Local philanthropy vs international philanthropy: which Is better?

For many philanthropists finding the right cause to give to can be tricky.
A leading UK philanthropist explains how he is making a real difference with his donationsA leading UK philanthropist explains how he is making a real difference with his donations
A leading UK philanthropist explains how he is making a real difference with his donations

Some prefer to give to their local communities while others are more prone to giving to causes that are known on an international scale. There is often a large debate over which is better with outcry from the public for both kinds of causes.

So, is local philanthropy or international philanthropy better and how do philanthropists choose?

What is local philanthropy?

Many people believe that charity begins at home and this is often something that many philanthropists believe as well.

Local philanthropy involves giving to local causes near to where the philanthropist has grown up or lives. It might even just be elsewhere in the country, but it is usually limited to somewhere that they know well.

In the UK, local philanthropists usually help to support local communities by setting up community centres or offering opportunities for those who are living in poverty.

What is international philanthropy?

International philanthropy is often seen on a global scale with philanthropists working to help causes such as extreme poverty in developing world. These causes are often more talked about and there are many well-known charities and foundations that have been set up to support them. International philanthropy often stems from the concept that just because you can’t see someone suffering, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t.

Which is better?

Finding the right cause to give to is often down to the individual philanthropists but it is possible to get some guidance. For example, if you were to read Rebuilding You: The Philanthropy Handbook by Tej Kohli, you’d get to hear the advice from a seasoned philanthropist. This book discusses the mistakes that many philanthropists make and offers tips on how to maximise the effort.

In the UK, you’ll find that a large percentage of the general public will give to larger, international causes and neglect their local community. This isn’t usually a conscious decision; they just don’t have the local causes popping up on TV adverts and in the mail.

So, which is better? Perhaps giving to both kinds of causes is the best route to take. For many philanthropists, money isn’t an object and so they can afford to allocate their funds both locally and on an international scale. For this reason, we would suggest that no cause is better than another.

These causes will use the money that is given to them in different ways, but this doesn’t mean that one cause is more important than the other.

For philanthropists, finding a cause that means something to them is often the most important. This remains true, regardless of whether it is hundreds of miles away or at their front door.