Is there any value in donating money for development work?

Question

I am keen to understand why some people would donate money and others would not. As an investor and development practitioner, it is important to know the rationale of GIVING globally. I know that $10 a month could make a world of difference in the world we work, but why is it so difficult to convince those who have it, but would rather spend it on something else...??? Any ideas?

If I ask you to donate $10 a month to help an unemployed parent to keep a child at school, WOULD you?? If not, why not.... If yes, lets talk.

If you had a choice, would you give your time and expertise (volunteer) or your money?

Answer 1

for me it was pure mathematics...

I knew that most months I could afford $30 to sponsor a child overseas.... what I discovered the hard way I could not afford was the month now and then when I forgot to make sure the $30 was in my bank account... the bank then charged me $30 each time they tried to take the money out and could not....

Soooooooooo sorry until banks can fogive an occasional episode of forgetfulness... and simply claim the money when it goes into the account....without nasty nasty fees.... I wont be committing to any more regular payments to any charities

Answer 2

People don't know how their money is being sent. For instance the Red Cross pulled out of Louisiana months ago saying it's not a crisis any more. The Generals of the Salvation Army make upwards of $85,000 a year while the people they help eat donated food, to name a couple off the top of my head.
Actually I'd be willing to take in a homeless person, since I've been there before.

Answer 3

Good question.

I think there is a lot of cynicism out there... the idea (which I can't confirm or dispel) that most development dollars end up paying for overhead or in the hands of kleptocrats.

I think there is a deep lack of understanding of what abject poverty is like. Here in America with our superabundance of "stuff" it's difficult to imagine what it would be like not to be able to afford a $2 mosquito net for your kid.

I think that for a lot of Americans the people in the poor countries are perceived as "other"...which makes it easier to rationalize, deny and blame.

My work is pretty focused on protecting the global climate which means most immediately finding ways to implement energy efficiency of the biggest emitter--the US--but I hope down the line to bring what I learn to addressing energy-poverty issues in the developing world.

The little I've read about micro-loan programs like the Gramin Bank has really intrigued me. I wonder if, in the absence of big donations, that provides a way out of the poverty trap.

Or am I just rationalizing and shifting the responsibility to someone else?

Answer 4

Yes, I would donate $10 a month to a non profit organization to help the child and even help the mother to back to school part time. Some organizations even give the ladies business clothes to wear to job interviews. So, donating makes you feel good and you may even be able to get a tax deduction

Answer 5

no, i would not donate money to an unemployed parent fund...i would give that parent a job and make them earn the money to keep a child at school...i don't believe in giving money to meaningless things...i don't know you...don't know if my money would go to what you say it would (and i mean this as no offense, but i don't know you)...i would, however, donate to someone that i truly know their reasoning behind needing money...if the person is truly trying to support themselves and their child, if they are just wanting a hand out, or if the person i was donating to would honestly give it where they say they will...would still much rather just give them the money, if i knew them...
time? no...i have none to spare!

Answer 6

I donate money regularly to both Heifer International and Seva. Both organizations help people to help themselves. It has been a struggle to get these organizations to stop sending me the regular requests for more funds - I want my money to go to people, not paper.
I am better at donating money to organizations, but have allowed homeless friends to live with me (in the past).
I also helped with books and other educational materials for a family with various kids in special education. (Now the mother is home schooling.)

Answer 7

We are on the same track.... Right now, I am taking care of an epileptic child.... giving her daily medication and I even donated money for the deaf-mute kid for his transportation to and from school. All these self sacrifices has their corresponding rewards IN HIS TIME.

Answer 8

Individual perception. Whenever we feel it is worth to donate or adopt some child, we do it without told/ask by any one!

Answer 9

i wouldnt because she could get emplyed and teach her son id rather donate to the orphanage of cancer pateints the kid can always go to a public school till things get better