The Definition of Philanthropist

How exactly do you define a philanthropist?

Certainly donating to charity is a necessary part of being a philanthropist. Over my 15 years of working in philanthropy, I’ve been involved with contributions and estate commitments of more than $150 million. Yet after working with thousands of donors, there are relatively few that I would consider a philanthropist.

Donating to charity makes one a donor, and that is a beautiful thing to be. It’s critically important to our community that we all give to charity on a regular basis. But simply writing a check is not sufficient for a person to become a philanthropist.

Next to our love, the most precious thing we have to give is our time. A philanthropist is one who gives generously of both of these most valuable of treasures. They see an issue (or an opportunity) and cannot sit idly by while that condition exits in the world. So they must act.

A philanthropist is born when a donor’s passion compels them to give more of themselves than merely money.

They give of their time to the charities they care about. They share their wisdom as members of boards of directors. Philanthropists champion the causes that resonate in their heart and cannot help but openly share their passion with those around them. Their enthusiasm for community service is contagious.

Perhaps most important, a philanthropist is one who believes that the best way to lead is by serving others.

Miriam Erickson, recently honored as the 2010 Door County Community Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year, is the epitome of these ideals.

Erickson was celebrated because of her continuing efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in Door County. She came to our community after graduating from college to begin a career as a University of Wisconsin – Extension Home Economist Agent. Soon after she arrived, she met her future husband, Howard Erickson, and her love for our community was complete.

Miriam has been a teacher and is a member of the Gibraltar School Board and Door County Library Foundation Board. She has served as President of the Wisconsin Library Board and was a delegate to the White House Conference on Libraries. Miriam was also President of the Board of Directors of the Birch Creek Music Performance Center during its successful “Perfect Pitch” capital campaign, which doubled the size of their campus facilities.

She joins previous Philanthropists of the Year honorees such as Josephine Guenzel, Tim and Sue Stone, Dave and Vonnie Callsen, Marion Hislop, Ruth and Hartley Barker, and Cynthia Stiehl.

The irony is that most of the true philanthropists of the world, like some of our honorees, are the last ones to recognize it in themselves.

The mission of the Door County Community Foundation is to inspire people to give back to sustain the community we love. It has the expertise to offer the most tax-efficient tools to help “people to give back.” And it has knowledge of Door County that allows it to introduce generous folks to the best charities that are working to “sustain the community we love.”

But to “inspire.” That’s the hard part.

So the Community Foundation honors Door County’s philanthropists because they are our inspiration. These remarkable people give so freely of themselves that they are an example we should emulate. They embody what is best about our community.

Put simply, a philanthropist is one whose actions are more inspiring than the substantial dollars they already give.

That’s why the Community Foundation honored Miriam Erickson. She is a true philanthropist and an inspiration to us all.

Bret Bicoy is President & CEO of the Door County Community Foundation. In 2008, he and his wife Cari returned to Wisconsin to raise their children six children in the community they love. Contact him at [email protected].