Do More Than Give

From Matt Damon to Mark Zuckerberg, Celebrities and Tycoons Are Using Their Wealth and Power to Promote a New Model of ‘catalytic Philanthropy’, Which Involves More Than Just Writing a Cheque.

- Jennifer Sijnja

In recognition of his work with Ben Affleck on the 1997 film Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon took home the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1998. In 2014, the gold statuette was joined on the mantelpiece by a different kind of trophy, when Damon’s work in improving the supply of clean water globally was acknowledged with a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum. The progression can be explained by a new model of ‘catalytic philosophy’ that sees influential people leveraging their reputation to actively contribute to the greater good.

Before starring turns in The Talented Mr. Ripley, the Ocean’s trilogy and the Bourne franchise, a young Damon became cognisant of the problems caused by a lack of access to clean water when travelling to Mexico and Guatemala with his family. He established the H20 Africa Foundation in 2006, later merging the enterprise with entrepreneur Gary White’s WaterPartners to form Water.org in 2009. While H20 Africa used its resources to fund the construction of wells and infrastructure, Water.org provides a financial solution to the problem of access to clean water, facilitating microloans for those living in non-OECD countries through their WaterCredit initiative. To date, the organisation has directly impacted the lives of more than 13 million people living in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Status and recognition are becoming the means to a greater, more purposeful end. Damon’s model is being replicated in the corporate world – unbridled greed and ruthless ambition having largely fallen out of favour since the global financial crisis, a new stripe of business leader is committed to arresting a decline in the adherence to civic values, using the recognition gained by years of service to power positive change.