Picture This! A Generation Recognizing Its Power & Responsibility To Give Back
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For too long, philanthropy has been narrowly defined by great wealth and large monetary gifts. Prevailing stories about giving often exclude generous everyday people and feed false notions about who can give and make a difference. Changing the world requires us to rethink and reframe philanthropy.
The Giving Back Project is a civic engagement campaign that reframes portraits of philanthropy. Through artful photography and storytelling, the Giving Back Project is igniting a movement of conscientious philanthropy by empowering a generation to recognize its power and responsibility to give back.
“This is the most powerful representation of philanthropy that I have seen in more than a decade in this field. The stories, the quotes, the voices and the photographs are uniformly vivid and extraordinary….A reminder that, in its roots, philanthropy should be felt, not thought,” says Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO, The California Endowment.
The project’s publications, multimedia presentations and interactive community forums lift up inspiring stories of everyday givers and serve to reclaim the root meaning of philanthropy, ‘love of humanity.’ From literary arts and photography to music and spoken-word poetry to digital media and social networking, the Giving Back Project brings new content and fresh approaches to include a wider slice of society in philanthropy. The project promotes the belief that we all can and should give back, no matter our age or our circumstances. It celebrates generous gifts of time, talent and treasure and values equal sacrifice, over equal giving.
A centerpiece of the project is the newly published, 400-page hardcover book, ‘Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.’ Named one of the 10 Best Black Books of 2011, ‘Giving Back’ is providing a springboard for dialogue and community conversations about philanthropic pursuits that are more inclusive, responsive and strategic. “A story that has not been told!” asserts noted scholar on philanthropy Claire Gaudiani, Ph.D. about ‘Giving Back.’
Released October 2011, the book holds a vast collection of photography and stories from over 200 project participants about the generosity, innovation and sacrifices of people who rarely are heralded as philanthropists. In addition to heightening awareness and stimulating conversation, every book purchased keeps giving, since the proceeds benefit philanthropic causes—and since the stories themselves inspire readers to give.
Achievements include raising $125,000 through institutional sponsors, individual donors and book buyers, generating 3000 social media followers, publishing 3000 books and attracting 2200 audience members at community forums in 11 cities across 7 states. The book was submitted for a 2012 NAACP Image Award nomination for ”Outstanding Literary Work–Nonfiction” and nominated for the 2012 McAdam Book Award, recognizing inspirational new books for the nonprofit sector.
Whether on Twitter or in bookstores or on auditorium stages, the imagery and narratives of the Giving Back Project illuminate transcendent truths and elicit new thinking about philanthropy. Potent storytelling is engaging multiple generations and leading people to rethink and re-imagine the power of their giving.
More About This Charity
Region
South
Category
Most Effective Awareness Campaign by a Charity
Name
GIVING BACK PROJECT, a civic engagement campaign with a fund hosted by Foundation For The Carolinas
Mission
The GIVING BACK PROJECT aims to ignite a movement of conscientious philanthropy by empowering a generation to recognize its power and responsibility to give back. Through artful photography and storytelling of everyday givers, the Giving Back Project reframes portraits of philanthropy. Leading this civic engagement campaign is the collective giving circle New Generation of African American Philanthropists, which has established a charitable project fund at Foundation For The Carolinas.
Impact
- This Achievement raised $125,000
- This charity raised $35,000 in the past year
- This Achievement helped 3,800 people in the past year
- 4,000 people engaged, enlightened and inspired by stories and photography from the Giving Back Project
Works In
United States
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