Social Change Activities Funded by Citizens

ABSTRACT

In recent years, examples of citizens contributing funds to be used for socially meaningful activities are appearing in various ways. This paper introduces case studies, and examines the big picture and future direction of such activities while identifying mutual connections.

Funding activities by citizens can be classified by the route and goals. Many of the routes that go through the private sector are directed towards social entrepreneurs, while all of the routes going through the public sector are with the goal of supplying public goods. This shows that activity in the private sector is centered on supporting the work of social entrepreneurs by accommodating them with funding from citizens, while on the other hand, activity in the public sector is pursued with the goal of raising funds among citizens to fund the supply of public goods.

While funding by citizens comes in various shapes, they are each the product of creative and serious thought to meet goals and respond to the situations faced by regional communities. Various programs responding to these goals and situations can be expected to appear in the future as well. One hopes that these examples will become well-known throughout society, and that people with similar ideas will be inspired so that this activity will spread wide and far.