The Great Dis-Service

Whenever change is recommended or pursued, there is a psychological barrier that becomes a powerful obstacle to overcome. Do we dare to think differently? Giving to charitable causes has been a strong and honorable American tradition. Everyone has a cause that they are passionate about whether it’s protecting water rights, sheltering the homeless, feeding those who are in need, and lavishing gifts on families who have had a bad run of luck are but a few examples. This time of year, Christmas tugs on our heartstrings for those less fortunate. As most Not-For-Profits can attest, the vast majority of donations are made during this timeframe. But the question is, are we doing a great dis-Service to those we are serving?

 I’d like to take a moment to shift paradigms and ask is it possible that in many cases we are doing more harm than good? Many professional organizations (Hippocratic Oath, American Psychological Association Code of Ethics and the Bible, Romans 13:10) state that with the service and compassion we provide, that we do not cause harm to one(s) we are serving. Do no harm. 

A question we need to ask ourselves is: “Are the people being served becoming more independent and self-supporting?” We should also ask: “Has the charitable organization taken the time to put relationship above a project or task list?” “Are the activities being established self-sustainable by the local economy?” Another question should be: “Is the charitable organization being donated to striving to attain measurable outcomes with the funds that they are entrusted with?”  Having measurable outcomes is one of the methods United Way, through its well-defined Quality Standards, determines the extent to which the Not-For-Profits are effectively stretching the dollars they have been allocated by United Way.   These are tough questions, but I believe they need to be asked.

The great dis-Service appears when good intentions results in unintended consequences. For example, during many Christmas drives, groups routinely deliver gifts to children and their family. While the intention is to meet immediate needs such as heavy winter coats for women and children in locations where the temperatures routinely dip below zero degrees, what message does it send to the recipients of the clothing? In most cases, there is a sense of gratitude coupled with a growing sense of dependency, entitlement, and being a second class citizen. This can further damage the psyche of an already fragile person who has been through a lot of trauma in their lives. While the altruistic intentions are to help people, traditional donor systems continue reinforcing an unhealthy downward cycle for the fragile person. In subsequent articles I will address possible solutions, and would appreciate your feedback in order to present this issue from multiple perspectives in my next article. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas!