Philanthropy is regarded as a moral good. Where people give back to the community and give opportunities that may never have been given without these donations. But should millionaires be praised for their generosity when what they are giving is a drop in the bucket when compared to all the money they have?

Last week I attended a leadership talk where a Central Connecticut State University alum discussed their life. I am a nursing major and my class went in place of our leadership class. So we could all be inspired and motivated to be better leaders by hearing from a success story.

The talk started as the alum discussed their career that started in pharmaceuticals. Where they acquired millions of dollars by working up the corporate ladder. Later in life, they gave back serving on boards and donating money for scholarships and new buildings.

We all clapped as they explained the good they were able to do with the money they had. Money that was made through exploiting people’s need for life-saving medication.

A CCSU official came up and closed the speech discussing how amazing this alum’s work had been, that them becoming a millionaire had helped us all. Highlighting we should be inspired to make more money than we know what to do with, in order to be able to give a small percentage to causes that we care about.

Even though most of us will never make even close to the amount of money this former CEO made, especially when most of the students in the room were nursing majors.

After I left the talk, something did not sit right with me. I felt cynical. I should be grateful that a millionaire would want to help the common good. I’m a nursing major helping the common good is one of my favorite things but I couldn’t shake this feeling that something is not right here.

The speaker seemed like a nice person who wanted to help others. But even though they seemed nice it’s important to examine if the work they are doing is doing as much good as it may seem at first glance.

Should millionaires be praised for giving their money especially when they have so much of it?

It seems easy to give money to this or that cause when you have so much money that you possibly could not spend it in your lifetime.

Especially when you donate money it can benefit you such as giving you a tax break.

Should we praise these people for giving money only to what they find important?

Is this money doing anything except helping millionaires feel like they are doing something good without having huge impact on the money they have?

Philanthropy can be used as a way to wield power. Money talks, when you give money, you’re saying something. In order for our needs to be met we have to appeal to the person with money. Which creates an unequal power dynamic. Where the rich have power over the poor since they control access to their necessities.

For example, if you can’t afford school you have to pray for the kindness of a millionaire to help give you a scholarship so you are not in debt for the rest of your life.  We shouldn’t have to beg to afford an education. The larger issue of college being unaffordable is still a problem that is not being addressed.

Philanthropists are not going to save us. We need to have better government programs that provide help for people in need so we don’t have to hope for the kindness of a millionaire or billionaire.

It’s ike putting a badge on a bullet hole. Even if the work that they do is going good in the world there are still larger systemic issues that are not being addressed. Philanthropy is a sign of an ineffective government where people are focused on depending on the kindness of the ultra-rich.

If millionaires really want to give back they should advocate for raising taxes on the ultra-rich so we can have more programs that address the systemic issues that cause the need for philanthropy in the first place.

Millionaires and billionaires donating money may help people in need but at the same time, it will not help change the larger societal issue that causes these people to be in need. Experts should be in charge of helping lead change instead of random rich people who have no idea what the people need.