National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day:
Celebrated on 15th November annually, this day honors the little acts of kindness such as financial donations, in-kind and volunteering efforts that support people, social causes, and communities.
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2020 | 15th November | Sunday | United States |
2021 | 15th November | Monday | United States |
2022 | 15th November | Tuesday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
# NationalPhilanthropyDay
#PhilanthropyDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on November 15th:
National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day
National Clean out your Refrigerator Day
National Raisin Bran Cereal Day
Why National Philanthropy Day?
Philanthropy is an act of goodwill to our fellow beings. It is derived from the Greek words, “Philos” which means to be fond of, and “Anthropos” which means mankind. Philanthropy and charity are words that are popularly considered to be similar but mean different things altogether. The latter focuses on addressing the sufferings inflicted by social issues while philanthropy targets the root of these social issues.
Early references of philanthropists can be found in almost all the religious texts. In Christianity, the act of giving to the poor is considered as an act of giving to God himself. Giving is considered as one of the five pillars of Islam and is thought to bring a person closer to God. The Jewish system endorsed eight levels of philanthropy in which the highest level is to help someone to be self-sufficient. This meaning resonates with the true principle of philanthropy.
The National Philanthropy day started out as an initiative of attorney Mr Douglas Freeman. He was well-known for his local philanthropic efforts. This day gained popularity after 5 years of toil and hard work to gain national recognition. Finally, in 1986 November 15th was recognized as National Philanthropic Day by the proclamation of President Ronald Regan. This day reminds us to do our part and look out for your fellow beings with the right spirit of giving.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals is a trade organization that advocates for ethical advancement in Philanthropy. AFP as an organization is held in high regard and has supported the National Philanthropic Day and its cause by opening up international opportunities and venues. The AFP honors outstanding philanthropists and contributions of Foundations, individuals, and volunteers through the NPD events around the world. San Diego, California, Tennessee, Ohio, Detroit Toledo, Chattanooga, Michigan, and California are some of the states in the US that are locally involved in the Philanthropic Day celebrations under the banner of AFP.
The Canadian government also pledged its allegiance to the cause and signed a proclamation to observe this day annually on 15th November. Collective efforts are made by the communities in the US and Canada to promote the spirit of giving. In addition to the upliftment of the local communities, it inspires the global community.
National Philanthropy Day draws on a practice that is as old as human civilization. Michael Jackson’s famous song “heal the world” is a glimpse of the true nature of this celebration. In the end, the reasons and intentions behind the acts of philanthropy make all the difference. This day reminds us that there is still hope for mankind!
How Can We Observe National Philanthropy Day:
- Donate A Piece Of You!
You can choose to volunteer according to your interests. There are various options available to use your talents and skills to serve people.
- Little Drops Of Philanthropy, In the Ocean of Needs.
According to your capacity, you can make small or big donations to various non-profit organizations and charitable foundations.
- Be A Professional Philanthropist!
You can look into job opportunities like program staff, operational management, communications, accounting, research, financial management. Look out for NGOs and charitable Foundation that are hiring.
- Create Awareness
Participate and conduct forums, fundraisers, and programs to inform the public of this day and post the videos and photos on social media using #NationalPhilanthropyDay and #PhilanthropyDay
Interesting Facts On National Philanthropy Day:
Here are some interesting facts surrounding Philanthropy!
- The website NPDLove.com and the #NPD Love was launched by AFP to engage the online communities in the National Philanthropy Day celebrations.
- “Now More Than Ever’ composed by Marvin Hamlisch is the official song of National Philanthropy Day.
- The National Philanthropy day is registered and acknowledged by the US Department of Commerce and USPTO.
- Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is considered as the largest foundation in the US.
- The Aaron Diamond Foundation funded the programs to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- Philanthropists are free to fund projects or people without government interference.
- Charitable Foundations are exempt from tax if they meet certain criteria and restrictions of the government.
History Of National Philanthropy Day:
The National Philanthropy Day was organized by the Association Of Fundraising Professionals( AFD) in 1985. The program inspires and appreciates active philanthropists who work towards the goal of creating a better world by their contributions to society.