I think this is an awfully difficult problem to solve. A status-motivated donor has plenty of other causes that will give them status in exchange for their millions to billions. If you accept that many donors are significantly motivated by status, adopting policies to prevent them from using donations to improve status will make one’s cause areas less competitive with other causes. Except in unusual circumstances, a specific charity or cause needs its donors a lot more than the donors need the cause/charity.
So my takeaway is grace for everyone who is trying to muddle through all the challenges of thinking through and managing donor risk as best they can.
I think this is an awfully difficult problem to solve. A status-motivated donor has plenty of other causes that will give them status in exchange for their millions to billions. If you accept that many donors are significantly motivated by status, adopting policies to prevent them from using donations to improve status will make one’s cause areas less competitive with other causes. Except in unusual circumstances, a specific charity or cause needs its donors a lot more than the donors need the cause/charity.
So my takeaway is grace for everyone who is trying to muddle through all the challenges of thinking through and managing donor risk as best they can.