Every day, we give. In many, many ways. Though we might not realize it, we are constantly giving our time, our money, and, as Lucy Bernholz, senior research scholar at Stanford University's Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS), reminds us, our personal data. In How We Give Now: A Philanthropic Guide for the Rest of Us, Bernholz asks us — the non-wealthy givers — to expand our definition of philanthropy to include the numerous ways in which we are already participating in society, and to do so with more consciousness around how we give.

In writing this book, Bernholz engaged individuals and groups across the nation in reflective discussions about all the ways in which they direct their private resources for public benefit, beyond what is traditionally captured in official giving data. The stories people shared — in big cities and rural towns — are brought to life in the book and highlight the array of giving options we have.

Over the last few decades, income inequality in the United States has been worsening. As the wealthy get wealthier, their contributions are fueling a steady rise in charitable contributions, but fewer and fewer families overall are engaging in philanthropy and volunteering. To help us better understand why, Bernholz presents a broader "givingscape" — one that includes all the ways we — "the rest of us" — are asked to give in today's fast-paced digital environment.

In our day-to-day lives, we give in all kinds of ways we might not think of as "giving," from clicking "yes" to give a dollar when checking out at the grocery store (money) or donating to a stranger's GoFundMe campaign (money), to assisting with grocery deliveries to the elderly amid the ongoing pandemic (time) or canvassing for candidates (time), to scrolling through social media (data) or filling out a questionnaire at the doctor's office (data). All of these actions are part of our efforts to make the world a better place, but they don't necessarily carry equal impact.

Read the full article about philanthropic guidance by Lucy Bernholz at PhilanTopic.