Enormous accumulations of wealth and privilege by one group testify to the deprivations of the same for other groups, a reality that is obscured by the twin myths of merit and benevolence. In the United States, these myths serve to naturalize white men’s continuing disproportionate share of social, political, and economic capital. For philanthropy to counteract the failures of democracy, it must count itself among that failure and work to dismantle the structural inequalities based on gender, race, and class that have made its existence possible.

Democracy must, at a minimum, provide all its citizens equal access to opportunities and equal protection under its laws. All of the grave social ills facing the United States today—sexual and domestic violence, poverty, disease, mass incarceration, domestic terrorism, unemployment, discrimination, climate change, harassment, police brutality, disenfranchisement—can be traced to this country’s original sin of white male supremacy, and none will be healed without providing restitution to its victims.

The word “philanthropy” means “love of humankind,” and it could be persuasively argued that this concept is the essential ingredient of democracy. The love of humankind is the antithesis of selfishness, tribalism, and domination; it embodies the sharing of power.

If philanthropy in modern times were understood as improving the welfare of others regardless of the impact on one’s own well-being, local charities and small nonprofits would fit the bill most readily. The individuals behind these operations often contribute huge amounts of labor, expertise, and time to people in need and do so at low or no cost despite not being particularly wealthy or advantaged themselves. For those who fight against sexism, racism, and other forms of bigotry, the cost of this work frequently includes risk to their personal safety and psychological health.

Read the full article about addressing the failings of philanthropy by Mary Anne Franks at Knight Foundation.