--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Charity is just writing checks and not…" description: "\"Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/eli-broad-6856_charity_charity-is-just-writing-checks-and-not-b_2554683.jpg" --- # Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged… ![“Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven't been done before.” quote by Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/eli-broad-6856_charity_charity-is-just-writing-checks-and-not-b_2554683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/eli-broad-6856_charity_charity-is-just-writing-checks-and-not-b_2554683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/eli-broad-6856_charity_charity-is-just-writing-checks-and-not-b_2554683.jpg) > “Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven't been done before.” [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True philanthropy requires active involvement beyond financial contributions, engaging people directly in innovative actions. **In simple terms:** Giving money isn’t enough; you must get involved. Key Takeaway Engage personally, not just financially. Themes philanthropy engagement innovation Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community projects - nonprofit initiatives - volunteer leadership Key Concepts social impact active participation Questions to Reflect On - How can you become more hands‑on in your giving? - What innovative actions can you support? A Different Perspective Money alone cannot create lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [To me, charity often is just about giving, because you’re supposed to, or because it’s what you’ve always done — or it’s about giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majora-carter/to-me-charity-often-is-just-about-giving-because-you-re-supposed-to/) [Majora Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majora-carter/) > [Charity is to will and do what is just and right in every transaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/charity-is-to-will-and-do-what-is-just-and-right-in-every-transaction/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Well, getting behind the camera is something I've always wanted to get involved with. Ever since I was doing movies like 'Zathura' I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/well-getting-behind-the-camera-is-something-i-ve-always-wanted-to-get/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [I run around, I listen to a lot of music, go to a lot of concerts. And when I see someone that gases me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/i-run-around-i-listen-to-a-lot-of-music-go-to-a-lot-of-concerts-and/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [People like to see what you're doing and feel involved. Everyone craves that whole behind-the-scenes side of things. I think it's important to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/people-like-to-see-what-you-re-doing-and-feel-involved-everyone/) [Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/) > [Acting's difficult for me because I think you have to be passionately involved in what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/acting-s-difficult-for-me-because-i-think-you-have-to-be-passionately/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [ \[Too many musicians are\] too involved with doing and not listening. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-still/too-many-musicians-are-too-involved-with-doing-and-not-listening/) Ray Still > [I'm passionate about whatever I'm involved in, and if I'm not, I'm not doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-kamara/i-m-passionate-about-whatever-i-m-involved-in-and-if-i-m-not-i-m-not/) [Alvin Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-kamara/) > [So we had life, death, illness, everything - every emotional involvement we had, we experienced. And I think that made what we had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bosley/so-we-had-life-death-illness-everything-every-emotional-involvement/) [Tom Bosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bosley/) > [As an artist, it's always good to have some sort of magic involved in what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/as-an-artist-it-s-always-good-to-have-some-sort-of-magic-involved-in/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [One who is always deeply involved in what he is doing is above all embarrassment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/one-who-is-always-deeply-involved-in-what-he-is-doing-is-above-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-is-never-wholly-herself-unless-she-is-engaged-in-high-moral/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Philanthropy is activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/philanthropy-is-activism/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## More by Eli Broad > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Museums do not share their collections with other museums unless they get something in exchange. The Metropolitan will deal with the Louvre, but will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/museums-do-not-share-their-collections-with-other-museums-unless-they/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I believe that a newspaper is a great civic asset and that ownership is best in the hands of foundations or wealthy families that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-believe-that-a-newspaper-is-a-great-civic-asset-and-that-ownership/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Collectors become obsessive and then addicted. You become addicted to art and you can't live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/collectors-become-obsessive-and-then-addicted-you-become-addicted-to/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I've got a big ego, I admit it; I'm ego-driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-ve-got-a-big-ego-i-admit-it-i-m-ego-driven/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [It's critical that states improve how teachers are trained, recruited, evaluated, compensated, advanced, and retained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/it-s-critical-that-states-improve-how-teachers-are-trained-recruited/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [The best move you can make in negotiation is to think of an incentive the other person hasn't even thought of - and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/the-best-move-you-can-make-in-negotiation-is-to-think-of-an-incentive/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Artists rarely do the same thing over and over again. Art is about the new, doing things in a new way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/artists-rarely-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-art-is-about-the/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [People would rather have art or gold instead of paper money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/people-would-rather-have-art-or-gold-instead-of-paper-money/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [School boards are, for the most part ,made up of political wannabes who see a board seat as a stepping stone for political office,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/school-boards-are-for-the-most-part-made-up-of-political-wannabes-who/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [In high school, I would drive my teachers batty. They would make a statement, and I would say, 'Why is that?' They didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/in-high-school-i-would-drive-my-teachers-batty-they-would-make-a/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I don't like to spend time in endless meetings talking about stuff that isn't going to get anything done. I have meetings, but they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/i-don-t-like-to-spend-time-in-endless-meetings-talking-about-stuff/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Who you spend your life with-much more so than how you choose to spend it-is the most important decision you can make. Do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/who-you-spend-your-life-with-much-more-so-than-how-you-choose-to/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Research – and using what you learn from it to analyze every situation – is what separates being unreasonable from being irrational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/research-and-using-what-you-learn-from-it-to-analyze-every-situation/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) [Explore all 97 Eli Broad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) ## More Charity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I like to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-like-to-give-back/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) [Browse all 2,477 Charity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. 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