“When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion.” — Abraham Lincoln

Philanthropy, social impact, and providing aid may seem complicated in the present world. There always seems to be countless things to consider when supporting a cause—affiliations, social perception, and relative needs. But this wasn’t the case for Abraham Lincoln. An American treasure and one of the greatest leaders globally, social impact for Lincoln was simple. Primarily, because its foundation was straightforward: people first. 

Abraham Lincoln’s philanthropy was born not from wealth but out of empathy. From his humble beginnings to his presidency, he gave what he could: his time, intellect, and compassion to those in need. 

He found happiness in serving others and built a reputation for kindness that transcended his era. His life shows us that social impact does not start with riches. It begins with a willing heart. 

A Philosophy of Humanism 

For Lincoln, being a humanist was as natural as being human. Ethics and moral behaviour underscored his conduct in all his roles, whether as a lawyer, president, or a member of society. He led with kindness and prioritized the well-being of those around him above any other result or cause. 

In one oft-repeated, but true, story, as a young man, Lincoln once walked miles in the mud to return a few cents to a customer he had accidentally overcharged, remaining true to his nickname of Honest Abe that stuck through his lifetime and beyond.

Lincoln famously said, “To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.” He often helped others, even to his own detriment. For instance, during his law career, Lincoln frequently undercharged clients or gave free counsel to those who couldn’t afford his services. He once refused payment from a widow because “she needed it more than I.” He also tried to defer litigation and advise against filing suit without charging a fee, where he thought filing a suit was against the benefit of the plaintiff. One story quoted in the book, Lincoln the Lawyer, recounts how Lincoln refused to represent a man wanting to claim a questionable $600 from a widow, saying, “We shall not take your case, but we will give you a little advice which we will charge you nothing. You seem to be a sprightly, energetic man. We would advise you to try your hand at making six hundred dollars in some other way.” His integrity as a lawyer was well noted to the point where a juror who tried one of his cases in 1859 said, “he is not a great lawyer but a good one,” emphasizing Lincoln’s moral priority over winning cases.

While his visionary acts as a president are well documented, his legacy of kindness extends further back. Lincoln was an animal lover, and many stories document his care and rescue of animals in destitute conditions. Of course, he had a dog of his own, Fido, whom he cared for as his dearest friend, even when it meant giving him to neighbors when he moved to Washington, as the dog would not have taken to the travel. 

Another story of his love for animals comes from near the end of the Civil War, when the president was visiting a telegraph hut in City Point. In the hut, he found three kittens whose mother had died. President Lincoln gently cradled the three kittens, stroking and comforting them, and giving orders for their care and feeding to the Colonel. This nature of Lincoln exemplifies his kindness to every being, especially the voiceless and weak. In his words, he “always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow,”

His humanist nature persisted through his presidency. During the war, he was known to be lenient with his pardons, especially for young soldiers sentenced to death for desertion or minor offenses. With his trademark wit, he often explained, “I think this boy can do better for the country above ground than below.”  

He reportedly read letters from grieving families and wrote back personally with words of comfort. In one example, he wrote to a mother of five martyred sons, at once acknowledging the weakness of his words but giving comfort through the recognition of their sacrifice. He also quietly gave from his modest salary to assist widows and orphans of soldiers. Lincoln’s example shows us that philanthropy is often not about big gestures or formalized institutions. It’s about kindness, being a friend in need, and offering a shoulder. Opportunities to change lives often present themselves in everyday life, if one is kind enough to see them.

No Y in the Road

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I am for the dollar and the man; if there is a conflict, I am for the man.” His words echo a powerful truth: when faced with a crossroads between ambition and service, there is no fork in the road but a straight path to be walked with moral direction. 

While common perception sees ambition and altruism as opposing forces, they don’t have to be. Lincoln’s life shows how one can build empires, literally, while remaining grounded in the power of social change. He understood that prosperity and empathy complemented, and not undermined, each other. This clarity is reflected in his stance on emancipation: “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” For Lincoln, morality was not negotiable, and he built a thriving career because he remained rooted in his unwavering principles.

Lincoln’s way of living gives one simple lesson: success, when grounded in principle, can serve as a greater force for good. Having affluence and privilege enables one to create meaningful and far-reaching impact. Of course, that doesn’t mean you need to wait until you’ve ‘made it’ to start giving back. Generosity is a quality nurtured throughout your life. An altruistic mindset ensures that even at the pinnacle of success, you know what is more important than all the riches in the world—human empathy, building community, and being the light in someone’s life when possible.

This belief, in there being no crossroads between doing good and building a successful life, is the foundation of Girl Power Talk. From inception, we have rejected the notion that success and service are opposing choices. Instead, we built a model where youth could advance professionally while continuing to give back to their communities. This model is now carried forward with Girl Power USA.

Rewriting the Roadmap

Giving back doesn’t have to be overwhelming—especially in today’s world, where we can see so much need everywhere. Lincoln’s life is a testament to the fact that impact can be created with smaller, incremental, intentional actions inculcated in everyday life. Reimagining change from “what can I do” to “where can I begin?” is a mindset shift from limitation to action—transforming both your life and the world.

• Give what you can.
  You don’t have to wait until you have a big amount to give. Start with what you have right now. Whether it’s a few dollars, your time, or items like clothes or old electronics, your contribution can create real change.
  With the right execution, there is power in microphilanthropy—where even $10 could cover a girl’s school fees for a semester. Small acts, when done with heart, add up to something extraordinary.
• Lead with compassion.
  Make empathy part of your personality. It’s not just about donating to charities but also about how you engage with other people and make a difference in their lives. Especially as leaders of fast-paced teams, a little kindness can go a long way in building trust, making someone feel supported, and empowering them to take charge of their whole lives. Small actions of warmth and understanding hold the power to transform communities.
• Serve quietly.
  The spirit of social impact is not about recognition and fanfare. Often, what we see as charity is simply giving someone access to a right that should always have been there. Dedication to a better world in all you do through determined action will give you a sense of purpose, belonging, and happiness that no form of recognition or award can give.
• Speak up.
  Modelling impact sometimes also means speaking up against exclusion and oppression, especially for others who may not be able to voice it for themselves. While balancing between speaking for someone and having their back, make sure to represent those not in the room and advocate for consideration of those erased. You never know who you inspire by the simple act of speaking up.
• Recognize privilege.
  The crux of change comes down to the notion that some of us are better placed than others. Privilege, like oppression, is intersectionally nuanced, meaning you may be relatively privileged in one form while less privileged owing to another part of your identity. Where you see yourself in privilege, extend your power to those less fortunate, using your position of enrichment for good. When you hold space for others, you take steps towards a world where someone else may hold space for you.

Abraham Lincoln didn’t wait for institutions or applause to make a difference—he acted from the heart, with whatever he had, whenever he could. His legacy reminds us that the true spirit of philanthropy isn’t measured in wealth or recognition, but in consistent compassion and quiet conviction.

While institutions, visible mobilizations, and big-dollar grants are symbols of a society creating change for ourselves, that is not all there is to social impact. Philanthropy is not just an exercise but a spirit of humanity that ensures each individual action is grounded in compassion. 

For Lincoln, empathy wasn’t a legacy or a brand but his daily practice. His consistent acts of kindness, whether in caring for animals, giving free counsel, granting pardons, or writing comforting letters, show the truth he lived by. 

His spirit is needed more than ever today—in everyday decisions and not just loud actions. Each act of empathy, shared advantage, and voice raised for others continues Lincoln’s legacy of purposeful, human-centered leadership. When you begin to feel joy in giving, happiness for others, and hope in community progress, you have already started building a world that is more livable, more equal, and more humane.