Who is the most generous person in the world?
It’s a hard question, with many ways to answer.
If we measure generosity by dollar amount, then the usual names come up. Bill Gates. Warren Buffett. Billionaires giving away billions.
Fair enough.
But the deeper you go into the question, the harder it becomes to answer.
If generosity is measured by percentage given away, then maybe Chuck Feeney belongs near the top. He spent much of his life quietly giving almost all his wealth away.
If generosity is measured by trust, then maybe MacKenzie Scott belongs near the top. She gives large amounts away quickly, and completely trusting the organisations to spend it wisely.
If generosity is measured in time, sacrifice and service to others, then you can’t go past Mother Teresa.
But maybe, some of the most generous people are not people you have heard of.
I think about the parents I know who quietly sacrifice opportunities for themselves so their kids can have them instead.
The friend who answers the phone late at night.
The person who notices someone sitting alone.
The co-worker who makes life easier for everyone else without needing recognition for it.
Tiny acts. Small moments.
Regular people making life a little better for those around them.
Most generosity never gets written about. But I suspect it’s the kind that holds the world together.
The Generosity Guy 