Comments
When your donation doesn’t make it
I spent all last week working on the Givealittle website. In amongst the m&ms and rants from my developer friends at the constant ‘oops we have a problem’ messages I seem to specialise in…. News broke about yet another charity that receives a pittance of what we actually donate.
While Nathalie went on TV to fight for the people who need your money, I passed several Red Cross sales people and have fielded a call from someone else wanting me to donate to Wellington refugees. These people surround you, asking for money, pulling on your heart strings and making you feel like a terrible person for not supporting the charity they are standing on the cold, windy streets of Wellington for. But apparently the same people who are accusing you of not caring about starving children, are benefiting from the money you donate to them. I have no problem with people being paid for what they do, but really? Is giving THAT inefficient?
I’m pretty annoyed to be honest. I choose the charities I donate to carefully and I can’t believe that my money doesn’t get to them all the time. I feel more than a little ripped off. I’m thinking of canceling all my automatic payments because I’m suddenly convinced that my money hasn’t helped a bit.
But if the sales people don’t get all up in our faces, would we still give?
I imagine not.
I think instead of seeing charity as a reactive part of life (they demand, we give), we need to get more proactive. Maybe we need to start budgeting a certain percentage of our earnings to give in aid. 1%, 2%, 5%, whatever, and head to a site like Givealittle and make informed decisions about who needs our money and give it right to them.
Hello, my name is Natalie, I have a business called 
August 7th, 2009 at 12:25 am
I totally hear you, Nat. In addition to dealing with conflicting feelings concerning canvassers on the street (and I did it, too, after high school. I used to be dropped out in the middle of the suburbs and go door-to-door for Greenpeace. The memory makes me shudder), I’ve also apparently gotten my name onto the mother of all animal charity mailing lists. Now, if you know me, you know that I melt every time I see a member of the animal kingdom – whether in need or not.
But I am really offended by the school of fund-raising theory that thinks a good way to drum up business is by sending people stuff and hoping that’ll get them to give. I’m really tired of getting t-shirts in the mail. I’m not kidding. Not because they’re ugly – but because it tells me exactly what the money I’d donate would be used for. How about you keep the tee-shirt and save that money and actually use it to help animals? I know, sometimes it’s more complicated than that – but sometimes it’s also just that simple.
Similarly, some organizations have taken to sending a donation request with a nickel attached. That’s right, 5 cents. They send you 5 cents. I just got one and the outside of the envelope has an arrow pointing to the clearly displayed nickel and says, “This nickel can help provide life-saving assistance to paralyzed veterans!”. What??? Then why are you sending it to me??? Keep it an USE IT.
It’s unfortunate that the message they’re sending is completely counter-productive and, in my eyes, actually does more harm than good.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:15 am
I’ve been thinking about the idea of a community of young people who would pool their income voluntarily and have a go at putting that money to worthwhile uses.
A bit like a ‘share-club’ but for a service cause. Or rather, many people traditionally gave to their church. Now that less people go to church, their values with regard to charity haven’t necessarily changed. But their vehicle towards taking that action is no longer there. And pooling their resources may enable them to see real change or spend their resources more effectively. I know I don’t give as much as I feel I should.
If people have meaningful involvement in causes that are important to them, how much more could be achieved? Seth Godin has referred to http://www.acumenfund.com several times on his website. I am yet to find out much about it but the concept seems compelling to me.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:46 am
There are lots of people who make money from non-profit organisations. Even Give A Little is a commercial venture, and they take a cut of the money that is donated.
Who profits is actually not the important question.
Much more important is: what are the real (i.e. measurable), lasting and hopefully large-scale impact of the money you donate.
I strongly recommend you all read: realgoodnotfeelgood.com
“We can no longer afford to spend scarce funds on things that simply feel good. Instead we need to support initiatives that do real good, and that have the potential to generate large-scale and lasting solutions to the worldâs biggest problems.”
The number of non-profit organisations that meet these criteria is very small.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Claire, your country is a crazy place! (Come back to NZ!!!)
I agree though, it is VERY hard to look at a sick child or puppy and not want to give away your month’s income… If only you KNEW it would help.
I’m totally keen on a fund or even to just get my own thinking cap on about who and how I will give to in future.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Hey Rowan,
Sorry if I didn’t make it clear about Give a Little making a cut of all money given (It’s 5%).
Thanks for the book link, sounds like a good read!