A Look at Responsible Giving

Some well-intended charitable acts can end up having a negative impact, so it is crucial that we always think carefully about how we choose to help an individual, group, or cause.  I will give you a small example and then a much larger scale example from history.

1) My husband likes to carry around granola bars in his car.  When he sees a homeless person asking for money in the median, he’ll roll down the window and offer a granola bar.  Certainly this provides help for someone who needs it, and it takes away the risk of the money being spent on a substance that could worsen the person’s condition.  I’m not saying that all homeless people have addictions or that they can’t be trusted.  I’m just saying that if they are needy, why wouldn’t they appreciate a granola bar?  Interestingly enough, about half of the people that are offered the food will turn it down, even though it is fully wrapped and sealed.

2) I studied world health in college and we discussed the massive philanthropic efforts of Western countries to provide Africa with vaccines, shortly after vaccines were invented.  Certainly the intention was pure, but what the Westerners didn’t anticipate, was the huge boom in population of the African people, who, until then, had grown accustomed to higher infant mortality rates and shorter life spans. The infrastructure wasn’t in place to sustain the massive increase in people, and birth control was unheard of.  As a result of the population boom, many African nations experienced food shortages, increased disease from contaminated water, and increased crime from poverty and desperation.  The impact of the vaccines was just too huge for the Europeans to predict the all the consequences.  Now, many organizations who contribute to improvements in world health understand that there are no “silver bullets,” and that education, infrastructure, and sometimes a cultural shift have to take place prior to (or during) the efforts.

So, do your homework, and try to look at the potential impact of your actions from as many angles as possible.  Never hesitate to ask for advice if you have concerns.