Many individual philanthropists want to use their money to tackle huge global problems. A recent report by the University of Pennsylvania, Lifting the Burden of Malaria: An Investment Guide for Impact-Driven Philanthropy, used malaria to illustrate three "entry points" available to globally minded donors: treating and preventing now, building systems for the long term, and innovating for the future.

In the case of malaria, an example of the "treat and prevent now" approach is providing insecticide-treated bed nets, which immediately save lives. In countries without strong health institutions or personnel, though, the impact of that approach is not sustainable. That is why some donors choose the second approach -- long-term investing in systems like data collection, management, or logistics. Finally, some funders pursue the third way -- making "game changing" grants, like helping researchers develop new technologies (e.g., vaccines). The article concludes, "All three entry points are critical to the long-term success of the global malaria-control strategy, and are interdependent. In fact, some of the most effective program models use all three approaches at once.

"So, how is a donor to decide how to give? The answer, of course, is individual and personal, dependent on each donor's preferences. Donors should ask themselves questions like: How comfortable am I making "risky" gifts to newer, unproven approaches? Do I wish to be personally involved? How patient am I in waiting to see the results of my gifts? Do I wish to make charitable gifts to projects that I can touch and feel? Do I wish to see concrete, quantifiable results from my gifts?

The old joke asked, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer, of course, is "One bite at a time." That's also how you tackle malaria and other global issues, all which require many generous and enlightened patrons. Penn's Lifting the Burden report helps philanthropists figure out what role they can play, as they make the noble but difficult decision to get involved with the world's biggest problems.