“Philanthropist” is a big word that often conjures up images of the ultra-wealthy making big donations to nonprofits, especially when people like Bill Gates have been in the headlines lately. But the definition is much broader than that. Merriam-Webster defines “philanthropist” as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare.”
Anyone can be a philanthropist. That’s certainly the spirit behind The Community Foundation of Frederick County’s mission to improve the quality of life in our region.
People get started in philanthropy in many ways. Here are just a few:
- Personal experience with a nonprofit, such as receiving social services, mentoring, or health care
- Volunteering for a nonprofit, such as packing backpacks for school kids, sorting clothing at a shelter, or serving meals at a community kitchen
- Attending community events
- Donating canned goods for a food drive
- Purchasing products that support a cause or school fundraiser
- Serving in a governance or leadership role, such as on a fundraising committee or a nonprofit’s board of trustees
From there, many people take the next step to get even more involved by providing financial support, including:
- Making a donation online to support disaster relief
- Rounding up at checkout
- Responding to online or direct mail fundraisers with a credit card donation or check
- Donating to a fund at the Community Foundation
Along your journey, the Community Foundation team is here for you as a sounding board and a resource. Many people decide to establish a fund at the Community Foundation after several years of informal giving. A donor advised fund in particular can be useful to organize giving to multiple nonprofits and streamline tax reporting. A designated fund can support your favorite causes automatically each year without any effort on your part. And a field of interest fund can support a broad area where you want to see positive change, such as ensuring that telephone help lines are available for teens or food programs for homebound seniors are expanded, through a competitive grantmaking process.
For inspiration, consider the recently-released TIME100 Philanthropy 2025, which highlights a diverse array of individuals making a difference—from billionaires like Warren Buffett and MacKenzie Scott to community leaders, activists, and innovators who leverage their unique skills, platforms, and resources to drive change. This broad representation demonstrates that impactful giving is not limited to those with vast fortunes; anyone can contribute meaningfully, whether through money, time, expertise, or advocacy.
Indeed, many on the list are recognized for aligning their philanthropic efforts with personal passions or areas where they can make a unique impact, such as Dolly Parton’s focus on literacy, José Andrés’ humanitarian food relief, and Billie Jean King’s advocacy for women in sports. What’s more, the rise of collective giving, strategic philanthropy, and new collaborative funding models make it easier for people to pool resources and maximize impact.
Please reach out to our Philanthropic Services team at 301.695.7660 or Giving@FrederickCountyGives.org to discuss what your philanthropic journey might look like and what type of giving and fund type works best for you.
The team at The Community Foundation of Frederick County is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This article is provided for informational purposes only, it is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.