Philanthropy’s Critical Response to Bezos’s $2 Billion Will Deter Others

Almost as soon as MacKenzie and Jeff Bezos announced their plans to put $2 billion into efforts to help homeless families and to create preschools for the neediest kids, critics started pointing out where they’re going wrong.

People wonder about the time frame. The focus areas. The structure. And why only $2 billion?

Some use the opportunity to question how Bezos built his fortune, noting that Amazon worked mightily to defeat a Seattle corporate tax that would essentially have subsidized government programs to help the homeless.

I don’t disagree with many questions about what the Bezoses call their Day One Fund. In fact, I’m pretty curious about the answers.

But let’s step back and listen to ourselves. We’re immediately criticizing a couple for choosing to invest a huge sum into social causes. How ironic is it that on the first day of the “Day One Fund,” critics cried out from all corners?

Those of us who work to improve the state of philanthropy regularly encourage donors to listen, learn, and improve. To take calculated risks. Be bold. Fail forward.

Yet for some reason, many won’t afford MacKenzie and Jeff Bezos the space and time to do the same. Why aren’t we assuming best intentions? We should be able to look for the good in this long-awaited charitable act. After all, not many of us in organized philanthropy can say we got it right from the get-go. More worrisome is the message that we are sending to others who may be considering charitable giving. They may now fear they will be questioned from all sides before the ink on the check is even dry.

Learning From the Homeless

Jeff Bezos is no stranger to being analyzed and criticized in the press. So I suspect much of the commentary rolls off his shoulders. But for others who are more private and just now poised to step up and share their wealth, the response to the Bezos commitment will probably do little to encourage them to move forward and share their wealth.

Bezos is not unintelligent. He, like many others, made his money with innovative ideas and vision. It is not a big leap to expect he will bring those same talents to philanthropy. Much benefit will come from asking good questions about Bezos’s plans, but let’s save those conversations for later.

For now, let’s recognize that the Bezoses have much to learn — and acknowledge they may have been quietly studying issues and potential solutions for some time. And although those of us in philanthropy and the organizations that support donors have many ideas and good approaches to share, let’s not forget that at this stage their best teachers may well be those who actually are homeless or those who work with the families they want to serve.

The future will offer each of us ample opportunity for analysis and criticism. But that day is not today.

Henry Berman is chief executive of Exponent Philanthropy, an organization that advises foundations and donors.