Philanthropy is nothing new in Africa, but there is insufficient data and systematic documentation of individual or institutional philanthropy in the African context to demonstrate this. There are examples (Rosemary & Mutunkei, 2016) and numerous accounts of Africans coming together to donate individually or collectively to support development and projects in their communities and sometimes beyond. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayRosemary Mutunkei, says that philanthropy is deeply rooted in Kenyan culture and expressed in the "spirit of harambee" in which communities usually come together to help develop local projects and if and where necessary celebrate. In Southern Africa the concept of “ubuntu” is a family value that encourages giving back to society, meaning “I am because you are: my success is closely linked to yours”. Therefore, the African version of philanthropy is not just about the rich providing large sums of money to the poor, but about the community supporting each other through cooperative giving. Philanthropy, loosely defined as the love of humanity, is a tool for improving the well-being of human beings. . It is also a means through which solutions to identified social problems are worked out. There are growing efforts across the continent to broaden the meaning of the term philanthropy, as current usage is perceived as foreign or a form of handouts from Europe. The various forms of formal philanthropy would include regular donations to non-profit organizations and institutionalized institutions. donations through Trusts and Foundations, while informal philanthropy would be individual financial support to the extended family; donate cash directly to the poor: donate through religious facilities and community initiatives such as savings clubs. It is argued that neglecting these forms of localized giving and social capital creation serves to privilege more widely recognized formal philanthropies, relegating some communities as recipients of “help” rather than active agents of development. There is a lot to show in literature. to describe “philanthropic behavior” in Africa, but there is very little discussion about the spirit and practice of philanthropy in Africa. Specifically, philanthropy as a deeply rooted cultural phenomenon that occurs within and across social classes. This can partly be attributed to the lack of adequate systems to promote, monitor and document philanthropic activities on the continent and among black populations in general. This also makes it difficult to build on such existing community and cultural structures of philanthropy. The aim of this study is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of African philanthropy as practiced by Africans on the continent by comparing philanthropic behaviors and models of different nationalities. , cultures and families. The key guiding question will be: what is the practice and motivation for philanthropic giving in Africa by locals and how can this knowledge and practice be used to develop and promote local philanthropy. African philanthropy must be defined and supported in a way that is both culturally accepted and sustainable, and not necessarily viewed through the lens of European examples. The impression that philanthropic donations are made only by very wealthy and high-net-worth individuals to communities or individuals with fewer resources must change. Other forms of local philanthropic giving need appreciation, recognition and promotion on the continent. The studywill collect data from national and private charitable sources from accredited and recognized institutions such as statistical services, as well as through surveys, qualitative interviews and focus groups. Data analysis will be carried out to estimate the probability of individual and group donations and donations to charities. What is Philanthropy Inherent in the definition of philanthropy is the desire of an individual or group to promote the well-being of the less privileged and to address the problems of poverty, suffering and sometimes inequality in society. (Catherine Zimmer). Incorrectly, philanthropy is often associated with the wealthy in our societies, ignoring and excluding the various generous acts of individuals who give in small but significant ways to help others. The support provided to the family unit is not philanthropy as it is a primary responsibility, nor is it the exchange of goods and services for economic reasons. An act is considered philanthropic when the donation is aimed at people outside the family unit and without any apparent expectation of financial return. (Bradford Smith et all) Three main approaches to philanthropy evident in the mainstream literature. There are charitable philanthropy, science philanthropy, and venture capital or entrepreneurial philanthropy. (Anheier, Helmut K. & Leat, Diana – 2013) The charitable or service approach to philanthropy originates from religion or moral practice and includes giving to congregations, governing bodies of faith communities, and media ministries. In this, an individual considers it an obligation for religious purposes to donate to the church or religious affiliation or the less privileged. A significant amount of time is also devoted to a cause that the individual perceives as improving the lives of others or the community to which he or she belongs. Charitable philanthropy although very similar should not be confused with “Charity” which refers to help given directly to someone to solve a current and immediate need and does not necessarily have to be financial. In charitable philanthropy, the goal is to improve the long-term situation of others through charitable donations or financial donations (Dietlin, 2010). Science philanthropy provides funding for scientific research that plays an important role in the promotion, progress and advancement of society. good.[endnoteRef:8] Focuses on addressing the causes and not just the symptoms of social problems. In this way, wealthy and powerful individuals and families allocate large sums of money to fund promising new ideas or research that could rapidly advance a field of study such as science, mathematics, or psychology. Science philanthropy plays a key role in promoting scientific and social progress and promoting the common good of humanity. Venture capital or entrepreneurial philanthropy is considered an investment tool and a viable method of creating social wealth, i.e. by bringing an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy. It involves finding new and better ways to mobilize and distribute resources to make the world a better place. It's not just about supporting a charity working on a social issue, but a commitment that requires finding new and better ways to mobilize and distribute resources. African Philanthropy African philanthropy has been described as the effort undertaken by Africans to support Africans on the continent, be it materially, financially or in terms of development. (McBride Nkhalamba) It is also described as “surrendering yourself in the service of humanity…” (Moyo and Ramsamy, 2014). African communities that work together to support each other become resilient and are inable to overcome the challenges associated with its environmental development. It is also argued that in the typical African context the neighbor cannot do “without” when others are in a position to offer any form of help. Common giving and sharing for common gain are at the heart of African philanthropy. Jacob Mati [footnoteRef:2] in his review on “Philanthropy in Contemporary Africa” The culture of giving in Africa has many complexities in the form of practice and motivation. Within the sphere of practice we identify the formal, the informal or the hybrid. Mode of operation. The formal act of philanthropy refers to strategic giving by individuals or institutions to improve their operations and. The formal or institutionalized form of philanthropy comes through philanthropic institutions and foundations that create long-term opportunities for sustainable giving. Philanthropic initiatives are designed to carefully fit and integrate with an organization's overall mission, goals and values. They aim to bring benefits to both the company and society by improving individual well-being and creating a sense of solidarity with those in need. This form of philanthropic giving is a foreign phenomenon, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Continued dependence on foreign money has steadily weakened the ability of continents to establish their own development priorities and policies. There is also a lack of clear understanding of the concept in Africa as there is a distinction between African philanthropy and philanthropy practiced in other parts of the world. In Africa, community and social values ​​shape philanthropy and are not tied to periods of boom or prosperity, nor are they supported by formal foundations, but by individuals, groups and communities. The culture of giving, especially to the needy in the traditional African community, is however, an old and very common practice. People everywhere in Africa have developed their own informal mechanisms to support and help each other through personal or shared resources (Copeland-Carson 2005). It is common practice in many communities to find friends and family coming together to contribute and donate in any way. possible way to support each other. This distinctive feature of community-based philanthropy of social giving in Africa should begin to form the defining framework of African philanthropy. This definition takes into account the many and varied ways in which people give to others in African society. It also allows for the recognition of the charitable activities of Africans within and outside their communities and does not suggest that philanthropism is the exclusive domain of foundations. and wealthy philanthropists. When the concept is expanded to include the donation of money, goods and time, Africans will emerge as having a strong and substantial philanthropic tradition. A fundamental question in philanthropic research is “what motivates individuals to give money, time, and other resources to others?” Although it is generally accepted that people feel good when they can help others, there are philanthropic acts that have different motivations that go beyond the “feel good” factor. Motivation is rooted in reciprocity, solidarity, and the individual's inherent human philosophies and sometimes circumstances. However, most philanthropists are motivated by the need to “make a difference”, “give back” and “contribute to society”. The following reflections on philanthropic motivations are based on a survey of high and very high net worth individuals conducted by: Awareness of the inevitable need to give The importance of the status associated with being philanthropic and/or having one's own foundation The self-actualization factor of feeling.