One Back

When thinking of charitable giving we know there are many ways to “give back” to others.  For some, giving is best accomplished with money, and for others, time.  Philosophically it really doesn’t matter whether we contribute dollars to an organization or contribute our time and personal effort on their behalf.  However when someone needs help, or food, or clothing- there are few substitutes for the real thing.  No amount of opinion, belief or even political thought is going to change the situation of a starving child in the short run.  That child needs food or clothing, now!  Getting money and assistance to the right organization can help target these identified needs.

Over the long run however, charitable giving and philanthropy is a hot-button issue for many people.  Some see “social justice” as being paramount within a society, and leading to a more equal society that is less dependent upon financial giving and the largesse of others.  But it’s really not a simple issue and goes beyond rhetoric into the personal beliefs and values that each of us holds.  Realistically, “the long run” never quite gets here.  We are always faced with children and families in poverty, and others who need our help.  The act of giving something to another human being has been a part of human life since human life began. 

I had been considering how different people “give” to charity when I came across this article by columnist George F. Will.  He recently wrote Bleeding Hearts, but Tight Fists, an interesting article about the contrasts in charitable giving based upon political persuasion.  Nothing is ever so simple perhaps, but he makes a strong case  based on the evidence:  Conservatives tend to give more money to charity than do Liberals.

His article is based on the research conducted by Arthur C. Brooks, a Syracuse University professor who has published a book titled Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism.

Among the research findings:

• Although liberal families’ incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).
• Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.
• Residents of the states that voted for John Kerry in 2004 gave smaller percentages of their incomes to charity than did residents of states that voted for George Bush.
• Bush carried 24 of the 25 states where charitable giving was above average.
• In the 10 reddest states, in which Bush got more than 60 percent majorities, the average percentage of personal income donated to charity was 3.5. Residents of the bluest states, which gave Bush less than 40 percent, donated just 1.9 percent.
• People who reject the idea that “government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality” give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.

“Brooks demonstrates a correlation between charitable behavior and “the values that lie beneath” liberal and conservative labels. Two influences on charitable behavior are religion and attitudes about the proper role of government.  The single biggest predictor of someone’s altruism, Willett says, is religion.”

Using the comparisons in terms of political orientation does not explain the entire story however, because I think ”charitable giving” goes beyond that.  The explanations are not so easily distilled into “religion versus no religion” either.  

Does the research account for personal time and energy, causes, volunteering, activism, etc?  Not if money was the only thing considered as a basis for the research.   But it does make you stop and consider the impact that money does play with respect to charitable giving and help for the needy.  And for those who have a greater income, why might they tend to give less than someone else?  

I deeply believe in giving to others, and that the act of giving can take many forms.  For those who can and do give financial support, we should all be thankful.  As we continue to face economic challenges here in the U.S. and across the world, charitable needs are only going to increase.  It’s hard to send a bag of food to someone, so in that sense, the need for real dollars to get to the right organization, on behalf of those who need help, is very important. 

Filed under: News and Ideas, Promoting Change