Philanthropy is Voluntary

Friends,

Just yesterday a discussion ensued on a public radio listserv about whether or not stations should require employees to contribute to the organization. Overwhelmingly the response was negative, though I noticed that many of the people posting said that their station encouraged employee contributions and even provided for payroll deduction.

I agree that employee giving is a good thing, but I'm a bit unsettled by the notion of making it compulsory or coercive. I have seen a lot of push back from employees of nonprofits, many of whom feel that the lower salaries they generally earn constitute some form of "involuntary" philanthropy. While I think that's a fallacious argument--after all, no one is forcing them to work there for less money--I also disagree with the classic nonprofit mindset that says "if we can demonstrate 100% employee contributions, it will speak volumes to our prospective major donors." I have never had a donor conversation where one of the key talking points was that every employee was a contributor. I don't think donors really care about this or that it's an especially compelling point to make. Sure, it's nice, but what major donors and foundations want to see is how generously the board supports the organization.

Sadly, in public broadcasting many boards evolved where the ethos of giving was never enculturated. We should be striving for full board giving first. If you have ever applied for a Kresge grant, you'll remember that they place primary emphasis on your board and want documentation showing that each member has stepped forward.

Talk to you soon!

Bob