While I'm still dismantling some emotional blocks to becoming rich, I love the idea of being in an even greater position to help than I am now. It's such a pleasure to imagine how I'd redistribute a good chunk of wealth. And the great thing with imagining how you'd help the world with kabillions of dollars is that you discover what and who are important to you, how you'd like to have an impact. I would like to impact my closet, sure, and some airlines and hotels, and a real estate market or two, but the real pleasure comes in imagining other people's joy at having their financial worries released.
One thing I always think about is kids, and wanting to give them the experience of love and listening and support and delight. I imagine some large-scale operation I could concoct, like a totally loving and magical camp of some sort. Then I remember that I get the chance to do this on a micro scale already with my two-year-old, and I'm re-energized to be the best parent I can be.
Speaking of micro, a fantastic way to help people - whether you have loads of money or not so much - is through microfinance. You may already be familiar with the concept, but if not, microfinance is giving small loans directly to poor people around the world who are trying to make sustainable businesses for themselves. In some parts of the world, 20 or 30 or 50 dollars could be all a person might need to get a simple business completely up and running - but that 20 dollars could be inconceivably out of reach for someone.
Here are a couple of excellent links. You can be a philanthropist immediately, before you're completely buried in your rightful avalanche of benjamins.
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The Grameen Foundation Kiva
A friend of mine worked at the Grameen Foundation, whose founder just recently won a Nobel prize, so I feel good about what they're doing, although I haven't donated to them yet. I have lent money through Kiva, and that is a delightful process. You pick the person or people whose businesses you'd like to support, and then slowly your account is paid back, and you get to hear how progress is going. You can re-lend the money to a new business, or just receive the repayment yourself.
Now, I agree completely that donation of time and energy is wonderful and has particular meaning. But it's not mutually exclusive with helping folks out financially, and I think there are some great ways to do that.
Tina Rowley
The Gallivanting Monkey