Philanthropy and charity both involve giving or donating to others’ voluntarily to lift the condition of those who are in need. However, when the word philanthropy is mentioned for Bill Gates, Belinda Gates, Tej Kholi, or celebrities, often it is thought they do charity. The words philanthropy and charity are unfortunately interchanged frequently. The acts of kindness undertaken by people involved in charity and philanthropic work are different, and the impact and influence of their generosity are distinctive.
It was estimated that the UK population donated £5.4 billion in 2020’s first half to charities. Similarly, in the US, the donation was estimated to be about US$471 billion.
The Difference between Charity & Philanthropy
In a society or world where compassion and sustainability are kept as a primary focus, acts of charity and philanthropy are vital. It is essential to know the vital differences between the two, so anyone who wants to undertake any one or both acts of generosity knows how their contribution will impact society.
What is charity?
Often, giving to charity is associated with resolving a situation with immediate effect. It typically is an emotional reaction to better a situation in a short time, like relief and rescue from a pain or problem. The word charity is derived from the French term Chrité. It means giving to those in need, which can be with goods, money, or time to the unfortunate, either by getting involved directly or through charitable trusts or other mediums.
What is philanthropy?
The social issues that plague society need to be resolved, and philanthropic work involves determining the root causes of such issues and making a long-term plan on how to solve them strategically. It originates from ‘philanthropia’, which is an old Greek word and translated ‘to love people’. The work of philanthropy can be done with money, directly or indirectly, by participating in advocacy work or volunteering for a cause.
Some Examples of the Differences
Tej Kholi and Ruit Foundation performing free-of-cost cataract surgeries to restore the sight of people in the underserved regions of developing nations is an act of charity. On the other hand, tech-enthusiast Mr Tej Kholi’s contribution with money to finding the latest technology in curing cornea blindness, minimal-cost cataract surgery, bionic limbs, etc. is the work of philanthropy.
Tej Kholi: Changing the World with Philanthropy
Very few people work simultaneously with charity and philanthropist Tej Kohli is one such person. Being a billionaire, he understands the responsibility of giving back to society and creating a sustainable world. Part of that is establishing the Tej Kholi and Ruit Foundation to cure 500,000 people of cataracts by 2030 and also continuous funding into research for developing solutions that would treat people of various ailments. Mr Kholi funds the ‘Tej Kohli Cornea Institute’, where interdisciplinary innovation is used to eliminate corneal blindness in underserved regions of the world. Another philanthropic work undertaken by Tej Kholi is the ‘Tej Kholi Cornea Program’ where he invests $2 million in collaborative research with Harvard University to find breakthrough solutions for corneal diseases. With ‘Tej Kholi Applied Research’, Mr Kholi invests in the development of a proprietary biosynthetic solution that can be used to reduce the cost of curing cornea blindness.
The philanthropic work of the man doesn’t end there; he continues to make the lives of young people with amputated limbs better with ‘Tej Kholi Future Bionics’. The organisation develops 3D-printed bionic arms, which is the first clinically approved venture of this nature. Last but not least, the ‘Tej Kholi Initiative’ supports projects where direct intervention can help underserved communities create a sustainable future. Mr. Tej Kholi is a living example of combining charity with philanthropy.
