Charitable Donations

I’m only a sample of one, and although I know others who think like me this is hardly a scientific or significant analysis; nevertheless I think it’s instructive.

• I never give where I believe government should provide, e.g. systematic gaps in health & benefits – I prefer to pressure government, no matter how remotely for a systematic solution
• I do give to causes I know and trust in terms of the money going to the right place e.g. the Meniere’s Society where I was a Trustee
• I do give spontaneously where I admire the effort and courage of the fund-raising individual e.g. David Walliams’ swimming marathons, Eddie Izzard’s running marathons
• I do give a small amount of money every time I’m asked by a friend or work colleague who is doing a sponsored something – I can afford it and it’s a politeness and a community action
• I have put in effort rather than money, by sponsored swimming, and I have waived money, by singing for charity (no, they weren’t paying me to stop).

What conclusion can we draw from that?  Perhaps that I’m an unsympathetic, inconsistent, knee-jerking, celebrity-influenced egotist.  Instead, or perhaps in addition, I think it’s fair to say that:

• I like to see value for money, as in all my expenditure, and I have a fear of supporting bloated bureaucracies rather than the intended recipients
• I accept the occasional tactical need to support what should be a government responsibility, but much prefer a strategic approach where government more predictably does the right thing on our behalf
• I acknowledge the pleasure in being associated with good social action, very occasionally getting active myself