Charity 2.0 – Response to “The Fine Print” Blog

So, today I came across a blog of fellow blogger, Sujeet. Sujeet runs an impressive blog called The Fine Print. I really like Sujeet’s writing … he’s a lot more sophisticated then I am and I would compare he and I similar to a classically trained violinist (sujeet) and a back wood fiddler (me). Both of us have our talents… it all comes down to who you enjoy listening to. With that said….. Sujeet just wrote a post called “Charity 2.0“.

Sujeet’s idea to help charities is to start creating micro-loans. Here is Sujeet’s tweet quote that started the process:

Charity!

I tweeted: “This economic downturn is a good time for non-profit organizations to think about taking (interest-earning) loans versus donations.”

Sujeet has a great concept – that is, that people could provide small loans to charities with the knowledge that they would receive interest on the loan and a full payment back at a certain point in time. I have a few problems with this.

Here are my fiddler playing thoughts:
1. Donations are tax write-offs … how would a loan to a charity that also provides interest (thus income) provide a tax break?
2. Are we really that greedy of a society that we need to now figure out ways to create income off of charitable donations?
3. What happened to the “GIVE” part of our lives… do we now have to give but ONLY if we get back?
4. Lastly, isn’t this what got us (partly) into this current mess to begin with????

I am all for charities… and all for giving …. but I have a hard time with the concept of making money off of my donation (which really isn’t a donation is it?).

I give to give without the expectation to recieve back. I know that life / karma… whatever you choose to believe in will ultimately shine down on me if I keep this thought process first. So with that said, I give to give, period.

I do like Sujeet’s idea of giving even in small amounts … everything helps and he even points to the Obama Campaign. Read his full blog post here.

I’m curious ….. maybe I’m just a happy-go-lucky blonde with no idea ….. so, what are your thoughts out there? Am I just a back wood fiddler off my rocker?

Cheers to Charity!
Jennifer

Subscribe to Jennifer’s Review

Tagged as: Charities, Charity, charity 2.0