On July 4th we Americans will celebrate our Independence Day, called such because Amxit is a mouthful.

I wanted to focus on the fundraisers – as ever, the real unsung heroes of the revolution.  The techniques and the situation may sound very modern…

Urgent need.  In 1780, the Continental Army surrendered Charleston to the British Army, essentially ending the existence of an organized army in the south (guerilla warfare continued).  The loss was blamed largely on lack of provisions (Washington’s line from the musical ‘Hamilton ‘, “I’m working with a third of what our Congress has promised” may not have been verbatim and certainly was not delivered in rap, but was true where funding was concerned).

Organizing. Esther Reed, a prominent Philadelphian formed the Philadelphia Ladies Association in response with a goal “to contribute as much as could depend on them, to the deliverance of their country.”  Similar associations were advertised and popped up in other states/colonies.  The calls to action reflected on British actions and atrocities in a strong example of building a common identity in shared opposition to a foe.

Door-to-door canvassing. Not only did volunteers do face-to-face fundraising, but they split up the territory to avoid cannibalization.  This is a tactic adopted by many street fundraisers today to avoid a tragedy of the commons (see Ian MacQuillin’s comment here, for example).

Greater attachment from certain donor identities.  Just as charities today generally raise more from those with a direct connection to their issue, some of the most generous donors to the cause were the wives of Continental Army soldiers.

As ever, the Pareto principle. The result spanned the socioeconomic spectrum with historians saying donors ranged from those giving shilling and pence on up.  But about three percent of the total funds raised were from two donors.

High-level acknowledgments and battles over restricted giving.  Upon the receipt of funds from Reed – over $300,000 in 1780 dollars or $5.4 million in 2019 bucks – George Washington himself wrote her back, saying

“This fresh mark of the patriotism of the Ladies entitles them to the highest applause of their Country. It is impossible for the Army, not to feel a superior gratitude, on such an instance of goodness.”

(Compare your own acknowledgment letters to this…)

But he also said he wanted to use the money for shirts for his men.  Reed replied they were working to get linen for shirts but that she wanted the money to go for rewards for the soldiers: “the whole of the Money to be changed into hard Dollars, & giving each Soldier two, to be entirely at his own disposal.”

Washington replied, saying “It was not my intention to divert the benevolent donation of the Ladies from the channel they wish it to flow in” but then marshalling his arguments against pay for the men (in large part, because they’d use it to get drunk).  Reed relented, not altogether happily, saying she would work on getting the shirts made.  If all donors were so willing to give without strings!

So, this American Independence Day, we remember the fundraisers with challenges then as they are today.  It’s a good reminder that when you pledge your lives, your fortune, and your sacred honor, someone has to be there to make sure you part with that fortune.

Nick