Why GIVE?

By Colin Peterson

Why do people GIVE to charity? I posed this question recently to several community contacts as well as colleagues here at UWCI. I personally don’t claim to have a definitive answer to this question but I wanted to blog on it to get a conversation going.

The responses that I received were diverse and many had multiple reasons for giving. Some people said they give because it reinforces their values or because they feel compelled to support an organization that has performed a helpful service for them or someone they know. Others said they give in response to an emergent need for assistance (ie hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, earth quakes, etc.).

I have to stay under Bonnie’s rule of 500 words or less per blog so I won’t share everyone’s response but here are some good examples:

Brian Fairbanks, UWCI’s Database Administrator says he gives “…time and money in order to set an example to my kids, friends and family that in order to see specific changes, you must be part of the process.”

Nicole Beaman, our VP of Community Impact, said she and her husband sit down once each month and have a conversation on how much to give and to whom. Their giving priorities change with time but she says they continue to give because they can and they know their donations make a difference.

Deborah Lake, a staff member at the Iowa Council for International Understanding says she gives because “…by being at a United Way partner agency I can see first hand the affects of the work that the community’s support allows agencies to perform.”

One common thread through all the feedback I received was this: people give because it makes them feel good. The result of this highly unscientific poll reinforces the arguments made by Sean Stannard-Stockton in his blog, “Tactical Philanthropy.” Sean writes that you can understand why people are compelled to give in the context of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (I encourage you to read Sean’s blog to learn more – it is now one of my favorites!).

I personally give to charity for many of the same reasons stated above but also out of a sense of responsibility. I believe strongly in establishing credibility by putting my money where my mouth is.

So why do you give to charity? Or, if you don’t give, why not? As always you can share your feedback with me in the comments section below or send me an email at cpeterson@unitedwaydm.org or give me a call at 515-246-6500.