Give A Little Bit: The Rub Of Organizational Giving + Volunteering

Current Curiosities

[Reading] And Don't F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul's Drag Race by Maria Elena Hernandez

[Listening] It's A Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

[Watching] ​The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder


We Wish You A Merry Christmas (As Long As We Benefit From It)

​It's that time of year again when anti-trans red kettles clutter store entrances and organizations begin laundering their reputations through nonprofits and via official social media posts of team members volunteering in the community. The motivation behind the publicity photos shifts the narrative from helping those in need to focusing on the organization appearing to be made of good white people. 

Motivation matters. And it's clear organizational giving and volunteering is actually about increasing profits and gilding reputations damaged by credible complaints of discrimination and harassment from marginalized employees or by harming communities and the environment. 

For example, a while ago I volunteered at a local food bank with some friends. We wanted to bond and have fun and do some good. We arrived at the same time as an organizational volunteer group from a well-known financial institution. As my friends and I sorted nonperishable goods and toiletries into individual and family-sized packages, I noticed the organization's group was standing off to the side chatting with each other and looking at their phones. Not one of them was actually volunteering. When their time was up, the organization's group made sure to take group photos that were immediately shared across social media in order gain local accolades for the financial institution's alleged community engagement during the holidays.

The financial institution's opportunism and the hollowness of their engagement at the food bank shocked me and changed how I see organizational philanthropy.

I began to look critically at LinkedIn posts of local organizations laying out their collections of toys or school supplies or shelf-stable food on tables in the same manner the DEA lays out drugs and guns seized during raids. These photos are less about the act of giving to and service to others and more about the quantity of stuff (including money) collected. Through social media, organizational giving and volunteering is not only profit-driving and reputation-laundering, but also has become a capitalist size-measuring competition. Organizations document their piles of collected stuff, with the biggest piles given awards and status by nonprofit gatekeepers.

If organizational philanthropy isn't documented on social media and recognized by nonprofit gatekeepers does it even count???

Motivation matters. Organizations have lost sight of why we volunteer, why we serve others. It's our responsibility to our fellow humans. We volunteer to give back to our community because we are part of the community and a thriving, healthy community supports everyone.

Motivation matters. Here are some considerations to make when coordinating your organization's annual philanthropic efforts: 
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• What is your organization's motivation for giving or volunteering?
• Which nonprofit is your organization choosing to support?
• Why is your organization the right fit for that particular nonprofit?
• Or, what is the connection between your organization and that particular nonprofit's issue area?
• Who takes the lead on your organization's giving and volunteer efforts? Human Resources should not lead on this effort. HR (with Communications) has a vested interested in laundering the organization's reputation because nothing combats bad press like organizational philanthropy.  

Showing up and volunteering is not enough. Successful organizational philanthropic efforts are scaffolded learning opportunities. This is why Learning & Leadership Development teams should plan, execute, and debrief giving and volunteering opportunities. Volunteer teams need to understand the causes and impacts of the particular issue targeted by your organization's philanthropy. Volunteer teams also need a chance to debrief their experience serving, to unpack their thoughts and feelings, to reflect on high-level systemic issues and the lived experiences of those whom they're serving. Moreover, sustained and ongoing giving and volunteering opportunities are more impactful (for volunteer teams and nonprofits) than one-and-done events.

One Final Consideration: Does your organization need to photographically document its philanthropy? And what motivates your organization to publicize its giving and volunteering? Maybe skip the official social media posts this year and just be present in the experience of giving and volunteering. Motivation matters.

That all being said, I hope y'all get out there and thoughtfully and purposefully give back to our shared community this holiday season — and beyond! 
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Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form.

Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes, 

Creighton 

Today’s Pen(cil): Nahvalur Triad [Rollerball] | Monteverde Capri Blue [Ink]