Charity is off its rocker and has been toppled by social climbers who cling to the well-paved path of buying social exposure through charitable donations and subsequent media exposure.
Charity, by definition, history and tone are anonymous. St. Paul would roll over in his grave if he knew donors calculated charitable donations with the notion of quid pro quo in mind. Still, good ‘ol Paul would puke at the sickening new height at which aspiring socialites buy cache through charitable giving. The individuals who donate merely for tax deductions deserve a thump on the head, but the empty-headed socialite with no understanding or connection to the charity who sees an opportunity to be photographed in a new gown with the hope the “news” wire will broadcast the image to thousands of worshipers truly deserves a spanking.
Without the glitzy party that promises a spot in the social chronicles or an opportunity to win a weekend with a golf legend, the nonprofit that chooses not to engage in quid pro quo misses the contribution. When donor’s desire to be feted, photographed and given luxury gifts and sneak peeks at the exclusive is not met, the gift is not given. The nonprofit that expects donors to give out of charity is the nonprofit that is unable to pay the utility bill.
Quid pro quo “charity” should be abhorred because it gives donors a false sense that they are doing something good. Buying a $150 ticket to a charity event gives the donor a fabulous evening of wine, food, entertainment and business opportunity, but how is it charitable- really? After the hard costs of facility rental, food, staff, overhead and endless promotional materials noting sponsor names is deducted, what is left to give the community?
The charity circuit has become ubiquitous with parties and most party attendees have zero idea what the charity does for the community, and of course volunteering for the charity, aside from picking the party menu, is out of the question. One social maven refused a charity’s request for donation on the basis she had exceeded her “giving” budget for the year because she had hosted a big party to celebrate her father’s 75th birthday. Hosting a birthday party now qualifies as “giving” to this self-promoting generation. Having managed a charity, volunteered for charitable organizations and professionally worked to raise money for charities, it is with trepidation that I sully the water and make it even more difficult to raise the precious resources necessary to operate nonprofits. However, it must be a part of the public debate that contributions given in exchange for advertising, marketing and politics are not charity and should not be given correlated tax treatment.
