Thanks Julia for writing this. It’s correct all the way around.
I can’t help but feel though that there is something a little mean-spirited in targeting those donating to Notre Dame, the opera, etc. There is a common and (in my opinion) somewhat toxic pattern where if someone spends their money on yachts, mansions, etc., then nobody complains but as soon as they do something even a little bit public spirited then all of a sudden everyone feels free to criticize. Like, we can have plenty of objections to MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic choices, but shouldn’t Jeff Bezos get at least as much commentary for his non-philanthropic choices?
I directionally agree with the second paragraph but there are some relevant differences in my mind. First, to the extent that a large donor chose to have their donation advertised (as opposed to remaining anonymous / confidential), they can be seen as making some implied assertions (which they may or may not be consciously intending to make!):
I am public-spirited / charitable / deserving of status and praise for what I did; and
Others who are public-spirited / charitable should consider donating as I did.
This is particularly true if they get the concert hall named after them or something. I think we need to be somewhat gentle, but I think we’re entitled to get our viewpoint out on those claims.
In contrast, I don’t think anyone who spends all their money on yachts and mansions can be reasonably seen as making these kinds of assertions. The stronger response to the ineffective donor can be seen as a means of combatting these implied messages; there is little risk of anyone misunderstanding the moral value of Jeff Bezos’ non-philanthropic choices.
There’s also the practical reality that the tax breaks for charitable donations in the US mean that the taxpayers (including myself) -- as a functional matter—pay for a meaningful fraction of almost any significant charitable donation to a 501(c)(3).At some point, that gives me somewhat more of an interest in criticizing what the rich donor is claiming the tax writeoff for than in what someone is buying without a subsidy from me.
Thanks Julia for writing this. It’s correct all the way around.
I can’t help but feel though that there is something a little mean-spirited in targeting those donating to Notre Dame, the opera, etc. There is a common and (in my opinion) somewhat toxic pattern where if someone spends their money on yachts, mansions, etc., then nobody complains but as soon as they do something even a little bit public spirited then all of a sudden everyone feels free to criticize. Like, we can have plenty of objections to MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic choices, but shouldn’t Jeff Bezos get at least as much commentary for his non-philanthropic choices?
I directionally agree with the second paragraph but there are some relevant differences in my mind. First, to the extent that a large donor chose to have their donation advertised (as opposed to remaining anonymous / confidential), they can be seen as making some implied assertions (which they may or may not be consciously intending to make!):
I am public-spirited / charitable / deserving of status and praise for what I did; and
Others who are public-spirited / charitable should consider donating as I did.
This is particularly true if they get the concert hall named after them or something. I think we need to be somewhat gentle, but I think we’re entitled to get our viewpoint out on those claims.
In contrast, I don’t think anyone who spends all their money on yachts and mansions can be reasonably seen as making these kinds of assertions. The stronger response to the ineffective donor can be seen as a means of combatting these implied messages; there is little risk of anyone misunderstanding the moral value of Jeff Bezos’ non-philanthropic choices.
There’s also the practical reality that the tax breaks for charitable donations in the US mean that the taxpayers (including myself) -- as a functional matter—pay for a meaningful fraction of almost any significant charitable donation to a 501(c)(3).At some point, that gives me somewhat more of an interest in criticizing what the rich donor is claiming the tax writeoff for than in what someone is buying without a subsidy from me.