Muhammad Babangida | Philanthropy

Muhammad Babangida is a committed philanthropist from Nigeria

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Steps to Becoming a Better Philanthropist

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On April 18, 2018

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

A philanthropist is a charitable person who uses his or her time, money, and energy to improve the living standards of other individuals. The philanthropist does not expect to be rewarded. Philanthropists are concerned with helping the unfortunate in the society by giving them necessities. Successful philanthropists focus on improving lives on a long-term basis by empowering poor people with the right skills and resources. However, it is good to understand that philanthropy should be a systematic approach which should always impact lives and bring tangible differences in the world by eradicating poverty. Below are various steps for successful philanthropy.

Goal Setting

A good philanthropist should have a well-organized plan that entails mission, vision, and objectives the organization wants to achieve within a specified period. Philanthropy usually involves finding a solution to the problems that affect people in the society. An organization with a plan will be able to research on the cause of the problem and involve the right expertise in solving the issue, which will play a significant role in saving time and resources.

Develop a Perfect Strategy

After setting attainable goals, a good philanthropist will concentrate on how to achieve them as soon as possible. Setting goals and developing a plan are the fundamental pillars of building successful philanthropy. Philanthropy usually depends on finances, philanthropic advisers, and government regulations. A philanthropist should look for multiple sources of income, which will assist him or her in achieving the set goals.

Perform Research Extensively

A successful philanthropist utilizes most of their time researching about the needy organizations and individuals before giving out their resources. Additionally, research helps the philanthropist in identifying the needy organizations that are worth to invest his time and money. There have been cases of ghost charitable organizations who keep on seeking money from philanthropists and misusing it rather than helping the needy.

Focus on Infrastructure

Philanthropy is not all about giving money and food. Good philanthropist focuses on the underlying issues in the infrastructure and establishes a permanent solution to the problem. In many regions, people have no access to clean water, medical facilities, and means of transportation. A good philanthropist will build hospitals to enable the community to access proper medical care. This will be a permanent solution, and the region dwellers will keep on benefiting from the hospital for a long time.

Therefore, successful philanthropists focus on the above essential elements and maintain their reputation that lasts for decades. Conclusively, philanthropists should mobilize people to work hard to attain their goals. They should be good role models.

Why Even Small Non Profits Need to Adopt A Digital Presence

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On March 23, 2018

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

There are many small steps that charities can take in order to make an impact. You should embrace the digital world if you have a small charity. There are several ways that you can benefit from doing this.

Free Tools That You can Begin Using Today

Many small charities are daunted by the thought of having a digital persona. However, you do not have to a dramatic online transformation to make a difference. Many of the digital platforms and tools are free. Raise the Roof Kenya is an example of a small organization that is taking advantage of the digital world.

Byrony Partridge works is the communications director for the organization. He stated that digital marketing is one of the things that has made the organization a success. He also stated that integrating digital into your organization is not a necessity. Appear.in, Whatsapp and Basecamp are some of the digital platforms that the company has used.

Byrony is thankful for digital marketing. Because the company now uses digital platforms, the company is able to increase their funding. They also have more time to work on other projects and expand their organization.

Digital can Make Your Charity Stronger

GDPR laws are changing. Charities that are not prepared for these changes will be left behind. Fortunately, there are several online organizations that are available to help. A digital skills report showed that 50 percent of the charities surveyed did not have a digital strategy. Only 27 percent of them have implemented their digital strategies into another organization strategy.

You will have to be able to effectively communicate with your beneficiaries in order to serve them effectively. The digital world makes it easier to communicate with your beneficiary.

It is Fun and Social

Being a member of a charity can be lonely. There are many online communities where you can chat with other people who are a member of a charity. You can even chat with people about things that are not related to the charity. It only takes a few minutes for you to set up your social media, and you can instantly start connecting with other people.

Where You can Go to Get Help

You can use Reach in order to recruit trustees who can enhance your digital experience. Your trustees can also help you improve your digital skills. Technology is not going to wait from us. We can all benefit from it regardless of how small our organization is.

Ways Your Charity Can Use Facebook Live

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On March 12, 2018

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

If you are doing charity, then you should consider using Facebook live. You may be able to get more support for your charity if you use Facebook live. It is estimated that 80 percent of people would rather watch a video than read a blog. Facebook live videos get 10 times more comments than blog posts. Additionally, Facebook prefers live content over any other type of content.

Facebook live allows you to reach a live audience. Your friends can share the video with their friends, which allows you to get the message out more quickly. There are several ways that you can use Facebook live for your charity.

Behind the Scene Stream

You can show people exactly what they will be supporting by doing a live video. For example, you are raising money to help build a new retirement community. You can give people a behind-the-scenes look of what is already being done.

Explanatory Stream

You can make a live-stream where you sit down and explain exactly what you are trying to do. You can also provide information for people who need help with things like filling out forms.

Q & A Stream

Cancer Research UK was raising money in 2012 to support a 14-year-old girl who was suffering from a rare form of cancer. The girl was able to increase the funds raised by having a live Q & A. She answered questions that people had about her cancer.

Me TV Streams

You can tell a story about your cause. You can also talk about things that are not discussed in the mainstream media.

Event Streams

If you have events for your charity, then you can also live-stream them. The proceeds from the Mile Cheer Point at the London Marathon were used to support the Macmillan Cancer Support. The event was live-streamed.

Storyful Streams

Live-streaming should not be a one-time event. It is something that you should be doing over the course of a few weeks or months. For example, you can use your live-stream videos to update people on the progress that is being made thanks to their support and donations.

For example, you are raising money to support cancer research. You can do a live-stream of someone getting their cancer treatments. If you are raising money for a soup kitchen, then you can live-stream people getting their meals.

Cute Animals

Everyone loves animals, so you can get more support by having them in your videos.

Keep in mind that live-streaming is not for every situation. There are some videos that are best scripted and edited.

Using Big Data in Philanthropy

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On February 6, 2018

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Big data in the philanthropic sector could be optimized to produce a host of positive impacts. Like any entity that requires fiscal and operational management, a philanthropic organization should be ideally guided by data-driven goals and objectives and supported by staff with the tech know-how. This ensures that big data are efficiently leveraged or used by the organization. Aside from this reason, there are several others that underscore the importance of big data in the philanthropic sector.

Analytical Tool

As an analytical tool, it helps philanthropy managers identify smart and doable goals. Non-profits, foundations, charities, social ventures are just some of the entities in the philanthropy sector. These organizations operate around a specific mission, from education, social enterprise, public health, among other social issues and causes.

Creating programs and services in support of the organization’s mission require data-driven facts. Nonprofit management, for example, cannot just claim to provide education and training for a specific stakeholder group without a data set to back-up the need. Every program and service starts with research and assessment, and this is where big data comes in.

Strategic Development Tool

Depending on the nonprofit cycle, at the end of a fiscal or calendar year, philanthropic groups often undergo an annual evaluation. The evaluation looks at different operational components, including financial management, programmatic accomplishments, among other aspects. Through big data, managers can report to the community, the nonprofit board, and other stakeholders, how far they have come in accomplishing their goals.

Nonprofit managers can collate the data sets to show whether they are fiscally robust during the previous year. They can also report how their programs were able to make a difference in the community. At the end of the fiscal year, these data sets can be used to strategize for the upcoming year, from fundraising to program development.

Conquering the Fear

While it could be integrated into aspects of nonprofit management, the challenge is to encourage organizations to embrace big data into their processes. The value of big data should be looked at based on several important factors. Aside from its analytical purpose, big data could also help the organization achieve their customer relationship management goals.

The philanthropy sector relies on public funding, grants, corporate giving, and donations to operate. They are entrusted with a responsibility to utilize the funds for the betterment of the community. With big data, these nonprofit organizations can use the information to strategically plan their programs and services.

Personalized Learning and Philanthropy

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On January 25, 2018

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Personalized learning has become a hot topic of conversation concerning K-12 philanthropy. Personalized learning started to gain notoriety after the Gates Foundation and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative contributed financial donations to help support this style of learning.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has contributed to multiple personalized learning projects and helped fund Chiefs for Change and the College Board. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative also works closely with the Summit Learning Platform.

Defining Personalized Learning

While personalized learning is commonly referred to as structuring the lesson plan around a student’s individual needs, that might not necessarily be true in every circumstance. Some teachers have structured their classrooms so that students are working on different things. Some students may be working on a collaborative learning project while others are doing independent work. While personalized learning does not have to include technology, instructors have noted how much of an asset technology has been to personalized learning. Technology has helped teachers become more innovative with their lesson plans.

Historians point out that personalized learning may date back to the early 1900s. Personalized learning tools are used by different schools in the United States, as well as other parts of the World. The personal learning schools have started to attract engineers. The Carnegie Corporation has helped support New Profit, Learning Accelerator, and Power My Learning. These organizations have implemented learning techniques that are used to analyze the primary strengths of every student, as well as their goals.

Over-Reliance On Technology

Some advocates would like to emphasize that technology should not be seen as a replacement for teachers. The most powerful relationship is still teacher and student. Power My Learning has said that the technology’s primary goal is to strengthen the relationship between teachers and students.

Moving Forward

Critics of personalized learning point out that it is too early to tell if this style of learning will make a difference. Research has shown that students in personalized learning settings have achieved growth in their math and reading skills. However, student-teacher discussions in the personalized learning schools haven’t varied too much from the traditional method. Proponents of personalized learning point out that these are still the early stages.

Personalized learning plans to help close the achievement gap between lower income school students and affluent school students. The Summit Learning Platform notes that some strategies will last while others will eventually be dissolved over time. The future of personalized learning is yet to be determined.

Philanthropy and the Media Should Work Together

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On January 2, 2018

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

In recent years, the digital revolution has both changed the face of the media and cast an unflattering light upon its failings. In many parts of the world, the news is either censored or difficult to access and even modern democracies, such as the United States, are struggling to filter out fake news and irresponsible journalism.

Philanthropy Can Bring Integrity Back to Journalism

One resource available to the media, yet underutilized, is that of philanthropy. recently, this type of funding has been more directly applied to addressing the problem of fake news, promoting more thorough fact-checking policies. This is beginning to help, but, since we’re just learning how widespread the problem is, the media and philanthropists funneling money to news organizations are far behind.

The blame lies with philanthropists and with journalists. Collectively, these two parts of the same mechanism lacked the level of inquisitiveness necessary to uncover the problem. As a result, societies in countries around the world have been weakened and corrupted by a flood of disinformation and false information. As social media and news outlets continue to struggle against allowing fake news to make its way to the public, a fear that there will be a “resulting deterioration of public discourse” may lead to a breakdown of functioning civilized society.

How Can Philanthropy Benefit the Revitalization of the Media?

Already, philanthropy has helped to bring better reporting to underdeveloped areas, where the flow of news is otherwise inhibited. Independent news outlets have been funded to report on news in Malaysia, Peru, and Panama, as well as many other areas. This helps to create a better, more reliable flow of authentic, unbiased news, lowering the need to depend on an unsupported assumption.

Even so, the entire burden cannot be laid at the feet of philanthropy. The limited resources philanthropy provides are already stretched to fund even more than intended. The funding can’t be used solely to battle fake news when the world also needs greater media coverage of such ongoing problems as social injustices, global warming, and healthcare issues.

The best solution is for philanthropy and the media to work together to better utilize the available resources. In reporting on global issues and simultaneously battling its own problem of biased and false reporting, the media needs to use the resources provided through philanthropy to promote greater journalistic integrity. Through this effort, the world can receive more reliable information and the media can, once again, earn the public’s trust.

The Best Intentions Don’t Always Lead to Effective Philanthropy

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On December 16, 2017

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

If you’re part of a grant-giving organization, or you are merely a business or individual who has the funds available to give to charities, you probably have a process that you use to determine which organizations are most suited to your donations. If you have a grant that you have advertised that isn’t getting many applicants, you might begin to wonder why you organizations aren’t lining up at the opportunity to have these funds. Many times, there is a disjoint in perspectives of the grantor and any potential grantees.

When you’re giving out grant money, it’s important to make sure that you aren’t placing any unnecessary red tape in the way of potential grantees. It’s important to remember that a 20-page proposal will cost organizations money to have that produced for them. Although, if you are giving out, say, $50,000 you might want to have more restrictions and proof that the donation will be spent wisely. If you are only giving out a relatively small amount, it might not make sense for the organization to hire a grant proposal writer for such a small amount. They might rationalize that all of the money that they could earn through the grant would be eaten up in the fee to the grant writer.

To avoid getting in your own way of achieving your philanthropic goals, make the proposal appropriate to the amount that will be given. If you are giving out only a few thousand dollars, it might mean that it is more appropriate to require a short two-three page letter that details what the organization does and how the funds would be spent.

You should also take a look at your own internal practices to make sure that you are aligning your internal processes to your own goals and the organizations that you serve. Although you might be interested in finding the best ways to give your money and ensure that it gets into the hands of people who will use it to great effect, it’s easy to have a lack of focus and mismanage your efforts. When you take a closer look at your own practices in conjunction with the practices and goals of your prospective grantees, you will have a better idea of how to best serve them.

If you have found that you are not getting as many applicants to your grants as you would like, take heart in the knowledge that even a few shifts in perspective and an approach more appropriate to your target grantees will bring you closer to your philanthropic goals.

How to Give Smarter

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On December 2, 2017

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Americans are well known for their charitable giving and generosity towards those who are less fortunate than themselves. Since there is so much need in the world, people are often subject to large numbers of appeals regarding all manner of no-doubt-worthy causes. In self-defense, people often elect to focus their personal efforts on a specific “cause” and leave all, or at least many, of the other needs to someone else.

Yet, even when one narrows their focus down to a limited topic, there are still many diverse organizations that are competing for the donations that go towards satisfying that particular charitable impulse. Since they all have excellent marketing campaigns and produce the same sort of heart-rending appeals for assistance, it is not always easy to know which ones truly make a real difference in their chosen charitable endeavor.

This is sometimes known, at least in military parlance, as the Tooth to Tail ratio, which is a way of expressing how much of the available dollars are spent on actually meeting the need and how much is being spent on extravagant new headquarters, large administrative costs, and even farmed-out fundraising campaigns. Indeed, there are some “charities” that frankly operate as outright scams that serve no other purpose than to provide easy living to the organizers.

Likewise, many large and well-known institutional charities have becomes so bureaucratically sclerotic that their administrative costs eat up gigantic amounts of money before spending a dime on their chosen mission. The best way of protecting oneself from giving your donations to regrettably unworthy organizations is to double-check with one or more of the disinterested charity rating services such as Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, or the compilations published at intervals in Consumer Reports.

Yet even these watchdogs are not immune to giving the benefit of the doubt to a charity that matches their own charitable impulses, which is one reason why it is best to consult with more than one. An even better way might be to give locally to a struggling organization that does not enjoy the worldwide cachet and fundraising prowess of some of the major “causes”. Nor does such a donation have to be monetary. Volunteering a little time to a local organization can not only be a big help to them, but it can also provide the rock-solid assurance that, when you do choose to donate your money as well as your time, it is going to be used wisely and efficiently.

How to Give Back to Your Community

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On November 17, 2017

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Residents and businesses of a community make up the network of safety nets that give help and support to adults and children. There are no limits to how essential services to the community can be achieved. Just look at your neighbors, young and old, and the need will be visible.

Food Donations

The holiday season should not be the only time that food care packages be distributed to families and the elderly population. Once or twice a month, anyone can set aside a small amount of money to take advantage of nonperishable food sales, in their local grocery stores, to create a food basket that will help with daily meals throughout the year.

Form a Literacy Club for Children

You don’t need to be an expert in child education to start a group for children that provides books, tutoring, and writing contests for the development of reading and writing skills. Books can be bought for minimal amounts at thrift stores and a creative mind can organize writing competitions with prizes and awards.

Personal Care Kits for the Homeless

Personal hygiene items may seem basic to someone with a steady residence, but to homeless individuals, a bar of soap and a toothbrush help someone maintain their dignity. The supplies for a personal care kit can be easily purchased at dollar discounts stores. Once assembled, these packages can be donated to shelters, group homes or any other places where people reside in a group setting.

Don’t Forget Our Fury Friends

Pets give love and companionship to so many people who do not have human companionship. Pet animal hospitals and veterinarians can offer a lifeline of treatments, medications and shelter to low income families that may be forced to surrender their pet because of lack of money.

Improve the Quality of Life of the Elderly and Disabled

Individuals or employees of companies can create a lottery system to offer their services for simple tasks around the homes of elderly and disabled residents. Washing windows, shampooing carpets, trash removal, simple sewing tasks, and organizing closets and living spaces can make someone’s home clean and inviting.

Visit the Sick and Lonely

Nursing homes and assisted living centers house many people who do not have families that visit frequently so holidays and birthdays go uncelebrated. Greeting cards and sweet treats, in dollar discount stores, are in abundance for someone who would like to brighten the life of a person who may not receive anything on special occasions.

Focus on Strategic Philanthropy

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On November 4, 2017

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

While philanthropy is like a business in that time, money and effort are all put toward a goal, the biggest distinction between them is goals. Businesses further monetary gain. Philanthropy furthers “humanitarian gain.” It is with this distinction in mind that we have compiled several notable things philanthropists can do to optimize return on investment.
Consider the End Goal and Focus on It.
Philanthropy is the quest to preserve something you value, change something for the better or both. Focusing on a handful of causes means that donors can have see and feel a greater impact. A good mindset is “deep, not wide.”
Seek Reliable, Influential Partners.
With 1.5 million nonprofits in the US, deciding which groups to bring on board can be taxing. Before donating, do your research. Look into the NPO’s:Ultimately, follow up “What does your organization do” with “How well has it succeeded?”

  • Success in achieving goals.
  • Finances.
  • Command structure among staff and volunteers.
  • Expedience in changing to meet new needs.
  • Involvement with beneficiaries and stakeholders.
  • Actual difference made.

Discern If Philanthropic Capital Works For You.
The US sees 800 billion, non-refundable and tax-deductible dollars going to charities and donations. Despite this, no more than one-twentieth to one-fifth goes to nonprofits; the rest flows into public and private sectors, chiefly for financial growth.

Look into potential charities and where their investments end up. If the answer displeases you, then you can ignore them. Discuss investing with your financial advisors and figure out how you can best make use of philanthropic capital.
Evaluate and Progressively Change.
Philanthropy that achieves noticeable goals over time is rare. It takes more than checks induced by feelings from the holidays. Many donate to a go-to charity without receiving any feedback on that charity’s successes or operations.

Proper philanthropy requires endurance and constant assessment of successes and failings. A proper philanthropist is one who is constantly engaged and knows when to change strategies on the fly.
Give Boldly, Now!
It is natural to save as much as possible to take care of our own. Despite this urge, many easily accomplish that goal while still engaging in philanthropy. A financial advisor can point out when it is viable to give unto others. It is also important to remember that wealth does not follow you beyond death. Rather than horde your earnings, your fellow man and your planet could use it for improvement.

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