I have not been convinced that this scenario or various permutations is not what we should go for. I think the chance of failure goes up dramatically if we do not allow for some sort of ongoing, annual vote for the charity distribution. We will have the bully pulpit of a Facebook page and mailing list to teach our fellow activists about rational giving, but the choice should be made by the people. Craig and Jim like to think they are not dictators and picking the charities and the division of money between them will probably go against their sense of fairness.
One charity I know Craig supports is Kiva. Is Kiva really that bad? I’ve heard some backlash against them recently. Craig also seems to be involved with various anti-corruption causes; that is something I would be ok getting behind that beats “The Society for Rare Diseases in Photogenic Puppies”.
Craig and Jim like to think they are not dictators and picking the charities and the division of money between them will probably go against their sense of fairness.
True, but technically this is their money we are giving away.
I personally don’t know much about charities. I just think it is an easier sell if we pick names that people recognize and let them choose from the ones we consider the best. By “we” I mean someone around here who knows more about charities.
The easiest way to handle this is to pick the names of potential charities now with Craig and Jim’s approval and put all of them on the website with details about how we will choose between them. The actual vote will happen after the Facebook group succeeds.
This does multiple things: (a) we get to use more names for charities, (b) people who have an aversion to specific charities will have an incentive to vote but will not be discouraged from joining, (c) locks in potential charities so we can avoid golddiggers sniffing around after success.
So, for example, we say:
We have been impressed with the work of charities X, Y, Z and are planning on donating the proceeds from this venture to them. After we succeed we will have a vote amongst the Facebook group to determine exactly how to divvy up the massive amount of money you raised.
I have not been convinced that this scenario or various permutations is not what we should go for. I think the chance of failure goes up dramatically if we do not allow for some sort of ongoing, annual vote for the charity distribution. We will have the bully pulpit of a Facebook page and mailing list to teach our fellow activists about rational giving, but the choice should be made by the people. Craig and Jim like to think they are not dictators and picking the charities and the division of money between them will probably go against their sense of fairness.
One charity I know Craig supports is Kiva. Is Kiva really that bad? I’ve heard some backlash against them recently. Craig also seems to be involved with various anti-corruption causes; that is something I would be ok getting behind that beats “The Society for Rare Diseases in Photogenic Puppies”.
True, but technically this is their money we are giving away.
I personally don’t know much about charities. I just think it is an easier sell if we pick names that people recognize and let them choose from the ones we consider the best. By “we” I mean someone around here who knows more about charities.
The easiest way to handle this is to pick the names of potential charities now with Craig and Jim’s approval and put all of them on the website with details about how we will choose between them. The actual vote will happen after the Facebook group succeeds.
This does multiple things: (a) we get to use more names for charities, (b) people who have an aversion to specific charities will have an incentive to vote but will not be discouraged from joining, (c) locks in potential charities so we can avoid golddiggers sniffing around after success.
So, for example, we say:
http://www.philanthropyaction.com/nc/a_mostly_comprehensive_guide_to_the_kiva_and_donor_illusion_debate