The government cannot be bothered to enforce social change. The middle-class is struggling to answer the demands of progress. Who will respond to the call of the poor that they need to be lifted out of wretchedness?

If someone has to, it is businesses, large corporates, and philanthropists.

With each corporate social responsibility (CSR) venture, a business gives back some of its wealth accrued in profits to the community of poorer humans around it, and addresses a resource distribution problem over a sustained period of time. Each CSR activity engages the company’s employees either by accepting a cash contribution from them, or by letting them donate voluntary labor, or by receiving both. Communities benefit from direct aid actions organized by corporates — these are usually high-cost projects such as cleanliness drives, food drives, event sponsorships, or small business support.

Crowdfunding has also empowered philanthropy. In the last two decades, millions of people have benefited from funds raised for humanitarian projects scattered across the globe. The process is carried out start to finish on the internet, with crowdfunders taking to the social media to promote their campaigns and causes. Large groups of donors contribute relatively small sums of money to reach goal amounts. The wonderful thing about crowdfunding is its democratic quality; every contribution matters equally, every share counts, and it is inclusive in essence. The success of the project is shared by everyone who participated. Crowdfunding celebrates giving, and not the giver.

Wealth-holders should give back because they can. The middle-class should give to the poor because by doing so they can write a positive story. Anyone who has a little to give away must give it away in order to make this positivism endure. In the times we live in, that is the least we can do for the world.

Read the full article about motivations for giving back and crowdfunding in philanthropy from Impact Guru at medium.com.