Charity and Thoughts on Giving

Henry David Thoreau once wrote that “Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”

So, what’s your take on goodness? Do you feel a charitable responsibility to “give something back”? Regardless of your current station in life, you will always find others less fortunate than you. It’s natural to feel compassion for others, but sometimes we struggle with the best way to show it. How can we do the most good and what options do you have?

One of the most common ways that people give today is through coordinated donations to BIG charitable organizations and through coordinated work activities sponsored by their employers. Now, I’ve never been a big fan of institutionalized giving (the kind of giving where they take a few bucks out of your paycheck each week) - I much prefer the hands-on work. Now there are a great number of companies doing a lot of good work out there. I mostly just bothered by the fire-and-forget type of conscientious check-box that’s designed for people who don’t want to get involved. I also think that “big charities” may have gotten a little too big. Here’s a quote from the Chronical of Philanthropy -

“Of the 282 nonprofit groups in the Chronicle survey, 34 paid their chief executives $500,000 or more. At 30 organizations, the highest-paid employee other than the chief executive also was paid $500,000 or more.” (Check out the entire article here)

Am I off here, or does that just sound a little out of whack? Here’s another one from The Charity Navigator -

“Most charities are fiscally responsible and financially healthy organizations. But 23% of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator ran an annual deficit in their most recently completed fiscal year. Some 14% devoted less than 70% of their budgets to their programs and services, and 6% devoted less than 60%.” (The review suggests that much more scrutiny is needed - check out the entire article here).

Much of the time, big charities raise more questions than they answer. Here are a few examples:

• Are corporate execs getting some perk for directing money in a certain way - who decides where the money goes and how do they make this decision?
• What if you find out later that the money you already gave is going to something you are either ethically or morally against?
• How much overhead does a “managing organization” take off the top? How much money actually gets where it is needed?
• What is the political agenda of the organization that is distributing the money. Remember when the United Way withheld funds from the Boy Scouts?
• Do you actually feel better by contributing to the employee campaign or are you really just doing something to get your boss or the campaign chairperson off your back?

If any of these questions bother you as much as they do me, then it’s nice to know that there are an endless array of alternatives. I think that everyone needs to feel good about giving and should feel connected and responsible to the results.

• Give directly - cut out the middleman (the Internet makes it much easier)
• Do something locally - know where your money or efforts go. One of my good friends helped to setup and run a local shelter for homeless families.
• Work through smaller groups - missions - or your local church.
• Help raise money for a good cause - know where the money is going and how it is being spent.

There are many organizations that are, in my mind, beyond reproach. Organizations like The American Red Cross are irreplaceable and maintain the highest degree of integrity. Even companies like Home Depot are legendary for their volunteer workforce - these people give tirelessly of their expertise for communities and local projects everywhere (it’s real hands-on giving).

Let us know your thoughts on charity and giving. With the Christmas season soon to be in full swing, there is no better time to think about ways that we can help!

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