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Guest blogger Greg Baldwin is President of VolunteerMatch.
Well, the easy answer is that it’s hard to make people give because people don't really want to. The logic is simple and compelling. People don't give because we are by our nature self-interested creatures pursuing our own survival in a competitive world. Adam Smith and Charles Darwin saw us for what we are: a collection of individuals looking to get ahead, not give back.
It has never been easy to argue with science but, of course, that hasn't kept people from trying. If you look closely you will see how many philanthropic messages begin with the assumption that the person on the receiving end of the message needs to be convinced how important it is to stop being so selfish. You've heard them before, these are the messages that you should be giving because you are not doing enough to address world's most pressing social issues.
We are pretty good at ignoring these messages, which ironically makes us look all the more selfish. But I think we've got the question wrong. I think the real reason it is so hard to make people give is because they would prefer to be asked.
And that is what America's Giving Challenge is all about. It’s about the rhetoric of asking people to give, and about the possibilities of better ways to ask. I think our generation understands that expanding philanthropy will not be a top down exercise. It will come from the bottom up with people who -- despite Darwin and Smith -- aren't afraid to ask for help.
The Giving Challenge is a great example. Noteworthy not because it makes more people give, but because it helps more people ask.
Tags: AGC america's giving challenge giving
What a crock, Americans are the most generous people in the world, more money is given to charity here than the rest of the world combined. Just because people don't 'brag' about giving does not mean that it doesn't happen. it does but people tend to be private about it.
So my question is? what is you agenda,
I for one see the result of America's generosity, traveling and working around the world in remote clinics and most of medicines I use and prescribe come from American donations, without which many people would suffer.
If you want to say 'Corporations Are Selfish' yeah I'll agree with that, but we as a people are not selfish, frugal sometimes, yes, but given the state of the economy you cannot blame people for that...
So what is your agenda?? maybe another new tax... mmmm I wonder...
I think we're asking the wrong question here. The question we should be asking is, HOW do we make it EASY for people to give?
- Anonymous 16 Nov 09, 11:46We do many things to instill values into our children’s lives. We model good habits and appropriate ways of treating others. Some go to worship and contribute to the community through outreach. We help our neighbors move a heavy piece of furniture or feed the cats while they’re on vacation. This is about giving and caring. And to just about all of us, it is important.
This year some of the parents at my child's elementary school decided to take an extra step towards building children’s awareness of the value giving—not just dollars or things, but time and talent, too.
- We wanted to use the lens of personal commitment.
- We wanted to help children understand WHY they are giving and what sort of an impact even a small effort can have (especially when made collectively).
Some adults may have had a requirement for “service learning” in high school, but few of us really knew the philosophy behind why we were doing what we were doing. Philanthropy Club is attempting to help children understand from a young age where their efforts fit in the broader fabric of our community.
You have to start young and, instead of just asking, make it a part of your and your children's daily life to simply think of others, as well as take care of yourself and your family.
Much of the curriculum for the monthly club meetings was inspired by Indiana's youth philanthropy initiative, as well as www.learningtogive.org. The children are using Ellen Sabin's The Giving Book to chronicle their thoughts about giving. For parents and children, these are reminders that we are not alone in the world and we have a duty to look across our backyards and our borders and lend a hand.
- Melanie Audette 14 Nov 09, 14:13I believe that deep inside each and every person does want to give and in fact has a real desire to make this world a better place to live. The problem then lies in the fact that most people believe they will not have enough and can not part with what they have.
Yes, we use methods and means to convince others that they are selfish and giving will ease the conscious and bring joy. So, we try a different method and ask politely what they would like to give to and then give them a chance. That often works, but is it really addressing the needs around us and the larger pressing needs of the world? And does asking get results from new donors or just change the frequency of the existing donor base?
If over 1 billion people do not have clean drinking water and we live in a country where even our homeless have adequate water and toilet facilities and we make this plea for funds, are we inflicting emotional pain to get a result? If we ask for help, people still need to care about the need.
There are no clear answers to why people decide not to give. There are also no clear answer to help us increase the donations to worthy causes. The one thing that seems clear is that we are not all looking beyond our borders (even the edges of our property) and both understanding the crisis state people live in around the world as well as taking action.
Maybe it is just a matter of priority and media attention. We all seem to give for the local team and turn out in large numbers for sports gatherings. Do we need to direct these efforts to solving world problems.
OK, maybe it really is that we have developed into a largely selfish or self concerned society. I for one am open to new solutions that will help ALL of us reach out and help others.
- Craig Johnston 11 Nov 09, 16:41I believe that deep inside each and every person does want to give and in fact has a real desire to make this world a better place to live. The problem then lies in the fact that most people believe they will not have enough and can not part with what they have.
Yes, we use methods and means to convince others that they are selfish and giving will ease the conscious and bring joy. So, we try a different method and ask politely what they would like to give to and then give them a chance. That often works, but is it really addressing the needs around us and the larger pressing needs of the world?
If over 1 billion people do not have clean drinking water and we live in a country where even our homeless have adequate water and toilet facilities and we make this plea for funds, are we inflicting emotional pain to get a result?
There are no clear answers to why people decide not to give. There are also no clear answer to help us increase the donations to worthy causes. The one thing that seems clear is that we are not all looking beyond our borders (even the edges of our property) and both understanding the crisis state people live in around the world as well as taking action. Maybe it is just a matter of priority and media attention. We all seem to give for the local team and turn out in large numbers for sports gatherings. Do we need to direct these efforts to solving world problems.
OK, maybe it really is that we have developed into a largely selfish or self concerned society. I for one am open to new solutions that will help ALL of use reach out and help others.
- Craig Johnston 11 Nov 09, 16:36I love your post and agree with the bottom up versus top down thesis. I don't understand your reference to Darwin, however. How is he on the top down side?
- Joanne Fritz 6 Nov 09, 15:55
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