This section summarizes the student’s data-gathering process and key findings from survey, interview, or other inquiry methods.
Prior to my data collection efforts, I reflected on the results from my previous data collection in which I gathered data on how students perceived philanthropy as a whole. The results showed that many students felt that they could not meaningfully contribute to philanthropic efforts, but wished they could be more involved. I also would like to note there were two different definitions I considered when defining philanthropy.
When I conducted my first survey, I used definition one as it better fit the aims to gauge understanding of the term philanthropy. I switched to the second definition in my next survey since my first results aligned better with it. People want to be involved and people want to give their love to their community, not just donate. The new responses further show that philanthropy is in fact, a love of humanity, and not just a cold, hard definition.
The aim of my data collection efforts this time was to understand why individuals are involved in the community, what prevents those involvements, and possible ideas to make philanthropy more accessible.
The survey used in these efforts can be viewed using this link: https://qualtricsxmzr7rk8nfw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3D02voI3gVQhYa
24 responses were collected over the following questions:
My goal with the first two questions was to see if any respondents repeatedly listed the same nonprofits. I then planned to see what the outreach methods of those nonprofits were and how to possibly replicate that to bring more awareness to those who are unaware. My overall hypothesis is that time and money are the biggest barriers to participation in philanthropy and the best way to combat that is to bring awareness to opportunities that would not have barriers to entry.
The results from the survey showed that the majority of respondents, 41%, were only slightly aware of local nonprofit organizations and another 21% not being aware at all. Of the responses that said they were aware, I was able to achieve the goal of question two. There was a repeat in responses for the following nonprofits: The Refuge, Encircle, Community Action, and the Policy Project. This prompts further research into how those nonprofits reach members of the community and how this can be used in successfully helping individuals understand where and how they can participate in philanthropy.
An overwhelming amount showed that just helping others is the biggest priority for them, and faith or personal values being a close second. Almost everyone shared that getting involved for class or career experience alone was the lowest priority for them, further proving my choice of definition that philanthropy is a love for humanity and not just a requirement. These rankings also may explain how nonprofits tailor to individuals’ motivators and get them involved in their work.
My next question, addressing the barriers to entry for philanthropic efforts, answered my hypothesis that the biggest restraints would be time and money. In addition, it followed a similar response to my first question regarding awareness, as 12 respondents said that a lack of awareness was preventing them from donating their time to an organization. The rest of the survey hoped to find possible solutions to the barriers that respondents identified with.
Additionally, I thought it would be fun to see if individuals would be more willing to give away money if they were given tax breaks. To my surprise, the answer was almost split evenly with 10 responses saying “no, and would not consider” and 10 responses saying “yes.” More questions could be asked as follow up to these responses to understand the ethical decisions behind it. My hypothesis, and room for further exploration, is that those responding “no,” do not want to donate just for tax breaks alone, but want to donate for the purpose of donating. And those responding yes would donate more because they are enabled to through tax breaks. However, it’s impossible to tell if those are the reasons based on how the question was asked.
To close out my survey and come to my conclusion, I asked two questions to see what the preferred method of giving was and to understand what would get people more involved in philanthropy. An overwhelming majority listed volunteering time as their preferred method of giving, what this volunteer work looks like exactly can be explored further. And my final question helped to answer my biggest question: how to make philanthropy more accessible. Very similar to my first question, and question over barriers, individuals feel that awareness is the biggest component in accessing philanthropy. In my own reflection with these answers, I hope to raise more awareness of opportunities to participate in philanthropy.
In conclusion, the answers recorded throughout this survey have opened the door to a realm of possibilities. With every answer I was thinking of new questions to ask to better understand what people define “volunteering” as, or what “awareness” looks like. The aim of my survey was to identify awareness on a likeness scale as well as find the specific barriers to participation in philanthropy and I believe that the responses fulfilled this aim. I also believe that these answers further prove that philanthropy shouldn’t be defined by just what it is, but defined by why it is. There is an inherent love for humanity behind the words of philanthropy that I want to explore deeper and also explore how to expand this love.
This section shares insights from a community partner interview, connecting their perspective to the Pathway theme.
This month I had the opportunity to shadow a tabling event for the Salt Lake Community Bail Fund. SLC Bail Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to exposing the injustices within the criminal justice system, as well as providing a safe alternative to bail bond companies for those imprisoned on bail. The following examples, stories, and missions I’m going to share throughout this section are all paraphrased from my discussion with four members of the SLC Bail Fund. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to record and share the amazing discussion we had, but I want to relay their work to the best of my abilities as I had learned so much from these individuals in just the span of four hours. Not including outreach, this event was my first exposure to the SLC Bail Fund. Before this, I only had knowledge of their work through their website, https://www.slcbailfund.org/, and their instagram @ Salt Lake Community Bail Fund. Both of these are great resources to get a glimpse of what they do and reach out whether to share your own stories or to get involved in their work.
One of the first things I learned when arriving at this tabling event was that there was no barrier to entry, whether to volunteer or to use their services. Everyone is accepted in the space and you don’t need a specific degree or certification to get involved. I had no knowledge really of how the bail system works or much about the prison system in general and I thought this was preventing me from contributing in any way. Through my conversations during this event I learned that everything you need to know is taught to you when you volunteer. For me, although I didn’t learn the ins and outs of their organization, I was able to develop the understanding of the basics which is the first step in working towards change. I learned that many people don’t realize how a $50 bail can be unachievable for an individual and that the pre-trial detention causes missed wages, inability to take care of family, and weakened support and preparation for their trial date. The work done by the SLC Bail Fund is to enable these individuals to post bail without predatory practices that most other bail bond companies participate in. They shared that traditional bail bond companies target vulnerable individuals and trap them in cycles of debt and have aggressive collection practices. The Bail Fund, however, allows individuals to pay back when feasible, and then those funds received go back into posting bail for others in need. This is a system of reciprocity and community support, or mutual aid. Both mutual aid and philanthropy are shown in this organization as they do take donations when possible. Although mutual aid and philanthropy are defined separately, both systems within SLC Bail Fund support the same cause and work to fight injustice and grow the community.
Another thing I learned as it relates to volunteering was the variety of opportunities they have. When I personally think about social change work, I think of it as public facing and needing to present myself to others. For some people, this extrovertedness deters them from contributing their time to causes that they may be passionate about. The SLC Bail Fund has more than just tabling events to volunteer for. There’s positions within their organization that are research focused and the work done there is just as important as getting visibility in the community, a point that was heavily emphasized in my conversation. Because the event I participated in was in community eyesight, a lot of my learning and discussion focused on how to get people involved. There were few people that interacted with the tabling itself, but being in an area with high foot traffic allowed us to be seen, which expressed by everyone I was working with, is the most important part. Getting SLC Bail Fund in people’s minds and in conversation with others leads to further engagement. One funny situation from the event was when one of the tabling members went to get coffee from an outside vendor and overheard some folks in line talking about the table and somewhat laughing about it. When back at the table, we talked about how even though it’s hard for some people to see the purpose behind the organization if they don’t have lived experience with the justice system, familiarity equals liking. So even if someone is laughing about it, the more they see it and the more they think about it, the more curious and interested they will become.
Although connections might not be built directly with individuals from the community, I found out that a lot of the connections the SLC Bail Fund has made have come from the other organizations that participate in these tabling events. Like mentioned before where everyone is accepted in the space, the same goes for social change in general. The space is filled with kind and loving people who all support each other and I felt this connection with the member from Stewardship Utah who was tabling next to us. This environment that was created in our discussions and in the work both organizations were doing has been my biggest takeaway from the event and is what I want to exhibit in my personal life and relationships to people I am just meeting. The feeling of belonging was so natural across the different people I talked to it drew me to their work even though I don’t have personal experience in needing to post bail or knowing someone that does. In addition to creating familiarity in branding to get on people’s radar, the sense of community is an excellent way that they bring in individuals to carry on the work. While our location didn’t receive too much attention, SLC Bail Fund had more tabling events going on the same day in locations where people wanting change were gathered and the influence from that carried into their tabling events resulting in meaningful interaction.
Within this space there are so many positives and success stories to focus on and feel good about. What’s presented on the front to those who have never interacted with this work before is the reality that the pre-trial detention system is criminalizing, unjust, and harms communities. The passion behind SLC Bail Fund’s mission to end this system is powerful and creates an environment where this challenge for individuals can be made better despite setbacks. To mention one of these setbacks briefly that was shared with me was they face disadvantages with time. The Bail Fund has to go through physical checks rather than electronically resulting in longer times to get payments back which then in turn creates a pushed timeline when posting bail for individuals. Their work to fund people’s needs connects with so many and this creates pushback to their challenges. As I followed them over social media, it made me excited to see that in a fundraising event they exceeded their donations goal. The power behind the community with this organization that I had the chance to witness firsthand and continue to follow left me grateful for the volunteers dedicated to change. I look forward to the future of SLC Bail Fund’s work and hope to be able to commit my own time further to support their mission.
This section summarizes readings and research related to a relevant topic within the student’s Pathway and connects them to larger patterns or themes.
Imagine you’re starting your first business, eager to become successful. Except all of the odds are against you. Statistics show that 90% of startups fail, most doing so in the first year. With over 100 million startups founded annually, the risk of failure is not just a personal concern, it’s a global economic challenge. However, some startups find success, and some find this through what is known as business angels. Business angels are wealthy individuals who participate in philanthropic efforts by providing funding and resources to startup businesses. This paper will identify the importance of business angels in securing funding and enabling the startup process, examine how philanthropic giving boosts morale, and explain how that boost in morale contributes to high employee engagement and directly affects organizational success. The aim of this paper is to prove that business angels positively influence the success of startups, providing not only financing, but indirectly helping create a constructive workplace through their philanthropic efforts.
One of the primary challenges startups face is inadequate funding and business angels play a critical role in overcoming this barrier. In a 2024 literature review, Lange et al. (2024) found that “38% of the businesses fail due to a shortage of financial resources” (p. 4). This statistic emphasizes the importance of initial capital in enabling startups to survive their early stages. In my personal experience working at a small, local business, I’ve seen firsthand how businesses miss out on growth because of funding. Although we have a loyal customer base, reaching new customers remains a struggle. Additional funding could help market and bring in more revenue, but every dollar counts and is spent on essential expenses like ingredients, utilities, and payroll, leaving little room for long-term investments such as marketing. In addition to identifying the challenges startups face, the article finds “business angels in initial investments is correlated with an increased likelihood of receiving subsequent rounds of funding . . . attract[ing] additional venture capitalist financing, and have a higher probability of success” (Lange et al., 2024, pp. 7-8). Beyond immediate financial support, business angels can act as a connection to future investment opportunities. Although my job has made it past the first years where startups typically fail, if there had been a business angel early on, the business could have built stronger financial connections and strengthened its long-term sustainability. By providing both initial and follow-up financial support, business angels significantly improve the odds that startups will survive.
While funding is essential, business angels indirectly contribute in other ways as well. Philanthropic efforts and acts of giving positively influence company morale and culture. In a study conducted by Kumar and Epley in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, they found that employees, both giving and receiving random acts of kindness, “reported markedly weaker depressive symptoms and increased satisfaction with both their jobs and lives” (Kumar & Epley, 2022, p. 237). If the general consensus is that giving increases job happiness, if startup owners are recipients of funding from business angels, it’s inferred that they too are experiencing this satisfaction in their jobs. I’ve found in my own work experience that when employees and managers have positive attitudes towards their workplace, they are more likely to stay longer and be more engaged in their work. This positivity often extends beyond individual employees, creating a ripple effect of generosity and collaboration within the workplace. Kumar and Epley’s (2022) research supports this idea, as they found that “people who have received an act of kindness are more likely to behave kindly toward another person in the future (p. 238). This suggests that when business angels invest generously in entrepreneurs, they may inspire those owners to extend similar support to others such as their employees. In this way, the influence of business angels not only strengthens the financial foundation of startups but also contributes to a culture of kindness that drives shared success.
Although the previous evidence focused on the emotional and cultural effects of philanthropic giving, it is equally important to consider the measurable outcomes. Research shows that increased employee engagement directly correlates with stronger performance and organizational success. In a meta-analysis exploring the relationship between engagement at work and organizational outcomes, Harter et al. (2024) found that engagement not only correlates with financial performance but is an even stronger predictor of it, influencing factors like customer satisfaction and employee retention (p. 15). This finding suggests that initiatives that create engagement such as business angels, can benefit organizations. Engagement not only correlates with better outcomes, but actively drives them, showing that investing in employee well-being and involvement translates directly into organizational success. Building on the previous discussion of engagement and its outcomes, it is also important to consider how engagement influences employees’ personal wellbeing. Harter et al. (2024) note that “the strong relationship between engagement and wellbeing reported . . . suggests that a focus on engagement may be critical for addressing these issues. A more engaged workforce would likely lead to higher levels of overall wellbeing” (p. 33). By examining the role of business angels and other philanthropic efforts, this research highlights how giving can create a culture of engagement that benefits both employees and the organization as a whole. These findings suggest that engagement through philanthropy not only strengthens startup success but also enhances employee wellbeing, demonstrating the broad, positive impact that thoughtful support and investment can have in a small business.
I would also like to acknowledge the counter argument that business angels have the possibility of negatively impacting startups. Mission creep, a term used in nonprofits, is when an organization loses focus of its original purpose that can happen due to funding opportunities that have strings attached. Because business angels are staking an investment into a company, they assume some ownership. If their goals differ from that of the founder, there is a possibility that they lose funding by not accepting it, or tension about the purpose of the company causes it to fail. This paper’s focus is on the positives that business angels can provide. I acknowledge the need for further research on if negatives outweigh positives, but have not done so in this paper.
In conclusion, business angels contribute to startup success not only through financial support but also by creating a ripple effect of giving that strengthens workplace morale and employee engagement. By providing essential funding, inspiring acts of generosity, and creating a culture of positivity, business angels help startups overcome the high risks associated in the early-stages of businesses. Although there is an argument to be made that business angels can harm the goals of a startup, the benefits they can provide make a strong case that startups should seek support. Understanding the risks of startups only emphasizes the need for business angels in the process of beginning a business. Not only having financial aid, but aligning the values of a company with a business angel will directly and indirectly create an engaged workplace. Overall, the role of business angels have positive impacts on startups in a variety of ways and contribute to the success and survival of a startup.
This section highlights helpful tools or guides that support real-world application of the Pathway.
The Salt Lake Community Bail Fund (SLC Community Bail Fund, 2025) is an amazing resource to look to and participate in to learn more on how to follow the best practices of collective, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral skills, as well as being locally-grounded and systemically-minded. The Fund works to address inequalities in the criminal justice system by posting bail for individuals who cannot afford it, specifically in the Salt Lake area. Their aim is to completely dismantle the bail system as it targets people of color. During my own experience working with them, I witnessed how their approach brings together volunteers, community members, and other nonprofits to educate the community and challenge the inequalities of the cash bail system. Their model creates collaboration across public facing roles, research positions, and lobbying legislation to show how there are many angles in which to address systemic injustice. Because of its focus in local communities, the Fund can respond directly to the needs of Salt Lake residents and the policies of the area to best serve the community. Individuals who choose to volunteer with, or donate to the Salt Lake Community Bail Fund can actively practice these same best practices. By working together, thinking about the policies in place, and engaging locally, they can work towards the same goals of promoting fairness and equal access to justice.
The Other Side Academy (The Other Side Academy, n.d.) is another organization that serves as a resource to explore further when understanding best practices within philanthropy. They are healing-centered and capacity-building and asset-focused. The Other Side Academy exhibits these practices itself, but also within The Other Side Village (The Other Side Village, 2021), a sister organization. Both initiatives are grounded in the belief that lasting change begins with community, accountability, and resilience. The Other Side Academy provides a peer-led residential program where individuals recovering from chronic homelessness can live and come together in a 100% sober environment. This peer-led structure promotes healing through mutual support, shared responsibility, and personal growth rather than punishment or isolation. Through enterprises such as The Other Side Donuts and The Other Side Movers, villagers are able to work jobs to support both the cause and themselves as they learn and eventually move into The Other Side Village. It extends these practices into a permanent housing community. The Village keeps these beliefs of dignity, belonging, and stability while maintaining the Academy’s principles of self-accountability and sobriety. Volunteering with or donating to The Other Side Foundation allows individuals to actively participate in these best practices by contributing to the growth of the foundation and seeing the lived-experience and healing impact of The Other Side Village.
Candid (Candid | Foundation Center and GuideStar Are Now Candid, n.d.) is an amazing website for both nonprofits to find funding, but also for donors to find nonprofits that they can connect with and provide data to help guide these decisions. This website works so well because it follows the best practices of transparent and accountable and learning-oriented and adaptive. By providing data on nonprofits and grantmakers, Candid encourages both organizations and donors to make informed, ethical decisions. Its platform brings together data, research, and educational tools to strengthen trust and accountability within social work. Through its open-access nonprofit profiles and grant data bases, Candid models transparency by ensuring that philanthropic actions are guided by evidence and measurable impact. Its commitment to continuous learning is reflected in its ongoing analysis of giving trends, demographic representation, and diversity in leadership. Individuals and organizations can use Candid not only to find funding or partnership opportunities, but also to follow these same best practices. By engaging with Candid, individuals are seeing an effective way of being transparent and are being learning-oriented as they make educated decisions based on the information they find on Candid.
This section offers closing reflections and invites readers to consider how they can apply the insights in their own lives and communities.
Throughout my research for this month I have discovered that there is always something new to learn and I hope that you, as the reader, had the same takeaway. Throughout the data collection and research exploration I found that with every question I ask, or evidence I present, there is always another follow up response that needs to be fully pursued. I encourage you to look into the claims I’ve made in all sections and form your own opinions and challenge what I’ve presented. Conversations on the topics regarding philanthropy is one of the best ways to push and change the narrative over the negative connotations philanthropy has. I hope that the topics discussed inspire conversations in all settings, whether it be academic or in your personal life. Philanthropy is more than just money and it is more than an exclusive activity for the wealthy. Everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the benefit of the community through a variety of resources that don’t just involve monetary donations. I hope that my research and the responses from people in the community sharing their want to be involved and hoping to overcome the barriers listed, proves that philanthropy is in fact a love for humanity.
If you are not sure where to start, look to the pathways resources of not just this philanthropy memo, but to all of the six pathways to guide how you best practice involvement in the community. To focus more on philanthropic efforts, Candid is a great place to start. Find something you are passionate about and then research and educate yourself on a nonprofit. Through Candid’s website, you can feel confident that the organization you are supporting best aligns with your values. From there, go to the nonprofit itself and find the work that they need to support their cause and determine where you fit into that process. Whether this is deciding what type of volunteer work you want to do, or what timeframe you are able to do it in, there is always a place for you in activism. And if you feel unqualified, like I did when working with the SLC Bail Fund, know that your passion is welcomed wholeheartedly and everyone in the community is looking for connection. If you have doubts about if your work is meaningful, know that imperfect action is better than no action at all.
In this next month I challenge you to find an organization, a friend, or someone in need to contribute your time, talent, or money, if feasible. If you are unaware of opportunities to participate in, the Center for Social Impact hosts social change workshops with the next one coming up on November 20th. I want you to challenge the cold definition of philanthropy and replace it with the ethical definition, that philanthropy is a love for humanity and a method to improve the well-being of members in the community. You don’t need to be a millionaire to participate in philanthropy, you can just be you.
