Philanthropy in the Land of the Gentleman Millionaire
Begging For Alms With Dignity
by
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A well dressed man stopped a passer-by and asked him for a cigarette.
“Do you have a light?” retorted the latter. The first man felt his pockets in search of a lighter or even a match. In the end, he had to admit that he didn’t have any means of lighting the cigarette on his person.
“Well, my brother,” exclaimed the passer-by, “I’ll have you know that I don’t have a cigarette to give anyone if one doesn’t have any means to light it.”
The American philanthropist doesn’t skimp over the means of assistance. But he doesn’t give blindly. Such as the man who asked for the cigarette, a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) neglect to put in place the essential bases before making their way into soliciting funds from donors, be it locally or overseas. Any Non-Governmental Organization may evolve successfully regardless of their country of origin. In order to be successful the NGO will need to be established on the firm footing of: resources, education and community support. The United States abound in huge resources and charitable souls, all of them ready to put their hands in their pockets and help those in need. No one would question the fact that the countries of the Developing World are in desperate need of resources and education – which the United States have aplenty.
The fundamental principle put in evidence concerns the equality and the rights of all men. They were eloquently expressed in the following terms: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Today ‘Liberty’ and ‘Equality’ remain very dear to the American man. But liberty and equality are not things that acquired on a daily basis. It is an eternal combat; because the liberty of each of us stops where that of others begins. In their fight for survival, men are constantly competing to surpass and dominate others. Once freedom was acquired, the Americans didn’t stay idle; they continuously fight to preserve their ‘liberty’. This principle is at the base of so many other texts amongst which is found the “Ten Amendments to the Constitution”, better known under the name of “Bill of Rights” (or Declaration of Rights) and the other amendments which comprises the abolishment of slavery and all of the laws concerning the rights of men.
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About the Book
Moussa Cissé has written this book in order for his experience with the Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) not to be lost. He often says: “When you fail don’t lose the lesson the failure brought to you”. This book needs to serve as guide to Moussa’s African Brothers who live in the States, and to give them a chance to benefit from the huge opportunities that are offered in the philanthropy sector and the immense American expertise that exist in the matter of non-profit organizations management.
“During my career as a journalist, the management of the ‘International African Community Council’ drew me away from the pen. But when suddenly the organization’s activities came to an end, there was only one thing left for me to do; draw a lesson from my misadventures (at last profitable) and share my experiences with the public at large with this book.”
This book is for the public – and the people who live here and overseas. The leaders of Non Governmental Organizations (and would-be leaders); the members of the Philanthropic Foundations, the authorities at the head of governmental administrative agencies, the law makers, the members of religious congregations, the people of your community, the board members of corporations and the academia, should all read this book…
About the Author
Moussa Cissé was born in Kerouné in
Moussa Cissé has a diploma in Fundraising Management from the