A Morally Binding and Irrevocable Decision
Giving, receiving and trust. We can build social capital by recognising that it takes as much courage to receive as to give, and by voluntarily entering into a bond with someone unknown to us - whether we're the giver or receiver.
Over the last few months I’ve been encouraging entrepreneurs to consider giving away 1% of their equity, and to do so in a way which gives as many people as possible reasons to support entrepreneurship and believe that capitalism creates public goods and has a social licence to operate.
But is this a gift, a prize, or a commitment - and what about the person who receives the equity - are they a winner, a beneficiary or a partner? The answer’s not as obvious as I thought.
But I’ve just had some help from an unexpected source. On Wednesday last week I received a call from the British Bone Marrow Registry. They explained that my DNA profile matches the need of a patient. And they really understand what’s involved in giving. It’s a two way experience in which the recipient has to put their life on the line.
There are 27 million registered bone marrow donors worldwide, and each of us has a 1 in 240 chance of being selected to give in any particular year. This is the first year I’ve been called after 20 years on the register. My DNA is a close match, but they need further tests to figure out if it’s close enough, so there’s still only a 1 in 5 chance that I’ll be asked to donate.
But if I am selected, my donation may save the life of someone (whose identity won't be shared with me). The catch is, that they have to depend on my agreeing to donate - and following through. If I consent, they then start a treatment which could be fatal if I don't turn up and donate 2 weeks later. As the British Bone Marrow Registry put it:
"If you withdraw from donation after they have started this [chemotherapy] treatment they may die from the lack of stem cells. You are therefore asked to consider the signing of the consent form as a morally binding and irrevocable decision”.
I'm going to be thinking about this further as the tests to determine my DNA match continue over the next 8 weeks. In the meantime I have four questions to think about, and I'd love to invite you to consider them too:
- If I get a match, will I commit to donate? (If you would like to register please visit www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow)
- If one day I need a stem cell transplant, will I have the faith in the donor to start the course of chemotherapy?
- Am I prepared to give away 1% of my equity in my next business? (If you are please contact me and I can help)
- How do I feel if I receive a random donation of 1% of the equity in a company?
Love the article and the challenge Ben. In the case of bone marrow donation 1. you know your donation will likely save the life of another even though you won’t ever know their identity and 2. This is in part because of the involvement and trust you have in an intermediary. And so the question for me is, to make a scheme around equity sharing work, how do you create a trusted intermediary that can supply, albeit anonymously, feedback that demonstrates the positive power that an equity donation has on another person’s life, which in turn will encourage others to do the same.
Founder-operator and Chartered Wealth Manager | 2025 Author: What the Zendht! | Trustee | Chair | Former InnovateUK winner | #GrumpyOptimism
5 年I can still remember Anthony Nolan’s Mother coming to my school to talk about the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Must have been mid 80s and she spoke very passionately about everyone having the capacity to make a difference to a life. I signed up.
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5 年It's such a privilege to save a life & to be able to do so sitting down with some juice & those rather odd tuc biscuits with the toothpaste-eque filling seems a suitably middle-aged form of heroism :-). Come on yer marrow! Oh & for those still reading you can now register your donor card online in 2 mins when you renew your car tax, ty
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5 年I’d up the % of equity and will give 5% of mine. Who else is in? And thank you for the inspiration and prompt to sign up to bone marrow donation register. We are lucky to have good lives and others should too.
Director Association of Applied Performance Psychology. Consultant Psychologist. International Coach.
5 年Yes, bonds can be inextricably linked to powerful, life changing events. Synergy.