By, Billy Gorter, Founder & Executive Director of This Life
Two pieces of news crossed my desk this week that made me pause: Warren Buffett’s fresh $1.1 billion donation and a reminder that when music legend Quincy Jones passed away earlier this month, he left behind $500 million. These two giants of their industries present a stark contrast in approaches to wealth and legacy – one actively giving while living, the other accumulating until the end.
It makes me wonder: Why do we wait? And perhaps more importantly, why do we measure generosity in absolute numbers rather than relative impact?
While headlines celebrate billion-dollar donations, I’ve witnessed transformative generosity in far smaller amounts. In rural Cambodia, I’ve seen subsistence farmers who barely harvest enough rice to feed their own families share their precious supply with neighbours during lean months – giving up what might amount to weeks of their own family’s meals. In relative terms, their sacrifice far exceeds most headline-making philanthropists. Yet these profound acts of generosity – ones that truly test the human spirit – rarely make the news.
Perhaps our fascination with ranking the world’s wealthiest individuals has inadvertently created a competitive mindset around accumulation rather than distribution. What if instead we celebrated those who give the most relative to their means? What if our “rich lists” were replaced with “impact lists” that acknowledge the farmer who shares their last bag of rice alongside the billionaire who donates a small fraction of their wealth?
In my work with This Life , I’ve witnessed firsthand how immediate action can transform lives today. Right now, children sit in prisons not because they deserve to be there, but because their communities lack resources for proper legal representation and rehabilitation. Women remain trapped in violent households because support services are chronically underfunded. These aren’t abstract problems for tomorrow – they’re urgent realities that demand attention today.
Buffett’s philosophy resonates deeply with our organisation’s name and mission. “This Life” isn’t just our identity – it’s a statement about the present moment and its infinite potential. When he speaks against creating “dynastic wealth,” Buffett acknowledges a profound truth: we can either watch our bank accounts grow or watch lives transform through our active participation.
As we approach year’s end, I’m challenging myself and others to rethink not just the concept of legacy, but how we measure generosity itself. Legacy isn’t a posthumous gift – it’s a living, breathing commitment to change. And true generosity isn’t measured in dollars, but in sacrifice and impact. Whether it’s the farmer’s bag of rice or a million-dollar grant, every contribution has the power to create immediate change when given with purpose and heart.
The next life remains a mystery to us all, but This Life? This life we know. This life we can shape. This life we can witness. Why leave our legacy to chance when we can experience its impact firsthand?
I’m curious: What holds us back from giving while living? How would you want to see your contributions shape the world today? And how should we really measure generosity?
This Life is committed to creating sustainable change in communities across Cambodia. Join us in making an immediate impact: www.thislife.ngo/donate
