As much as many people want to make a difference and donate money to charity, it is seldom at the forefront of their minds as they work out their household budget.  Most of us are too busy trying to afford a bigger house, newer car, flasher tv or more fashionable clothes to see how we can possibly have enough to give anything to charity.

In reality, most of us have more than enough for our own needs  If we stop and think about how much we really require to live a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle now and to make provision for illness, retirement and old age in the future often we find that there is actually a significant amount spare.

As global citizens we have a responsibility to make sure that we share our financial abundance and redistribute wealth fairly so that everyone has enough.  It is neither just nor necessary that people go without adequate food, clean water or education while others are frittering their wealth away on ‘stuff’ they don’t need.

If you’re not feeling particularly wealthy, then take a look at the Global Richlist.  Even if you only earn USD$20,000 you are still in the top 11.16% richest people in the world.  That should make most of us feel significantly better off!

In order to be an Extreme Philanthropist, you need to ask yourself the following question, “Given what I have, what is my maximum comfortable giving capacity?”  To answer this you need to work out how much money it will take to cover your basic needs, provision for the future and those luxuries that you have decided you are not prepared to give up.  Anything left over you have available to donate to a cause that moves you.

Being an Extreme Philanthropist isn’t about how much money you can afford to donate to charity, its about cultivating the mindset of abundance that allows you to give away a significant portion of whatever income you have.  Its about making the maximum impact you can afford to make, and really making a difference!