Thoughts on charity

It's that time of the year when I'm hit up for charitable contributions, whether in cash or in physical donations (toys, clothes, etc.). For the most part, I have no problem with that - there's no harm in people asking, even if I choose not to give to their particular charity.

There are times when I do find it inappropriate, though, particularly at work.

The United Way campaign is my bane. My workplace offers extra days off if you give a certain percentage of your salary to the United Way through their campaign. Now, I choose not to give to the United Way because I think they have too much overhead, and I can just give to the charities that they funnel money to directly, if I choose to. Why should I waste a percentage of my money on United Way's overhead? I shouldn't, so I don't contribute. They do some of their own campaigns, yes, but I still choose to support different projects - ones they don't do.

When I asked my bosses that while I don't wish to contribute to United Way, I still would make direct contributions to charities that they support and would they consider that for giving extra time off? The answer? "No." Why? They can't guarantee that I'd actually give the money (the United Way money comes straight out of our paychecks). I offered to submit receipts, but that was unacceptable, as was having the charity write directly to them, confirming my donation. Still no.

It's really no big deal, since the extra time off isn't something I particularly covet, but I dislike the company giving out perks based on contributions to one particular charity. I believe that if you're going to give time off or other perks for charitable contributions, then you shouldn't limit it to a particular charity. However, I understand that it's certainly their right to support a certain charity and even to give perks for those who support it. I just think it's an unpleasant and divisive thing to do in a workplace. (And I won't even go into the peer pressure to give. At a previous employer, if they had 100% participation, everyone got an extra day off. I still didn't give.)

Another issue I have with charitable contributions is the public displays of charity from some. I'm not religious, let alone Christian, but I think Matthew 6 says it best:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

I think that charity should be private. If you're doing to it look good to others, it's not charity; it's self-aggrandizement. And yes, while the charities still get the money anyway, it's still distasteful.

I see nothing wrong with saying that you support a charity, or even publicizing a goal you have for collection. But when it becomes all about you and how great and generous you are, and not about charity itself, that's where I think maybe some moral searching about why you give might be in order.

The final issue I have is that I only give to charities with whose goals I agree. You wouldn't think this would be a problem, but it is, mainly because there are those who find it unbelievable that I won't give to the Salvation Army. I don't give to any religious-based charity, but I don't give to the Salvation Army in particular. (I'm not saying I trumpet that fact, but when asked, I don't. And if asked why, I'll explain...)

Most people either don't know or forget that the Salvation Army is a religion. Their website even downplays it. It takes several clicks to get to their beliefs, and that's when it gets interesting. I disagree with them on so many topics that it's not worth listing them all here. There are some that I agree with, yes, but the bad far outweighs the good. I know that they say that all of their money goes to social programs, but I still cannot support an organization that has beliefs with which I so strongly disagree. I wouldn't donate to the KKK if they promised to only use it to fund after-school programs for disadvantaged youth, either.

I support charities that I believe in. It's my business and not anyone else's. I donate because I think it's the right thing to do, not because I want to look good. We aren't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we're not hurting, and there are those who are.

What you do is up to you. Your opinions may be different than mine, but hey, if we all thought the same, how boring would that be? :)

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