The Red Cross should not spend Tsunami aid money on cocktail parties for wealthy donors. Discuss.
Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas
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When I donate I know a certain amount is going to go to administration and the mechanical costs of fundraising and accept that. Fact is, they have to keep donors (and volunteers) happy and make them feel involved and wanted and important so you can hit them up for more in an ongoing way. If you do not trust an organisation to spend prudently and maximise the benefot, you shouldn’t give them money in the first place.
Gut instinct says no, that wealthy donors should be happy with a little brochure and a sticker or something just like the rest of us.
PR instinct says that “grooming” big donors by inviting them to a little party makes sense. Makes them feel good about themselves. Means they’ll probably donate more money down the track. Blah blah blah.
What Amanda said. Chances are, the BSDs contribute more than they consume, so who loses? Conspicuous indignation (did someone say “culture of envy”?) rears its ugly mitt once again.
I agree with all the above. The Red Cross did not get to be a big charity by losing money. They would not be doing this if they didn’t think it was ultimately achieving their objectives. If someone else thinks they can raise more money by not having such events and wishes to advertise the fact then let them go ahead and try. Funny that Don D’Cruz of the pro-market IPA is so keen on second guessing organisations’ strategies and joining in the conspicuous indignation usually associated with the left. Guess as long as it’s about bashing non-profits, it’s fine with him. Does the IPA not have similar donor events?
I agree by the way – of course they should do things which encourage more big donations. However, I would like Red Cross to buy me a Whisky Sour in return for my $75 if they’re shouting. And my $36 a month to Medicins Sans Frontieres has yet to produce any alcoholic return.
Let them eat cake…or drink booze!
I think it is likely that someone who donated $1K+ will continue to donate if treated to a piss-up once in a while. The same methodology is used by BMW to suck out every possible cent they can out of you.
On a personal note, yesterday I received the photo and information of the sponsor child I am donating money to via World Vision. A little girl in Malawi.
Now, the money goes to community development programs, not the child directly, so you could argue the whole ‘sponsor a child’ thing is really just marketing and sucking up money. But it’s successful marketing… it makes me feel like I have a direct link to this child and I am personally making a difference.
Also, without the sponsor a child thing, people would be less likely to donate money, because of the very issue about just giving your money to some faceless organisation–you don’t know where it’s going. At least with child sponsorship I have some reassurance that my money is going to someone who needs it.
Since when has wine been a cocktail?
That’s a deep philosophical question, Anthony. But canapes and wine party doesn’t have quite the same ring to it?
Naomi, it was hysterical, wasn’t it?
And anthony, I’m surprised. The answer to your question is since the first Angostura Bitters impregnanted sugar cube was introduced to some brandy and champagne.
Prince – Nothing compares 2 U. And nothing compares to Bombay Sapphire gin and tonics, with a lime.
Zoe
Oh I’m quite aware of the possibility as such. I’d even be more generous in allowing a sliver of strawberry added to a glass of sparkling white to get it over to cocktail status but there doesn’t seem any evidence of it here. A more accurate term would be drinks. However in line with Kate, cocktail party does have more of a ring to it, targetted at Mr and Mrs coughed up a few bucks and expect a personal thank you from each and every Tsunami victim to seethe at the thought of some lucky duck swilling extra dry martinis with juicy olives in his dinner suit (toffs, not the olives, although…) between grabbing several just-reheated puff pastry treats in his soft thousand dollar giving hand with *their* gold coinage. The imagined laughter is probably still ringing in their ears.
A generous hand requires a generous spirit and you have to wonder what sort of parsimony is at work that implies that the Red Cross are living it large here.