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A Letter to the Community: Who Are Givers?
We didn't do it alone:
But the Professor insisted that he expected nothing in return: he simply loved the
student's idea and wanted to give a contribution.
Have you ever slept through a lecture? Surely, we have all at least dozed off once or twice. Now, have you ever slept through multiple lectures, only to have your Professor gift you $20,000?
In 2008, Professor X noticed that one of his students was constantly sleeping in his class. The dismayed Professor asked why the student struggled to stay awake. Was the module not interesting? Was he too boring?
The student revealed that he had been working on a new start-up but struggled to raise funding. When Professor X inquired about the nature of the start-up, the student described it as a "crowdfunding website aiming to create social impact." Professor X ended the conversation on a terse note: "Come stop by my office next week."
The student did not know what to expect. Upon entering his office the following week, Professor X handed him a check for $20,000. Yes, twenty-thousand Singapore dollars. Stammering, the student inquired what the Professor expected in return—equity stakes? But the Professor insisted that he expected nothing in return: he simply loved the student's idea and wanted to give a contribution.
We honestly expected the check to bounce. Instead, the check was used to start the beginnings of GIVE.asia.
A Community of Givers:
So, who are Givers? Givers are not simply people who give; they are those who give, truly. Which begs the question, "What is the nature of true giving?"
"We can actually change the way people define success. Instead of saying it's all about winning a competition, people will realize success is really more about contribution. I believe that the most meaningful way to succeed is to help other people succeed."- Adam Grant
In his book "Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success," Adam Grant highlights a countercultural, key success factor in the workplace: reciprocity, the way we interact with others when exchanging value. His research indicates that most people identify themselves as matchers, who give on a quid pro quo basis. But is this even balance approach to giving, true giving?
Grant observes that successful organizations are propelled by successful givers, and that successful givers recognize that it's OK to be a receiver, too. True giving is not a matter of not receiving, nor is it a matter of agreeableness. Rather, true giving is a reflection of our interior motives.
How do we create a world in which givers excel? What if successful societies, instead of organizations, were to be propelled by successful givers? With this vision, the GIVE.asia community is a place for giving and receiving. We give freely, we receive humbly, and we do both responsibly. Our team's commitment to the community is to provide a safe and trustworthy network.
Let's move forward together:
The GIVE.asia community is a place for giving and receiving. We give freely, we receive humbly, and we do both responsibly. Our team's commitment to the community is to provide a safe and trustworthy network. Our mission is to democratize giving through our 0% transaction fee guarantee.
Our mission is to democratize giving through our 0% transaction fee guarantee. This mission is to reflect the nature of true giving. Our team's motivation is simply to build a better tomorrow by creating social impact. Yet, we cannot reap what we have not yet sown. Our team has worked tirelessly towards this initiative. We also want to thank the volunteers, interns, and partners all over the world that have helped develop this community. We are truly, truly grateful for your contributions.
We recognize that not everyone's motivations are the same. But whatever your reasons may be, the GIVE.asia team would like to reach out our hands to you in this movement for human kindness.
Let's move forward together.