Shouldn't we start by addressing the problems closest to us?
In my work with philanthropists, I learned that giving often begins with what's closest: a place they love, their university, a community they care about, an illness that has touched their family, or a wildfire that has burned homes in their neighbourhood.
Proximity matters because when we are close to a problem, we better understand the need and feel a greater responsibility to act.
But proximity can create blind spots: the causes we are close to are not always the causes with the greatest need. Well-known neighbourhoods and visible emergencies tend to attract funding support quickly, while less visible problems, often in places far from us, struggle for support even when the need is greater.
Proximity is a strong place to start, but not a place to stop. Supporting the issues we connect with also helps us move past a common source of paralysis: there are so many problems, so where do we even start? Maybe the answer is to start close and then widen the lens.
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