Today is National Philanthropy Day

Philanthropy means "love of humankind," and National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is the annual celebration that recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments that philanthropy-and those involved in the philanthropic process-has made around the world.

In his blog post about the importance of NPD, Andrew Watt, FInstF, president and CEO, says that what makes philanthropy so powerful and unique is that it's voluntary:

"No law dictates that we should support our communities. Yet, every year, we do. We come from different backgrounds and cultures and have many different beliefs, yet we share this-a need to serve.

Read Andrew's full NPD blog here.

NPD features more than 100 events in communities across the U.S. and around the world where local donors, volunteers, corporations and foundations are honored for their work. More information on those events can be found at the NPD website, including stories, pictures and videos.

The website features all sorts of ways people around the world can engage in National Philanthropy Day, including uploading their own stories and participating in an Instagram contest.

Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has inspired global change-helping nonprofits and charities and supporting fundraising efforts that have generated more than $1 trillion. AFP advances effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration and technology opportunities for the world's largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP's nearly 30,000 members raise more than $100 billion annually, equivalent to more than one-third of charitable giving in North America, with millions more generated around the world. For more information, go to www.afpnet.org.