7 October 2008
Necessary Evil
Posted by admin under: fundraising .
That’s what Linsey Maughan at the Waseca County News calls fundraising and I have to say that the phrase and action do sound well suited to each other. So, it got me thinking. Why do we do fundraising? Money, sure, but why fundraising instead of just donating?
Obviously, we don’t feel like we can afford the program we want our child to be in so we want to get money from other sources. Is this a failing? Should we have our kids in activities we can’t afford? When I was in the YMCA I paid a membership. If I couldn’t afford it, then I didn’t participate in the YMCA program. Pretty simple. I didn’t go around selling candy bars to my friends and neighbors to try to raise the money to pay for my membership. So, what makes youth activities different?
The answer would be youth, of course, but why does that make all the difference? Well, to cut to the chase, charitable programs that benefit an individual and also society are worth giving money to. It doesn’t have to be Scouts only. It can be church or school or the Elks’ lodge who turn around and distribute it to their charities. Sometimes we give money because we can’t give our limited spare time. Many times we give money because that’s the only way to receive specialty services or items. I can’t put a new roof on the school, but I can give money.
So, now the question comes up. Why should I give my money to a company that is taking a cut and only giving some of it to the groups and charities I support? I can find wrapping paper much cheaper than the catalog this school kid is letting me look through. I could buy a truckload of popcorn for the same price as this stuff a Cub is selling me. Who is this Trail’s End and why should I care about them being in business? I have a few theories on this.
The most important reason is the same one that applies to most rules and customs in life. It works. Somehow it happened and now it keeps going on because it keeps working. There are many reasons that combine to make it work, but that’s basically it. It works and that’s why we do it.
Here are some of the reasons: people don’t like to give all the time without receiving anything and the item sold gives them the mental excuse to donate, it’s proper to thank someone who gives you money and a small gift is a good way to do that, selling items makes the kid feel like he’s paying his own way which is important for developing pride and self esteem, it gets the kids to interact with the people who want to support them, a group event for donations can bring like-minded neighbors together to enjoy shared values, you get money from those who actually support you, it allows groups to bring awareness of their existence and needs to the community, it reinforces the concept that you should work for what you get instead of just begging, etc. I’m sure people have their own reasons, but whatever the personal justification, people get something out of the fundraising transaction.
So, if you’re getting something out of it and they’re getting something out of it then you’re bringing satisfaction and happiness to each other. Happiness isn’t evil. It’s good.
Therefore, fundraising can’t be a necessary evil. It’s must be a necessary good.
- Scouting Fundraising
- Online Fundraising
- Rumblings from Settummanque about Girls in Cub Scouts
- Smoky Stokes Fiery Passion
- Fourth Grade Wisdom
