A Personal Reminder of What Giving Can Do

I came to America as a child fleeing communism in Estonia. My family arrived with the clothes on our backs and hardly anything more, but with something greater waiting for us: welcome. Neighbors, churches and local organizations opened their doors, offered meals and showed kindness. Those gestures of generosity shaped not only my family’s survival but my life’s purpose.

For those of us working in education, faith-based ministries and mission-driven organizations, this isn’t just nostalgia; it’s evidence. Generosity—expressed through philanthropy, service and volunteerism—has always been one of America’s most unifying forces. In an age of tension and uncertainty, it may again be our surest path toward renewal.

America’s Habit of Helping

Nearly two centuries ago, Alexis de Tocqueville marveled that Americans “form associations … of a thousand kinds” to solve problems and strengthen community. He understood that democracy depends not only on laws but also on people’s willingness to act for one another.

That impulse is still alive. When storms devastate a region, when families lose homes, when students need scholarships, Americans respond—often faster than any policy or program can. Giving and volunteering remain quiet forms of civic courage.

Generosity is not simply charity; it is civic leadership. And in divided times, it may be the bridge we need most.

The Data and the Direction

Recent Giving USA findings show a complex picture of promise and responsibility:

• $592.5 billion in total giving in 2024, a 6.3% increase over the previous year, an indication of resilience, even in a turbulent economy.
• Growth in giving to education, health, the arts and environmental causes is a sign of enduring trust in mission-driven work.
• Yet inflation and the softening of estate giving temper the optimism. Public budgets are under pressure. Many programs already face reduced or delayed funding.

The message is clear: While public support contracts, private generosity becomes not just helpful but essential.

The Opportunity and the Responsibility

If philanthropy once supplemented government, it may soon need to sustain what government can no longer guarantee. That reality calls for a deeper kind of leadership from boards, executives and staff: leadership that protects the value of generosity itself.

Five imperatives for today’s mission-driven leaders:

1. Model unity. Boards and staff set the tone. Demonstrate that generosity transcends ideology, generation and income.
2. Strengthen the case. With fewer public resources, clarity and urgency matter. Explain why now with moral confidence and evidence of impact.
3. Make generosity visible. Recognize volunteers, celebrate every gift and tell the human stories that connect your mission to the community’s shared identity.
4. Invest in readiness. Campaign planning, donor engagement and strategic philanthropy are no longer “special projects.” They’re survival plans.
5. Teach the next generation. Especially in schools and universities, make giving and service part of the curriculum of citizenship.

Beyond Politics

Generosity is one of the last places where people who disagree can still meet. They may vote differently, but they volunteer at the same food bank, sponsor the same student or support the same hospital campaign.

That shared impulse is powerful. Leaders must protect it, nurture it and remind their communities that generosity is one of the purest expressions of our common good.

I am here because people who never met me chose to give. Their generosity built my future. The least I can do is defend that tradition for those who come next.

To those who lead mission-driven organizations: This is a moment not to fear but to claim. Strengthen the culture, the relationships and the systems that make giving possible. When government resources fade, your institution can remain steady because your community believes in its mission and stands beside it.

Generosity is not just charity; it is civic leadership. And it is still one of America’s most reliable bridges.