Charity Leaders: Quit ‘Whining’

To the Editor:

The Chronicle has consistently provided important information relevant to my work in the non-profit field. But, while reading the April 20 edition, it dawned on me that there is an aspect of your publication that, if I were an “outsider” looking in, would not endear me to the non-profit sector. In too many of the articles, editorials, and letters, we non-profit executives come across as whiners. It seems as though The Chronicle’s style of presenting news about non-profits focuses on what others are doing that may mean changes for us, problems for us, or threats to us, taking away things to which we feel some entitlement.

So, in the April 20 edition we learn that:

• Donors are finding value in using donor-advised funds, and that hurts some charities. (So, deal with it: Inform your donors, improve the relationship, position yourself more strongly in the new market. Donors are looking to dispose of wealth in a way that is beneficial to themselves and the world. Help them.)
• Community foundations are complaining about how they may face dire consequences because of a court ruling restricting their ability to change the direction of a donor’s gift. (If I were a donor I’d be pleased by the court’s decision. Due diligence is required to ensure that altering the beneficiary of a gift is justifiable. What’s the argument? If you cannot live with the restrictions placed on a gift, do not accept it.)
• There is confusion and uncertainty about how to drive improvement in non-profit organizations. There are too many demands on us: modeling best practices, measuring results, re-engineering, communicating, etc. (As though these are unique to non-profits and don’t also trouble people in the for-profit sector.)
• A competitor of United Way wants to somehow hold United Way “accountable for its history of obstructing” the messages of its current national agenda. (Oh please, let it go. The cutting-edge United Way I lead today is nothing like the type of organization against which some continue to hold a grudge and to which they issue back-handed compliments whenever we make change and progress. Put the past behind you. We are peers and competitors. Let’s compete and have fun doing it.)

Do you see a trend? For me, the theme of non-profits as victims is becoming tiresome. Furthermore, it is not helpful. Let’s drop the self-obsession, shed the victim mentality, and invent new ways of doing business that will keep us vital, relevant, and successful. That requires us to face up to the challenges and demands of a changing marketplace and to make adjustments.

We need to remember that many for-profit businesses, executives, and workers (who are also our donors) would envy us our assets and advantages, our mailing privileges, our tax exemptions, and our endowments. These are the people we are here to serve — the contributors. They have as many challenges as do we, and generally have to live and work with less security about the future. (How many non-profits announce layoffs or downsizing affecting thousands of people?) I don’t hear them grumbling, and I am grateful whenever a customer is willing to make a contribution.

So, Chronicle, keep giving us good information and provocative debates on the issues. Keep the pressure on the United Way movement (and other movements too, for that matter). But please, tone down the whining.

Robert A. Carreau
President
United Way of Schenectady County
Schenectady, N.Y.