CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

BEING A PHILANTHROPIST



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
NOTES:
While wealthy individuals are the ones who are most often associated with philanthropy in the media, anyone who passionately donates their time, energy, money, and reputation to a charity or cause is a philanthropist.

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Establishing a fund or scholarship for a specific group (those who excel in a certain area such as math or the arts, those belonging to an ethnic group, single parents, low income students, etc.)
Fundraising to make a project a reality, such as opening a homeless shelter, buying specialized equipment for a hospital, or opening a free clinic
Championing a cause to raise awareness for it (running info sessions, placing ads in media, securing sponsorship, approaching political players to back the project in government, etc.)
Buying land and building an animal sanctuary or shelter on it
Starting a foundation (to fund charities that benefit cancer research, to pay for life-saving medical treatment for those who can't afford it, etc.)
Establishing a charity to supply much-needed aid in a specific area (to provide aid to refugees fleeing war, for example)
To start a non-profit organization to help others in a specific way
Joining a charity and putting large amounts of time, energy, and funds into growing it
Planning and funding infrastructure to give people access to something they need, such as roads to reach medical care or irrigation to allow for farming
Building a school in a remote location so local children have access to education
Fund raise to supply schools in need with new textbooks or updated technology

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Self-Actualization: Witnessing the hurt and cruelty in the world and being pained by it may be the driving reason to become part of the solution through positive, compassionate acts that will greatly benefit others.
Esteem and Recognition: Giving to those in need can create higher feelings of personal value. Characters who are lacking self-worth or who feel guilt for their own good fortune can embrace philanthropic acts and feel better about the good they are doing.
Love and Belonging: A character who shares compassionate beliefs and ideals with a partner may choose philanthropy as a way to become even closer.  
Safety and Security: A character who is highly empathetic will quickly spot suffering and identify with those who face this threat, even if they are not in personal danger themselves. Simply knowing the dangers others face will push this type of character to help, using any resources, skills, and connections at their disposal. 

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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