While philanthropy and giving are wonderful endeavors, they’re often met with criticism for a multitude of reasons. It’s important that we strive to constantly learn and improve the way we approach philanthropy, and one of the best ways to do that is to listen to the experts. Many philanthropists have given TED Talks over the years, and they can be a great way to learn more about the subject, and how we can improve it in order to make sure marginalized groups and those in need are getting the support they deserve. Here are a few of the best TED Talks about giving.
The Way We Think About Charity Is Dead Wrong – Dan Pallotta
Dan Pallotta believes that innovation and risk-taking are the keys to making philanthropy successful. In his talk, he challenged philanthropists and non-profit leaders to be willing to fail in order to truly succeed.
In his talk, Dan challenged the notion that traditional charity should be run as efficiently as possible. Instead, he argued that investing in the leadership and technology of non-profit organizations could actually create more positive change.
The Why and How of Altruism – Peter Singer
When we see a video of a child who has been seriously injured in a car accident, we usually assume that we would immediately help the child. However, when we see the number of children who die every day due to hunger and disease, we realize that we have a lot of hypocrisy and inaction.
Peter Singer argues that being able to live without want is a natural inclination to be altruistic. However, he suggests that there are ways to balance the practicality of giving with the emotion of doing good.
Why Giving Away Our Wealth Has Been The Most Satisfying Thing We’ve Done – Bill and Melinda Gates
In 1993, after taking a walk on the beach, Bill and Melinda decided that they wanted to give away their wealth to society. In this interview, the couple talks to Chris Anderson about their marriage, their failures, and how they’ve enjoyed giving away most of their wealth, claiming it’s been one of the greatest decisions they’ve ever made.
Want To Help Africa? Do Business Here – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Despite the negative images of Africa, there are also positive stories happening in the continent, according to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She believes that there are plenty of business opportunities in the country.
In her talk, Okonjo-Iweala challenged the world to include Africa instead of just giving aid. She argued that by engaging the continent in the global economy, we can create a significant impact in a way that traditional aid can’t.