Social Impact Initiative The Povich Fund for Journalism Programs at the Kelly Writers House
LETTER FROM THE TEAM we are given a present, a compliment, a helping hand to reach a toy on the highest shelf—the proper manners of receiving have been ingrained in our psyche. The question is: when do we learn how to give? While some learn from the examples of their elders or various traditions, many As the act of giving affects every relationship in our lives and contains countless implications about our values, goals, and beliefs, its careful analysis begs our attention. With this thought in mind, we present s second print issue: Giving. In this issue, we consider giving through many lenses: we celebrate the many ways we give, question why and when we give, and evaluate how we can give better. Although these topics only scratch the surface of current giving trends, our aim is to provide a starting point for our readers to analyze their own acts of giving. The following twelve articles and one poem following this letter were written, edited, and designed by the , with the exception of one written by our partner, the Wharton Social Impact Initiative. Some photography is our original work as well, while other photos were generously submitted by our friends and supporters. We are excited to present Issue 2: Giving, to our Penn and global community. We encourage our readers to share, discuss, and act upon the information contained in the following pages, to apply it to their lives both professionally and personally. With the tragic events that have occurred on campus this semester, all in the Penn community have been called on to analyze our interactions with one another, rethink our behaviors, and scrutinize what we believe is most important—perhaps, the answer is simply for us to give more. Moving forward, let us take the time to critically analyze the way in which we give, and may acts of giving continue to grow at our university and beyond—in frequency, in magnitude, and in .
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n one week, I donated $22 to Arzu Studio Hope, gave $10 to a friend’s Support Typhoon Haiyan Survivors campaign, and received a $3 repayment on a microloan from Kiva, all without leaving my room. Welcome to the age of the internet. According to , crowdfunding websites helped companies and individuals raise $2.66 billion in 2012. While traditional fundraisers and call centers have worked to raise money for decades, the introduction of the internet
has made this process much easier. The variety of platforms is endless, with thousands that specify causes, use different funding models, and cater to different demographic restrictions. Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and micro-loan platform Kiva are three popular crowdfunding organizations, but others like Crowdrise and GoFundMe are gaining traction, especially amongst smaller campaigns. Crowdfunding has accessibility, bridging borders, and creating communities.
According to Indiegogo CEO Slava Rubin, crowdfunding Emily Ruderman, president of Dischord, a coed a capella group at Penn, said that one of the main reasons why Dischord has a Fall Fund campaign on Indiegogo is to have a centralized platform on which to record all of the donations they receive. Indeed, one can simply share the link to the online campaign with friends, family, and beyond. Reaching out has never been easier. Furthermore, all it takes is simply the click of a button. Given the amount of time we spend on the internet, it isn’t that favorite causes. This ease of donating has reduced the challenges previously associated with reaching untapped demographics. Wharton junior and former Kiva intern Saloni Gupta started lending to female entrepreneurs in developing countries on Kiva in high school. In fact, the same $700 she lent then has since been recycled to make 386 loans. Crowdfunding donations or loans do not always have to be this big though. She explained that the minimum donation required on these platforms is often very small, making it easy for anyone to give. From a campaign owner’s perspective, crowdfunding, as Rubin
awareness of a cause, and the reach of this awareness extends around the globe. Mashable, a technology and social media blog, reported that 45 percent of Indiegogo campaigns received contributions from people in more than one country. For example, according to The Guardian in June 2013, three Turkish men in New York launched a campaign to buy a full-page ad in the front section of in support of their fellow Turkish citizens who had clashed with the government. The campaign received donations from 50 countries at a rate of over 21 hours and eventually raising $108,371. Black Box Denim, founded by Wharton sophomores Adina Luo and Molly Liu, masses. They raised $27,492 in 30 days on Kickstarter, receiving donations from countries such as Austria, Belgium, Qatar, and Sweden. IMPACT Magazine was also created using funds raised on Kickstarter in July-August 2013, receiving support from family and friends both locally and overseas.
in Philadelphia alone, there are campaigns ranging from school teachers are getting creative, crowdfunding for supplies to overcome recent budget cuts.
the transparency of these platforms and the engagement with the giver. On Indiegogo and Kickstarter, funders can give suggestions to campaign owners and leave comments and encouragements. The internet has certainly democratized the process of giving— donors have a better connection with the impact that they are they are with larger organizations. The donor is taken through the
of Black Box Denim
project’s journey through videos, pictures, and prototypes. Luo about why their project held personal meaning for her. Gupta A common gesture is to simply thank donors, whether it is through a website, on a product, or in a handwritten card or email. the community. Indeed, a core component of Indiegogo’s brand is a commitment to love—always treating the customer and project with respect and appreciation.
One common criticism of crowdfunding websites is that they commoditize causes by offering perks or rewards in return for donations. However, perks and rewards are part of taking donors through the journey—they often complement the causes well, sharing a piece of the project with the donor. Providing incentives and the statistics are inspiring. In 2012, Mashable reported that 33 percent of all contributed dollars to Indiegogo were deemed or without any reward. Speaking from experience, Liu shared that people don’t just donate with the product in mind, but also to
Given the proud Penn tradition of strong civic engagement with the community, there are multiple ways that Penn students can join the crowdfunding cause is something every Penn student can do very time users to encourage them to try out the system before embarking on their own loans. Indiegogo is partnered with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, and Penn students should be encouraged to start
feel too intimidated about giving it a shot. The next time you or your organization is fundraising, consider crowdfunding as a viable option to extend the reach of your cause. One click can bring endless possibilities.
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iving money away is easy. The challenge lies in using money to create the most positive impact. Individuals today are increasingly more calculating in their contributions and are considering new types of capital with which to create impact. decisions that do the most. While high impact philanthropy has become increasingly popular, impact investing, too, is a rising force affecting donors and businesses alike.
In a world where infographics on performance can be found everywhere—from your food labels to newspaper headlines— donors want to know more. When buying cars, computers, or frozen pizzas, consumers can weigh factors to determine the donors are buying impact. Philanthropic donors are looking for assurances that their contributions are not just making a positive change, but making an being asked to provide evidence of that impact. This wasn’t always the case. Imagine being a donor decades ago, before the internet provided easy access to information, before you could easily research organizations in your community—let alone across the most likely came from personal experience or from referrals from your friends and colleagues. Maybe the local newspaper had an article highlighting an especially compelling case of a life that was changed by a local organization, or maybe you relied on brand names when making contributions. Almost certainly, though, the range of organizations that you were aware of was limited. With fewer choices, deciding where to donate was simpler. As information about the work of organizations became easier which organizations were actually making a change—became a desired differentiator. But how does one actually evaluate which organizations are better than others in the 21st century? In recent years, entities such
as Penn’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP), Givewell, and Charity Navigator have been founded to provide information that can help donors evaluate organizations. These experts conduct research and evaluation on how cost-effective, scalable,
2013 research report from World Economic Forum estimated the current impact investing market size at $25 billion. proponents of impact investing have estimated the potential
whether or not they have proven results. For example, each year, top charities to give to, while Charity Navigator rates hundreds of
organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, J.P. Morgan, and the Calvert Foundation that the sector will continue to grow, with estimates ranging from $400 billion to $650 billion by 2020.
location, or size to view an assessment of the organizations that Penn’s CHIP, housed in the School of Social Policy & Practice, builds and shares donor toolkits, investment analyses, and other reports, in addition to hosting educational seminars and workshops about giving.
continues. It’s not surprising to see strong interest in exploring, expanding,
Rosqueta, CHIP’s founding executive director and 2001 Wharton MBA graduate, recently told . In addition to reports and other resources, an increase in
up the Impact Investing Initiative, explains the student demand:
semester, Wharton Social Impact Initiative launched a multifaceted impact investing initiative to give students the opportunity to gain
for a very long time, and who better than these students, and this inspiring anecdotes or heart-wrenching tales to highlight effective strategies and real impact—also arms donors with information to make informed giving decisions. columnist David Bornstein is one of the founders of the Solutions Journalism Network ( ), which, according solutions, focusing not just on what may be working, but how and shift from anecdotes to evidence and from challenges to solutions so that the solutions can be shared and replicated.
to making an impact, philanthropic capital is only part of the story. Through impact investing, individuals can ensure their investment capital does more than earn a return on investment—it
cofounder and general partner of Murex Investments who serves as senior director at the Wharton Social Impact Initiative.
social mission are worthy of investment. In this way, rather than depending on philanthropic donations, social enterprises are able to create a sustainable, market-based approach to social impact, and investors receive a return on capital. The impact investing industry is still nascent, but many are convinced that there is enormous potential to direct huge amounts of capital toward investments in impact. A September
Moving beyond traditional philanthropy is essential, and more and more businesses, institutions, and individuals are taking on the challenge. Combining sustainable business models with innovative approaches to social impact is the new opportunity for donors, investors, and businesses. These different approaches are connected by a common thread: positive impact. The issues are too important for anything less.
TimeBank
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ne unique aspect of Penn is the value its student body and administration place on service. Here, there are more than 50 clubs and organizations dedicated to philanthropic endeavors. Whether it is giving back to the Penn community or surrounding West Philadelphia, the University encourages a culture of giving. TimeBank, Student Hospice Organization of Penn (SHOOP), and PennPals are all homegrown organizations started by Penn students. These organizations, as well as the school’s service hubs—Civic House, the value for service and giving.
The Penn TimeBank, a student-run organization, functions as a system of alternative currency where you give time to get time. from anyone else in the network. Everyone’s hour is equal, and everyone has something to give. TimeBank began when, in their senior year, 2013 College graduates Julie Graber and Shivani Srivastav envisioned Penn as a place where a stronger community could be built. Through independent research, they discovered the concept of timebanking and decided to implement it in their own community. Kelly Writers House quickly embraced the organization and functions as its sponsor and event hub. TimeBank’s ultimate goal is to foster a spirit of reciprocity on Penn’s campus, building a community based on helping one another and freely sharing knowledge and skills. Look out for a TimeBank event at the end of this year, and to learn more, check out PennPals is a mentorship organization of about 120 Penn students in which every undergraduate is paired with a student from Powel Elementary School in University City. Through communicating directly with parents, one-on-one time and monthly group-wide events, Penn students form strong relationships with their pals, skating together, watch movies, explore the city, and generally just have fun. While the elementary school students learn from their mentors, the mentors also learn a great deal from their pals. Mentors are genuinely excited to spend time with their pals, who become like little siblings over the years. College junior Abby to get involved!
as an intercultural incubator of new ideas and programs and as a resource for students and the greater Penn community. In addition to offering intercultural courses and signature programs, the center supports student organizations, provides leadership development activities and mentorship, and partners with students to help design intercultural workshops and other learning opportunities for local schools. For example, for the last three years the center had been host to 90 high school students which gives students an educational campus tour and engages them in a discussion about race and identity. Its aim is to give the the opportunity to get an in depth understanding of higher education and the college experience. To learn more about the GIC’s programs, visit 3708 Chestnut Street or check out its website at
As a junior, 2002 College graduate Amit Mehrotra founded SHOOP, an organization that helps students become hospice volunteers by providing training and transportation support, connecting them with inpatient facilities, and providing them with other opportunities to help the hospice system. These volunteers provide physical, emotional, social, and often spiritual support for terminally ill patients and their families. The exact role of a hospice volunteer may include listening to patients, speaking with their families, or just providing a comforting presence. SHOOP has also teamed with Penn Wissahickon Hospice to start Project Sunshine, which aims to revamp the designated children’s room at the Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse. Check out their website at for more information!
Civic House’s mission is to support student-led community service and social advocacy. Since its establishment in 1997, the communal hub has actively promoted collaborations between Penn students and the West Philadelphia community with six programs: Alternate Spring Break (ASB), Civic House Associates Coalition (CHAC), Civic Scholars, PennCORP, Public Interest Careers, and the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project (WPTP). ASB, which began in 1990, is one of Civic House’s most popular programs. It is a student-run organization that sponsors community service projects for Penn students across the country over Spring Break. This year, ASB hosted eight trips across the United States, including building homes for low-income families through Habitat for Humanity and rehabilitating parts of the Appalachian Trail. To learn more about Civic House’s programs, go to 3914 Locust Walk or browse
the internal coordination and collaboration of all universitywide community service programs; develop democratic, the University and the community; and create and strengthen local, national and international networks of institutions of higher education committed to engagement with their local Through the avenues of academically based community service courses, direct community service, and community development, the center has created a myriad of programs to accomplish these objectives. One of these programs is the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative (AUNI), which works in 20 Philadelphia public schools and serves more than 10,000 students every month. To learn more about the Netter Center, its many programs, and ways to get involved, visit their website at
Z
ubin Sharma, a 2013 College graduate,
teacher trainings, and local leadership building. Sharma founded SEEKHO in 2012, devoting his life to education reform and forever tying his heart to the villages
beings are connected by empathy, a lifelong love of learning, and collaboration
kid. My dad’s from India and… particularly in Bombay, I was exposed to in-yourface poverty, maimed children, and stark
crafted to achieve exactly this: SEEKHO (Sustainability. Empathy. Empowerment. Knowledge. Hope. Ownership.).
three kids came up to us and asked for money and food. When you’re that old, you
the community through learning camps,
old, he actually wanted to take the children back with him.
Sharma continued to visit India on many occasions throughout his life; however, it was the spark of empowerment he helped ignite in one child’s eyes that committed Sharma to devoting his life to his mission of empowering dreams. Her name is Chandani. Born into the trodden group in her village in Bihar, she attended school for only a year before dropping out due to abuse in the classroom. At age ten, she wandered around the village asking people to let her take out their trash Last year, she approached Sharma’s home seeking scraps and leftovers, but instead of trash, she found someone who looked past her poverty and saw potential. Chandani refused to even pick up a pencil because of prior psychological abuse due to her low caste. Describing his reaction to children in similar positions as Chandani, wound. It closes every time I return to the From refusing to pick up a pencil to writing and practicing on her own, Chandani’s personal growth inspired Sharma to create an environment where any child could be encouraged. He
dreamed that children would learn not just basic reading and arithmetic but also tactics that could nurture the children on a necessary, deeper level. It was after Sharma’s PennSEM (Social Entrepreneurship Movement) summer internship in education reform in Bihar that he took the initiative to found SEEKHO in 2012. The connections and experiences made in this internship proved to be essential to SEEKHO’s success.
Sharma has built his educational program around the ideas of improving character strengths and virtues, such as resilience and mindfulness, while teaching traditional skills such as literacy. Using the concept of Gross Village Happiness (GVH), a non-economic indicator of a disadvantaged, rural community’s quality
Six hundred students, ten government teachers, and twenty high-potential highschoolers are currently enrolled in the program. This year, Sharma estimates that as many as two thousand students, forty teachers, and thirty high schoolers will be involved. Sharma spends much of his time split between his work in India and
grade students, government teachers, leaders to foster a sustainable synergy for lasting social change.
out more information, read about the dream, and make donations, visit
U
pon graduation, 2007 Wharton and Engineering graduates Alex Mittal and Arjun Srinivas and 2008 College and Engineering graduate Michael Young cofounded Innova Dynamics, a company that applies techniques in advanced materials engineering to create and commercialize their revolutionary antimicrobial technology. During his time at Penn, Mittal volunteered in Honduras, laying pipes to bring running water to remote villages. As he witnessed the unclean drinking water being supplied to the villagers, he was struck with the idea of creating a method to deliver immediately clean water—an idea that held such promise that he never looked back. In 2006, Mittal and Srinivas wrote their theses on a process for imbuing plastics and polymers with new properties, which they could then use to create water pipes in Honduras that would repel dangerous microbes and deliver safe, clean drinking water to village inhabitants. But they didn’t stop there. In 2006, Mittal, Srinivas, and Young were part of a team of Penn undergraduates who placed second in the Wharton Business Plan Competition for their concept of the commercialization of embedding antimicrobial materials (microparticles and nanoparticles) into plastic, which they could then use to make items for which cleanliness was paramount—like the water pipes in Honduras. Shortly after graduation,
they moved to San Francisco and founded Innova Dynamics to expand this technique and market it into other avenues of opportunity. For example, Innova has also
Looking ahead, Innova is interested in diversifying its interests, and the company is now working to change the properties of solar Current Innova clients include DuPont, a
hospitals. When asked if building Innova from the ground up was challenging, hardest things I’ve ever done. We started
was occurring, clean-tech/materials science investment interest had evaporated, and we had to fundraise near the bottom of the with numerous obstacles and the inherent the recession, Mittal, Srinivas, and Young believed in the potential of their innovations. Innova has not only survived, but has also thrived due to the persistence of its team and the cutting-edge combination of technology and necessity that characterizes antimicrobial materials.
energy possibilities; PGG, a coatings and specialty products company; and even the US Army. Innova’s ten employees raised $5.5 million in venture capital in May 2010, and the company has remained extremely successful and relevant in the industry. For job inquiries and other information, visit
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f you only had one dollar to donate, you probably wouldn’t even think it was worth giving. Technology aims to change that. It’s not the value of the dollar that’s increasing—if anything,
effort in just two weeks. reported that 50 percent of American households had given to Haiti through mobile phones. technological advancement. Joyce Meng, co-founder of
delivery. With the proliferation of texting campaigns, social media advertising, and online service groups, philanthropic efforts have not just grown, they’ve become a part of daily life. One only needs to look at the State Department’s response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake to gain some perspective on the use of technology to connect donors with what After the tragic earthquake, the State Department developed an experimental texting campaign where donors could text
is the growing presence of grassroots philanthropy groups. Givology uses a website to connect donors to various partner grassroots organizations internationally that focus on education and scholarships. When asked about the role of social media in Givology’s case, Meng explained that Givology does not have any we rely heavily on Twitter, we’re big on YouTube, we do
ten dollars to the relief effort. In one of the biggest surprises of the year, people donated over $35 million to the relief
think an important part about Givology is that we believe
successes like these, technology has proven to be one of the most important tools in helping to start and sustain grassroots organizations. It’s not just social media that helps these organizations. Besides having the power to analyze the progress, growth, and even number of hits on a website, technology is also serving to connect donors directly to those whom they that volunteering is something that everyone can get Givology has successfully raised close to $400,000 so far for projects such as AGE Africa, which promotes secondary education for girls in Malawi. The website works to link online donors with one of close to 50 of these unique you that even a small donation helps. Open up one of its YouTube videos and you can watch a 60-second clip of individuals such as Wharton professor Adam Grant explain its tweets and you’ll see one announcing that anyone who advantage of every technological resource available, making it easier for people to stay informed and to contribute. Commenting on the effect of technology on other nonhave the multi-million dollar budgets of Save The Children or UNICEF. They get to pay for the expensive print ads and TV ads and the marketing and mailing and all of that, to Givology, a dollar goes directly to the project versus if we Meng went on to comment that the Givology website itself garners around 30,000 hits per day, and that she believes that social media is the reason the Givology was able to sell 5,000 copies of its book . With
a personal way, connecting with recipients through blogs, forums, and letters run by pen-pal programs. Some websites such as ePals.com exclusively provide a way to host these relationships. Online tools have created what Sean Parker, Technology has also not only created a whole new method of philanthropy, but has allowed people to share and spread ideas on ways to give. Givology has individual chapters at universities such as Penn, and the internet allows these groups to connect with other chapters easily. Ideas, initiatives, and campaigns from one chapter may spark inspiration in another. This interconnectivity has helped to In an increasingly technological society, it makes sense for philanthropy to follow suit. The volunteer community has grown to include partnerships around the globe and has allowed for philanthropic efforts to spawn from organizations State Department. From spreading the word through social media, to connecting chapters across a global network, to creating a sustainable relationship between donor Technology has, in its own way, made every dollar count.
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e have all mastered the art of apathy on Locust. Be it calling a parent or suddenly admiring the holiday lights, we do everything we can to avoid talking to the rambunctious student So what does it take to actually get students to put away their phones and get out their wallets? One sorority, Alpha Phi, hoped that chaining sisters to attractive fraternity boys would do the trick. $1,000 for women’s heart health through the national Alpha Phi Foundation. But this is just one event from one sorority. Together, the fraternities and sororities on Penn’s campus collectively raise more than $128,000 annually for both national and local and sororities exist solely to party, they certainly make philanthropy a major and successful part of the Greek experience. Each fraternity and sorority has a national organization to which it is expected to donate, but some choose to additionally support local charities close to their hearts. As Penn’s Director of organizations, but they do tremendous work academically and philanthropy events, including haunted houses for local kids, downtown parties to raise funds, and casino nights on campus.
email to the fraternity about checking themselves for cancer; as a result, a brother abroad performed the selfexamination and found a tumor. After he returned to Philadelphia for treatment, the philanthropy suddenly tremendous amount of money for testicular cancer research in addition to giving support to their brother and raising public awareness about the illness. This year, College junior and Alpha Chi Omega Vice President of Philanthropy Caroline O’Connor was in talent show at a downtown club. The proceeds from the event— Abuse, a local women’s shelter. She thinks that philanthropy is Even though we may feel like poor college students and are really stressed about midterms, there are so many more important All fraternities and sororities at Penn are required to contribute to a philanthropic cause. But is philanthropy considered a necessary part of Greek life? Reikofski emphasizes that it builds important College sophomore and Alpha Phi sister Renata O’Donnell believes that sororities and fraternities are a great avenue for philanthropy because of the large base of people. Philanthropy is
useful things you can do. Sure, we can aim for prestige or success, but…philanthropy, giving to other people, is the best way to be While philanthropy is undeniably useful, is the system in place for Greek organizations the best way to make an impact? Many organizations just fundraise for an organization by throwing a party downtown, never forming a deep connection with the mission. Reikofski says that he wishes more chapters engaged in profound experience comes from hands-on community service work. Whether that’s handing out material to raise awareness of a particular disease, serving at a soup kitchen, doing crafts at a school in West Philadelphia, or helping homeless people on cold nights to get inside…that’s a different experience that awards people a lot more than going to a party downtown and donating
never connect all of the Penn community, but 200 people can regularly engages is much more rewarding for the philanthropist. College junior Tyler Boyce, a brother of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, believes that fraternities and sororities should
from doing community service work. While both O’Donnell and O’Connor personally engage in community service through other clubs and see the value in guess it is kind of a shame that we…don’t have any interaction admits. O’Connor agrees that service is important, incentivize. With something like the event we do, it has the charity side and it’s also fun. Many people wouldn’t Utilizing these large networks for philanthropy But, as Reikofski implies, students in fraternities and sororities could have even more meaningful experiences by doing more than breaking out their wallets. Commit a few hours of your time so that you the community you are helping. Form connections so that you want to help again and see your donations and time are important.
AT
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The answer to this question is the driving force behind high impact philanthropy (HIP). HIP is a young, Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) at Penn, involves three things: 1. 2. 3.
Focusing on achieving social impact Finding and using the best available evidence in identifying social problems and developing solutions to them Combining analyses of cost and impact to discover the most
People often look to the ratio of an organization’s overhead, or administrative expenses, and its program expenses as an evaluative metric of its social impact. However, it’s important to not confuse overhead. According to Professor Peter Frumkin, director of the
many ways to combat malaria, but one high impact approach is impact approaches to solving critical issues. We may also identify an organization or two that implement that approach, but ultimately, we want donors to be able to see the big picture by understanding How do they do this? According to 2001 Wharton MBA graduate and School of Social Policy & Practice professor Katherina Rosqueta, CHIP’s founding
to measure, but they do not tell us much about the social impact
Getting to the heart of social impact is precisely what Penn’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) sets out to do. Founded in 2006, it serves as an independent source of guidance and tools for donors around the world who are concerned with maximizing the social impact of their funds. CHIP’s method lies in identifying the most effective models and approaches for intervention within given social issues, analyzing
review is compiled from the available evidence on a social issue or topic. Then, interviews with experts and policymakers are conducted. Finally, site visits and communication with practitioners review of all three sources of information helps CHIP analysts create actionable guidance—in the form of research, analysis, and educational programs—that’s accessible to donors and advisors
produce a donor guide that tells them the By focusing on high impact approaches can better understand the context of a particular issue and recognize opportunities for increased impact. CHIP has produced resources such as a donor toolkit on global children’s health, a series of annual year-end giving guidance that includes webinars, a blog series and free online guide, and a series of philanthropic investment guides on issues ranging from preventing malaria to improving teaching quality. In addition to producing reports commissioned by donors and foundations, CHIP also follows the most relevant topics worked on a guide for donors who want to support relief efforts for the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. In such public understand how to have the most While some of CHIP’s work supports resources are impact-focused and made
donors make connections with others, and also get more involved in a particular
there addressing different aspects of the question of effectiveness—no one can do the Center for Effective Philanthropy in Boston examines effective philanthropic strategies with a focus on institutional funders and their relationship to grantees, unlike CHIP, whose work has always been geared to individual donors and advisors focused on social impact. In contrast, the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University collects data to analyze patterns of giving and donor behavior, examining the donor decision-making side of the philanthropic equation instead of CHIP explores these other approaches through collaborations with other Penn organizations, notably Wharton Social Impact Initiative (WSII). CHIP has partnered with WSII on numerous occasions, most recently on a report titled which tackles some of the questions central to effective philanthropy. The partnership seems destined to
Managing Director Sherryl Kuhlman agrees, citing the parallels between impact investing—which WSII works on—and
that it’s not only philanthropic dollars that Another organization that has taken a different approach to the question of effective giving is GiveWell. Founded in the best giving opportunities based on indepth research that measures the amount
work informs and engages donors in a
so that donors can make informed giving WSII about is the ways we can break down the different types of giving for donors, and the differences and most exciting
global humanitarian approach to giving. people isn’t better than helping other
CHIP’s approach is one method to address effectiveness in the philanthropic sector, but it is certainly not the only
are lots of ways to create impact – the question to ask is, what impact do I seek, 2001 Wharton MBA graduate and WSII
provide naturally targets the people who are more cause-agnostic with regard to
from a more critical approach to giving. also strengthened by having this critical giving opportunities that go beyond just
a more critical approach to giving not only helps donors make better decisions, but
from the giving that we commonly see. According to Daniel Borochoff, president of CharityWatch, a charity rating and evaluation service, 32 percent of all philanthropic giving goes to churches and other religious bodies, and the majority of the rest goes to hospitals, universities, and cultural institutions such as museums.
towards giving for maximum impact and grown in the kinds of analysis we’re
CHIP
has
seen
similar
trends.
giving is geared towards organizations with which donors personally identify. philanthropic sector who are utilizing scale giving, and there’s nothing wrong with philanthropy for value-driven giving based
High impact philanthropy as an approach to giving is very different people paying for a service they received that they value, or giving to a community However, both Wolfe of CHIP and approach to giving gaining ground in the
foundations to impact investors. Donors appreciate the combination of practical What organizations like CHIP and GiveWell encourage, in their own ways, is a reconsideration of how donors think about giving. Giving in a way that will make the most impact may seem like an obvious concept, but many factors must be taken into consideration, from impact measurement to scalability. The work of CHIP, GiveWell, and others informs the charitable sector and stimulates conversation about donors’ motives for giving, with the ultimate objective of focusing philanthropy on impact.
A GUIDE TO THE EFFECTIVE Rather than suggesting a single organization to support, the Center determines which strategies have the best evidence and provides examples of organizations using those strategies effectively. For example, the Center’s research this well is Year Up, operating in 11 US cities. Donors can give to Year Up, or they can seek out another group with a similar approach—
(As they appear in CHIP’s 2013 Year End Giving Guide)
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Home-based newborn care programs reduce infant deaths by providing basic care for mothers and babies at home. Example organization: The Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) in rural India
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Community-based programs improve neighborhoods by turning vacant lots into assets: clearing trash, planting greenery, and providing maintenance. Example organization: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Connecting unemployed youth with work experience and education options can help them meet the needs of today’s job market and earn a living wage. Example organization: Year Up Food banks can leverage partnerships across the food supply chain to secure food well below retail price. Example organization: The Feeding America food bank
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Home visitation programs can coach parents on nutrition, health care, and learning opportunities for their children. Example organization: The Nurse-Family Partnership Peer-based health promotion programs can improve child nutrition and health in poor communities. Example organization: Food for the Hungry’s Child Survival Program in Mozambique Integrating student services inside schools helps young people access the help they need to stay on track to graduate. Example organization: Communities In Schools
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Directly transferring money to the very poor allows recipients to purchase that which they believe will help them most. Strong evidence indicates that cash transfers lead recipients to spend more on their basic needs such as food and may allow recipients to make investments with very high returns, with no evidence of large increases in spending on items like alcohol or tobacco.
In sub-Saharan Africa, a large proportion of people, often children, are infected with parasitic worms that cause short-term symptoms such as anemia and may cause longer-term developmental problems. These worms are extremely inexpensive to treat— about $5 to protect a child for 10 years.
Like the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, the Deworm the World Initiative, led by Evidence Action, supports programs that treat children for parasitic worm infections.
It was an unassuming set-up, consisting of a handful of folding tables positioned in between parked cars in a lot at 49th and Spruce streets. About a dozen volunteers milled about busily, unloading boxes of vegetables from a white truck and arranging them on the tables. Nearby, a line of over a hundred people long snaked along the sidewalk. This was the weekly scene of the Philabundance Fresh For All market in University City, where every Wednesday afternoon, the lot would serve as a distribution point for members of the West Philadelphia community requiring hunger relief to pick up fresh food for their friends and family. The site opened in February of 2010 and had been consistently serving between 225 and 300 families on a weekly basis ever since. That is, until October 30, Fresh For All (FFA) is only one branch of Philabundance, the largest organization in the greater Philadelphia area committed to offering hunger-relief assistance. The
organization consists of over 500 member agencies in the Delaware Valley, providing services such as food cupboards, emergency kitchens, and senior centers. The Fresh For All program is a fairly recent addition to Philabundance’s efforts that focuses on providing fresh produce to those in need. Jessica Wyckoff, director of the Fresh For All program, was on site in West Philadelphia, working alongside her team coming through with shopping bags, carts, even suitcases.
When there was a lull in the crowd, Wyckoff explained what sets Fresh For All apart from other hunger-relief efforts in Philadelphia. means that rather than receiving a prepackaged container of assorted nonperishables, families are able to come here
and choose for themselves what they’d West Philadelphia is what’s known as which nutritious, affordable food options are either inaccessible or non-existent. In low-income neighborhoods, fruits and vegetables are often not stocked in markets or corner stores because of their short shelf life. With the FFA program in place, Philabundance hopes to improve not only
the quantity of food available to the people in Philadelphia, but also the quality. Giving their participants control over their food options is an important way in which Philabundance makes the act of seeking food assistance more accessible and appealing. The stigma of using such portion of those who qualify for food assistance to not take advantage of it. But on a rainy Wednesday in West Philadelphia, with R&B playing softly on the radio and volunteers warmly chatting with the people passing through, the lot at 49th and Spruce may very well have been a farmer’s market. Additionally, Philabundance employs a self-declaration registration process. One volunteer stood by the queue taking down information from each individual such as name, address, number of family members, and monthly income, but Wyckoff made people are welcome to provide as much
In comparison with other processes for hunger-relief, such as applying for food stamps (also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)), a procedure that requires a large amount of paperwork and can take up to a month, the resources that Philabundance offers are quite accessible. The lot in use by Philabundance is now slated to be turned into upscale apartments marketed towards students and middle-class residents and, at this point, Philabundance has no plans to reestablish such a site in West Philadelphia. Along with
the recent additional closing of an FFA site in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania, the number of Fresh For All sites that Philabundance operates has decreased to ten. On this subject, the Public Relations Director for Philabundance, Lindsay Bues, noted: immediate plans to re-open a Fresh For All in University City because we are unable to provide enough produce to all 12 sites like we once were. The demand for food assistance is rising and donations are unable to keep up with that demand. Before replacing this location, we want to evaluate which neighborhoods are in need for FFA distributions to ensure that areas Bues touched on a stark reality: the issue of hunger is an increasing one in the Philadelphia area. In the Delaware Valley, one in three children live in poverty, and each year more than 900,000 individuals are at risk of food insecurity. Philabundance in particular has seen a 26 percent increase in need over the past year alone. Additionally, the majority of those seeking assistance are the working poor—meaning they cannot afford to meet their nutritional needs despite being employed.
Though Philabundance had to shut down their outpost in West Philadelphia, the story doesn’t end here. Jessica Wyckoff and her team have begun diverting their produce to other hunger-relief agencies in the area, such as local churches. As the alternatives passed the hands of the dozens of people still in line to receive food. The volunteers continued to usher them through, though the offerings were by this point much scarcer. Volunteer Chrystal King stood by watching the food offerings dwindle. said, motioning to remaining individuals standing out here in the rain if they didn’t
The crates of leftovers were eventually all packed away and the site permanently closed. But the volunteers seemed intent
on continuing their efforts elsewhere. As the largest hunger-relief organization in the Philadelphia area, Philabundance offers extremely well-developed infrastructure for volunteering. Volunteers can choose to help sort and pack foods in the Hunger Relief Center, serve on-site through programs such as Fresh For All, or set up distribution points at local elementary schools through the program Kids Bites to directly target and support children in need. There are demographics, such as the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA), which aims to provide daily meals for low-income individuals facing life-threatening illnesses. Even Penn hosts a range of options, such as the weekly soup kitchen hosted on Sunday nights at Hillel.
Support for hunger-relief efforts in our city has been steadily growing over the past decade, but, unfortunately, so has the number of people in need. At the end of the day, this isn’t a problem to be solved by can drives (which, though helpful, only make up about 10 percent of the food revenue Philabundance receives). Volunteering is required to make the level of relief that these agencies seek to provide possible. Furthermore, for those of us living with all the luxuries provided to us of hunger a tangible reality. There’s always something to be done, and even though hunger continues to be a grave concern for the city of Philadelphia, this city has shown that it refuses to back down from the challenge.
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o combat the competitive stigma often associated with Wharton undergraduates, the recently founded Wharton Undergraduate Giving Society (WUGS) encourages a standard of giving in the Wharton undergraduate community by promoting acts of kindness to positively impact the Penn experience. WUGS foresees a more harmonious and integrated undergraduate community in which students versus taking. The inspiration for the club came when Wharton senior and WUGS President Yasmina Abdel-Malek took a class in the spring of 2013 with Wharton professor Adam Grant. At the time of the class, Grant was teaching lessons from his research-based book Abdel-Malek’s father, who she describes as a huge giver, was extremely susceptible to being taken advantage of by she questioned. Grant’s research methods helped her answer this question.
Adam Grant is an author, researcher, and the youngest tenured professor at Wharton. Grant received his B.A. from Harvard University and M.S. and Ph.D. (which he earned in less than three years) from the University of Michigan in organizational psychology. His achievements have garnered a wide range of recognition and accolades; Grant was recognized as the highest-rated professor in the Wharton MBA program and one of the world’s top 40 business professors under 40. While he consults notable clients, including the NFL, the United Nations, Pixar, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, he still makes time for his students, who can of homework assistance, recommendations, or life advice. Grant’s research focuses on matters such as initiative and proactivity, work motivation, pro-social giving, and helping behaviors. Such themes can be found in his book Give
and Take. The book, a and Wall bestseller, aims to explain why we undervalue the success of givers, what and what is unique about giver success. While Grant’s approach to success is quite structured in his book, his intended audience
in that if people of different age groups read The book’s relevance among a range of students who hold very strong values around giving but believe that success is somewhat zero-sum, or that it’s going to be a sign of weakness if they show too much concern for be probably a good time to dismantle some
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people, tutoring people, giving them tips on travel, food. Little things that make such a When Abdel-Malek, Wharton and College senior Taylor McConnell, and Wharton senior Mijana Djurdjevic came to Grant with the idea for the organization, he was had students every year who would come want to do with their lives and a lot of times they would say things like, ‘I really want to make a difference and help others so I’m going to accumulate as much wealth as I can over the next 35 years and then start giving back.’ I always thought that was a little bit The main problem with this notion is that many students only associate giving with people that I knew had started giving long on me that a lot of people misunderstood what giving was. They thought about it just as philanthropy or volunteering, but in fact there’s lots of ways we should be helping
differentiate ourselves from other volunteer,
organized an informal mentorship program, and launched the WUGS Giving Board app (www. ) where users can view, post, and respond to requests for help across Penn. WUGS stresses that even non-members
major event was a talk with Grant, attended by about 70 people. After that, the alumni relations committee hosted a breakfast panel of seven MBA graduates from a wide range of professions, including the CIA and the Gates Foundation. The event’s theme was
should show up to our smaller events too, and really help, because that’s when they’re learning—not from big speakers, but
Wharton, no one wants to be vulnerable. No one wants to acknowledge failure…It’s okay
While there are other groups on campus dedicated to giving, Grant underlines a big
also collaborated with Wharton Europe, International Business Review, Wharton Asia Exchange, and the Wharton Council
often missing here is a focus on the Wharton community itself and an effort to strengthen the culture here, and I think that’s one big
which provided free food for students in the spirit of Thanksgiving. At the event, WUGS presented a giving board where students posted either special skills or advice they could offer or ask of others. Since January, WUGS has hosted a to in which students passed a wristband on to others who have helped them. Throughout the semester, this proactive club has also
Abdel-Malek said.
As a catalyst for social impact, WUGS and Adam Grant are challenging the notion of giving in a business environment and proving that success can be achieved while helping others.
Spare some change, Son? Got 50 cents, Miss? How about some sense to make some change? Because every day it seems the same We walk past them, wallets clenched tight, nervous and scared Walk faster, heads down; eye contact is too much to bear Cold face, hungry face, white, black, sick, sad, angry face Is it them we’re afraid to face, Or just the truth? How we walk down Locust, signing up to help the youth And the hungry and the poor when it’s convenient for us Thursday when I don’t have to study, Friday when my best friend can go Saturday so I can tweet about it and everyone can know Why give to keep your reputation? Why give to heal your soul? Why not give to give strength to the young, sick, poor, and old?
Why not give to make community? Why not give to become aware? Why not give because we love? Why not give because we can?
Make Penn and Philly synonymous Stop leaving others so anonymous Turn pain into potential Give because it’s essential
Why not give because we are human? Humans who sometimes deserve your last hour, your last dollar, your last slice of bread Humans who won’t walk past each other when in need; humans who will give, instead
Meanwhile, across the street, a woman buried beneath layers of coats sits in a wheelchair next to a bench. Luggage surrounds her. She does not move a muscle for hours. This should be a strange sight, yet everyone—students, families, and passers-by—walks by without a glance. The abnormal appearance of this woman has somehow faded into the rest of the scenery. While her physical presence is made obvious to everyone, they—we—choose to look away. I am fully aware that many Penn students are involved in fantastic organizations with missions of tackling hunger and homelessness, among other social issues. They do amazing work to transform lives. Others choose to help from afar, be more effective than doling out quarters on the sidewalk. My inner discord, however, arises from the poverty that stares me in the face every day. When asked for a dollar, my conscience is
not appeased by knowing I handed out sandwiches to homeless people a few winters ago. This man is here, now. He is struggling right before my eyes. We need to spend more time thinking about what is happening. We need to start paying attention. I know we all have plenty of our own problems to be preoccupied with on a day-to-day basis, but still—doesn’t it bother you? I doubt we are just desensitized to the tragic life of the homeless. While many people pass them by with sympathetic reality of the doomed life that has become the fate of many by means beyond their control. It is disturbing to think that some people’s life experiences might actually be so miserable. Rather than think about these things, we tell ourselves that when we hand out money, we might be worsening the problem by perpetuating drug and alcohol addictions. We tell ourselves that if people just
tried harder, they could triumph over any situation. Let’s take a minute to imagine the life of a homeless man, fully adorned with all the stereotypes that come to mind. He is out of work and has only the money in his pockets. He wears layers on layers of clothing because he has no dresser. If he has a family, he no longer provides for them. He is mentally ill and struggles with substance abuse. Paranoid delusions distort his reality. Now imagine this man applying for a job. Who is going to hire a guy who mutters nonsensically to himself and has not changed his clothes in weeks? How will he even be contacted to arrange an interview? His obstacles seem insurmountable, and who is to blame? It is no one individual’s fault that the homeless man will continue to be homeless. It is structural injustice. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, about 26 percent of homeless people in the United States are considered mentally ill, 40 percent of homeless men are veterans, and 41 percent of the homeless population is made up of families. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that on any given night, 633,782 people are experiencing homelessness. While these statistics are staggering, they are only so provocative. Statistics alone never cause change. People who are truly invested and concerned cause change. People who care. Despite all the organizations combating homelessness, the problem persists. The injustices inherent in our society will continue until its structure is addressed, not merely the problems that result from it. Shelters are treating the problem, but they cannot provide a cure. Organizations dedicated to the cause know this fact and act accordingly, doing what they can to help now even if they cannot go directly to the source of the problem.
However, organizations can’t always help everyone. The Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House’s (PVCH) mission vacation at the expense of our donors, or believe you are God’s to be challenged in an atmosphere of camaraderie and devotion to mission, and you want to work very hard to put your life back together, we may be just that place that puts you on a path to that if you are not able to get your act together to work hard, you are not welcome. In a world where money is always tight, PVCH and other shelters cannot accommodate everyone, so they let in those who are most likely to succeed. But what about those for whom success is not likely? They need help more than anyone. Nobody wants to be homeless, but the hard truth is that many are in positions where they cannot help themselves. And when they try, it doesn’t always work. Remember this the next time you pass that man sitting on the bench outside CVS, or the woman alone in the park. Stop for a second and give thought not only to how you will respond, but to why you believe that is the right way to respond. Yes, it is much easier not to think about it and to just keep walking, but we all need to begin to empathize with the struggle of our neighbors. When enough people start to stop and think, society will begin to reject the plight of homelessness. And when society’s mindset changes, its structure follows.
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ccording to the Penn students featured in this article, it can represent a number of actions and emotions:
Giving can also be examined by what and to whom you give.
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Wharton and College senior Minkwang Jang, the former president of Alpha Phi Omega, also sees the beauty in a few kind words. Brothers of this coed service fraternity already commit themselves to serving the community, but Jang also saw the opportunity to bring service-minded brothers together with
ords are a frequently undervalued way to give back to
way to make sure a friend or family member feels appreciated and valued. Several Penn students have come to understand the true potential of giving words. Started a year ago by a Penn senior, Penn Compliments—a student to another—has quickly amassed almost 5,000 Facebook friends and has spread joy, humor, and goodwill throughout the community. through their tough patches—midterms, social struggles, loss of a
cup where brothers anonymously send compliments about other brothers; the compliments are then compiled and read at chapter meetings. people’s negative qualities, and, oftentimes, they are the topic of conversations, but there are less occasions to talk about good things. I just wanted to create a more approving and positive APO’s Snap Cup has only just started, but it has already elicited
on the good that is happening in an organization, rather than on the criticisms, will lead to increased drive, trust, and acceptance. A few seconds could mean something exponentially greater to someone else. And, who knows, perhaps in the future you’ll be friends recalling this story about how you met.
mindset is typical of many Penn students, as well as of many people in the world around us. Many seek a balance and a sense of fairness in their lives, which they try to achieve by reciprocating favors and gifts as equally as possible. When asked if he ever gives without expectation, Floyd replied, Everyone gives, and it is easiest to give to those close to us because there is a mutual trust. In addition to words, we give to friends with our time, sharing memories and advice; with food, offering a cookie here and there; with service, doing the extra dishes for our roommates; and with humor, hugs, and love. Wharton junior Kelly Furukawa. As someone who takes pride in her style, Furukawa has found a way to give while utilizing her for her G.I. Joe mixer, I am excited because I can offer what she administrator—and inherent in the idea of sharing laughter is sharing time. it means encouragement or advice, or simply sitting and listening, everyone appreciates giving and receiving time.
Espinal sees Floyd’s philosophy of reciprocal giving in Penn’s You give with the expectation to receive and receive with the eliminated. She believes that no-strings-attached giving— otherwise known as altruism—should be applied to everyone, even strangers.
and the peace of mind that comes with never keeping score of who gave to whom. When we think about those to whom we give, strangers don’t immediately come to mind. And yet the interaction can be just as simple as giving a compliment to a friend or fraternity brother. A compliment from anyone, including and perhaps even especially from a stranger, can brighten someone’s day.
commitment to serving others however possible. You have the power to give something every day and can even start today with a few simple words. Giving helps to build a community of mutual trust, respect, and love. The few compliments you give to your fraternity brothers and the few dishes you wash for your housemates can lay a foundation for a giving culture which can, in turn, spur a whirlwind of change in our community at Penn and wherever we go. It all starts with the everyday.
behavior because they crave a certain social relationship with their community. By performing community service, a person gains a connection to people and to an experience, which may be why altruism tends to exist within communities or groups.
Philosophers, like sociologists, study altruism because it is a pro-social behavior. Immanuel Kant, an 18th century German philosopher whose ideas shaped modern philosophy, explained that a completely altruistic and moral person does good
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one that has triggered heated debates about whether or not altruism exists at all. While
explains why hunters work together and then share the kill among the pack. Today, we often help others without consciously
usually spontaneous and uncontrollable; so is it even humanly possible to be altruistic? Philosophers argue that it is possible, although altruism exists in surprising forms. Philosophy professor Cristina Bicchieri explained that altruistic people can be found in radical war groups and
our brains may still calculate the potential rewards. Because this theory suggests a personal
think anymore of themselves as separate, unique individuals, but as group members
of its implications. In their studies of altruism, psychologists tend to focus on the individual, sociologists on the community, and philosophers on the interaction between the two.
Many theories in psychology regarding altruism root themselves in biology. According to Charles Darwin’s original theory of evolution, altruism should not of natural selection. However, people help others every day, which has led to the development of a more modern evolutionary theory regarding altruism. First-year psychology graduate student Kris Smith, who studies pro-social behavior, These changes involve the development of theories that explain why congregating individual. Reciprocal altruism, one of the modern leading theories in psychology, emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s. It states that people help others with the expectation that they will be helped in the future. Therefore,
psychologists, such as Smith, argue that pure altruism—which involves
an individual trait, sociology argues the opposite: that altruism is not intrinsic, but Third-year sociology graduate student socially constructed. There are social forces that lead someone to be altruistic or
answer then leads to the question of ‘Why
altruism, sociologists research gender and race demographics, communities created around kind-hearted people, and events that possibly motivate people to care for others’ welfare over their own. One hypothesis in sociology is that people are altruistic for moral and religious
which we might not yet be aware. Hunter-gatherer societies provide a good example of reciprocal altruism. A hunter with extra food gives his surplus to another hunter who needs food. The cost to him is minimal, and he may physically
duty by helping others. Religious practices encourage the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. A study conducted at Syracuse University showed that religious practices are associated with a higher level of care and concern for others. Another interesting hypothesis, according to Zelner, is that people engage in altruistic
that comes from giving to others is not cannot answer the question ‘Why do we help others?’ with ‘We help others because
cases, individuals do not perform a service sense of obligation, which can often lead to negative results (as in the case of war). These examples are not common, but Bicchieri claimed that there are even fewer cases where people behave altruistically and create positive results. Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers argue over the extent to which altruism exists, if at all. Throughout this debate, a question remains: does it even matter? Is it enough that good deeds happen, regardless of the motivation behind them? One aspect that most scholars can agree upon is that giving still produces positive results, regardless of whether the giver is subconsciously
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