June 24, 2009
'The Philanthropist' Lacks Reality
As the nonprofit world gears up for the premiere of “The Philanthropist,” Steve Gunderson, chief executive of the Council on Foundations, finds the show and the lead character entertaining, but not very based in reality.
“It’s great entertainment. His life is exciting. His solutions arrive in 60 minutes. And he always succeeds,” he writes in a press statement about the show “I wish philanthropy was really that fun and that easy.”
Real charitable giving, he counters, requires rigorous “due diligence” for both the foundation and grant seeker and “long hours in meticulous preparation, months or years to implement solutions and thoughtful, ongoing metrics to track results.”
As one of the members of the council’s board of directors told Mr. Gunderson, The Philanthropist is to charitable giving as The Pink Panther is to police work.
“The show is a romanticized, action/adventure depiction of a powerful businessman’s efforts to find meaning in his life by applying his fortune and acumen to the problems of struggling communities in developing countries,” writes Mr. Gunderson. “Each weekly episode is expected to highlight the philanthropist’s giving in a different country. While some elements may ring true, very little of the first episode conveys the realities of philanthropy.”
Read other reviews of the show here.
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Millions of individual Americans give away much more money annually than foundations without “long hours in meticulous preparation, months or years to implement solutions and thoughtful, ongoing metrics to track results.” They write a check to their local church. And it often does a whole lot of good.
— Mitch Jun 24, 09:59 PM #
I think if it gets people talking about this a bit, and actually manages to glamorize giving, then I think it can’t be a bad thing. In the worst case scenario, there’ll be discussion about it.
— Anjanette - HIP Jun 24, 10:31 PM #
This show highlights the deep human desire for a world where we can all get our hands dirty within the need that is out there. The thing that possibly even the producers haven’t considered is that the economy of greed could be on its way out and our prosperity may soon be marked by giving rather than taking and greed, seeing as how it is infinitely more sustainable. I don’t think the show is tremendously realistic but I don’t dismiss the very real desire it points out and exposes in our human nature, because I know that if I do it will cost my cause money from people hoping for a new way to give… a way that’s not dulled up by mindless, and often useless paperwork… a way that doesn’t require a distance but rather encourages connection… a way that excites them and gets them personally involved in an adventure and committed to a vision of a better tomorrow. We’ll see how the show goes I suppose.
http://www.givestrengths.org
— Josh Jun 25, 01:24 AM #
I think it wouldn’t be possible to base the show on reality, who would watch that? But I think the beauty of the show is that it might get people to think and even better, it might just get people to act, even if it’s writing a check out for $25 to that direct mail solicitation they just received in the mail.
— Naomi Jun 25, 10:40 AM #
how much realism is in the typical medical or legal TV show? not so much. If The Philanthropist engages people in thinking about giving and volunteering, then why quibble?
— SH Jun 25, 03:41 PM #
With all due respect, Mr. Gunderson, what did you expect? “The Philanthropist” is a television show, not a documentary on philanthropy. Does anyone really expect network TV to be realistic? I didn’t watch the show, so I can’t comment on its content or entertainment value, but I certainly didn’t think it would reflect reality.
— Olivia Jun 25, 03:42 PM #
None of the reviews and comments reflect how the show positions the African Experience in the context of western colonial stereotypes. Unlike HBO’s The 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency which shows an rich, complex and respectful perspective. As grantmakers, your expertise places you in a unique position to challenge these stereotypes from an insiders perspective.
— LB Jun 26, 03:39 PM #
mexican . me.x.ican .i can .i du . i will.
— esteban pena Jun 29, 04:40 PM #
Anjanette, I think the only people talking about this . . . just us.
— KB Jul 1, 03:52 PM #