There’s no doubt that our country and world are better off because of the work of philanthropists. It’s especially impressive to watch what Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are doing with their billions of dollars through the Gates Foundation. Unfortunately, philanthropists, like money, don’t grow on trees. Since waiting for generous people to get rich could take a while, it’s a lot easier to try convincing people who are already rich to be more generous. That’s exactly what The Giving Back Fund, which is based in Los Angeles, CA, does. They are a non-profit organization that envisions “a society in which becoming a successful philanthropist is as valued and desirable a goal as success in athletics, business, entertainment, or any other field.”

What Are You Giving Back?

It shouldn’t be a surprise that philanthropy is hard for a lot of people. Giving away money is a completely unnatural act. The Giving Back Fund has a tough challenge in fighting human nature, but they’ve developed a great approach. They’ve focused on cultivating “a new group of philanthropists within the entertainment and sports industries, with a particular emphasis on groups often underrepresented in traditional philanthropy such as people of color, women, and youth.” These people have the money to give, they just need to see the value in giving it. Because new stars are often image conscious, The Giving Back Fund plays up the publicity benefits of being a philanthropist. That’s why they launched The Giving Back 30, a list of the top 30 celebrities in terms of dollars donated to charity. Oprah consistently tops the list, and I’d say she’s a pretty good role model for aspiring superstars. The Giving Back Fund also offers Philanthropic Consulting to help new philanthropists work through the hard decisions like how much to give and whom to give to. I like the idea behind The Giving Back Fund, because it’s focused on big wins. By getting big names to give big money, they’re creating a culture of philanthropy that will hopefully become self-perpetuating. If you’d like to be a part of what The Giving Back Fund, then you should check out the “Bookkeeper Plus” position posted on their Jobs page. It’s not a perfect fit for a new grad, but if you have some accounting know how and want to dig in deep with the every day operations of a non-profit organization, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• GivingBack.org
• Jobs at The Giving Back Fund
• About The Giving Back Fund
• The Giving Back Fund’s FAQ
• The Giving Back Fund’s Programs and Services
• The Giving Back Fund in the News

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