Charity, Philanthropy, Justice and Mercy

One of the gatherings I look forward to each year is the annual meeting of the Lutheran Grant Makers Network.  This is a convening of executives from Lutheran foundations who work hard to support efforts that impact the lives of people in Christ’s name.  The participating organizations include a variety of family foundations and conversion foundations.  Wheat Ridge Ministries is an example of the latter, having “converted” many years ago from a tuberculosis hospital to a grant making foundation.

As always, when this group gathers, my plate is filled with much food for thought.  One of the presentations that I really appreciated was delivered by Dr. John Wimmer, who directs the Religion Program Division of the Lilly Endowment.  As you may know, the Lilly Endowment supports one of the largest foundations in the United States and is rare among foundations of similar size and scope in that it includes support of religion among its top priorities.

 

John asked us to consider whether our grant making was based primarily on a desire to do charitable work or to engage in philanthropy.  He defined charity as the unaccompanied, unconditional transfer of money to assist someone in need and philanthropy as a strategic approach to giving that seeks long-term solutions and tries to create opportunities for self-help.  The definitions bring to mind the wise saying, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.”

While the quick response from the grant makers in the room was that we see work as philanthropic, the discussion that followed was very helpful.  The need for charitable grants is great so that resources can be invested in efforts to provide relief when disasters and emergencies strike and where immediate response is needed to provide for basic things like food, shelter and clothing.  Extremely important, as well, is the challenging work of philanthropic investment, which attempts to identify and address the underlying root causes of human need and provide support for long-term change.  Such investments require time and financial resources to “move the needle” as well as cooperation and collaboration among grant makers and other organizations.

 

Thank God for organizations such as Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran Church Charities who respond so quickly and so well when disaster strikes.  And thank God for the work of the foundations and other grant makers such as the Siebert Lutheran Foundation, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis and the Lutheran Foundation, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who support efforts to address root causes of human care issues.  There is a place for both charity- and philanthropic-minded generosity from organizations and individuals as we are moved by God’s love to care for others.  The prophet Micah affirms this in his call for God’s people to do both justice and love mercy (Micah 6:8).

 

Of course, I am also thankful for Wheat Ridge Ministries’ unique place in this important work as a seeder of new health and human care ventures.  What a blessing it is to be supported by the gifts of people who are both charitably- and philanthropically-motivated and to invest these gifts in new ministries so that increasing numbers of people can experience the healing touch of Christ!