Word of the Week

Charity

Definition: the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need; kindness and tolerance in judging others

Charity

Consider this...

Charity, philanthropy, volunteerism - words that convey noble acts that aim to help others. The concept of charitable giving is at least as old as the words themselves. Caritas in Latin and phylanthrop in ancient Greek. In modern American society there is a sense of communal and individual obligation to “give back” some of what we have been given - to help those in need.

But let’s look at charity on a more personal level. When was the last time you gave your time, goods, services or simply money to a cause you felt a need or duty to support? How did this experience make you feel? Was the act selfless? Did you receive a reward? How do you think the reward for the charitable act impacted your experience?

Right now, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, noted billionaires and philanthrops, are trying to encourage other billionaires to give up half their money to any charitable cause. The rest of us don’t have half to give, I’d wager, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help.

Some people take offense at a philanthropic act benefiting the actor as well. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Let’s say you donate furniture or money to a charitable organization and get a tax write-off - the act was still committed and someone will benefit from your generosity, so why feel bad about the incentive?

I believe people often do good deeds out of a sense of guilt for what they possess. Many infomercials soliciting donations highlight the fact that we are privileged to have the life conveniences that much of the world does not, thereby instilling a sense of guilt that motivates us to donate to the promoted organization. When we receive a reward for it, our donation may feel a bit like a trade rather than a simple act of giving. Let me give you an example from my life.

Disney was recently running a promotion called “Give a Day.Get a Day.” The idea was that one would volunteer for a day with a select organization from their local community and in return they would receive a free ticket to Disneyland or Disney World. My husband and I participated in this offer by spending a day spreading mulch on a hillside in a local park.

Normally when I volunteer, I am in the moment and focus only on contributing the most to whatever cause I chose to support. For Disney, I must be honest, this was not so. While we were laboring I frequently thought of when our task would be completed so that I could get my reward. I even calculated my hypothetical hourly wage based on the ticket I was to receive in exchange for my work. I very much enjoyed meeting the amazing people who were our task force mates for the day and it was lovely being outside in nature. However, the concept that I was doing charity work for a reward made it feel almost like, well, work.

So, while I believe there is nothing wrong with receiving an incentive or reward to volunteer time, money or anything else, I do believe that one must acknowledge that rewards may alter the experience of charitable giving.

Occasionally I want to and need to donate my time and not receive anything tangible in return. I want to teach my children that giving is essential without an expectation for something in return. I want to know that not every interaction and deed is an exchange, that with generous hearts we can give and create a culture of “paying it forward.”