Struggling To Make A Better World
When I last looked, the nonprofit sector seemed to be struggling mightily, but not terribly successfully, to make a better world.
What’s a ‘better world’? I’d say one devoid of interpersonal violence of any kind and one at peace, not war, with nature. I could be content with that.
So forgive me for being a bit bemused at a headline and article I read in today’s online Chronicle of Philanthropy …
Using For-Profits to Funnel Big Sums to Charities Raises Transparency Concerns
The article of course relates to the announcement by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan to give away 99% of their shares in Facebook (a gift of over $44 billion if made today) during their lifetime toward “improving this world for the next generation”.
The authorities cited lament that the couple, planning to use a limited-liability company as their giving vehicle, might escape US taxes, pay expensive salaries, give money to causes without disclosure, totally control where they wanted their money to go … and other heinous crimes.
I say good on them!
Hopefully they will be spectacularly innovative in their giving, apply appropriate scale and talent where it can have most significant impact, take entrepreneurial risks with new models and approaches to vexing issues, and generate even more financial resources over their lifetime to do good, compounding their initial table ante.
The last thing a ‘better world’ needs is more old farts spending good money after fruitless money on old fart strategies and models that haven’t moved the ‘better world’ needle much to date.
All I want Zuckerberg and Chan to do is get on with it … a desperate world awaits.
My doubts are not about the giving intentions of this couple; they’re more about the ability of the nonprofit sector to think boldly enough to rise to such an opportunity.
Tom
3 responses to “Struggling To Make A Better World”
Behavioral Science Q & A
Integrating an individual giving appeal with other communications from a charity can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome largely depends on how it’s executed. Advantages of Integration Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent appearance and messaging across all communications can reinforce the org’s brand identity and strengthen brand recognition and trust among your […]
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I’m not aware of any in-market tests specifically comparing recurring vs. gift frequency language. I suspect the answer might not be the same with all gift frequencies, nor with all people. It sounds like a great opportunity for you to test and find out what works for your audience. Based on the literature, here’s a couple […]
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Based on what we know from existing data, those renewal notices can actually be pretty effective in getting people to donate. They tap into our psychology – creating a sense of urgency, reminding us of past support, and using personalization to make the message hit home. They’re playing on our natural tendencies to feel obligated […]
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Interesting question. I had a quick look at the testing done on this topic. On the positive side, in all cases, over half of donors decide to cover the fee. In some cases, it goes as high as 65%. Not a negligible percentage at all. Here’s another test from iRaiser showing consistent results (see point […]
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There’s just one thing to consider when designing a supporter journey: the supporter. More specifically, you need to take into account: Who the supporter is i.e. their identity, which is the reason they support this cause, and their personality, which describes the way they “see” and process the world. These will determine the kind of […]
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I’m not an expert in this but a quick search surfaced this article on the effect of tax reforms on 2019’s charitable giving. The researchers didn’t find a reduction. Actually, they observed an “increase in charitable contributions in 2019, even with the lower tax rates and the dramatically smaller number of taxpayers who itemize their […]
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Isn’t it strange that so many people are already coming up with reasons to criticize Mark & Priscilla?
This couple aims to give away billions of dollars to improve the world. Yet some in the media (along with plenty of political pundits) are splitting hairs to uncork some kind of negative response to it.
So strange indeed.
And then there’s this item from Inside Philanthropy with the provocative headline, “Why That Huge Zuckerberg/Chan Pledge Is Scary As Hell.”
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2015/12/2/why-that-huge-zuckerbergchan-pledge-is-scary-as-hell.html
Good for you Tom