Note: This post inspired by Lindsay Hoffman's unfortunate recent experience trying to work for social justice.
Note #2: This post's focus is how to give your political-orientated financial gifts. Of course there are other types of progressive causes. Any tips on evaulating the worthwhileness of union efforts, civil liberties, anti-media consolidation, good government, drug legalization, anti-death penalty, affordable housing, religious freedom, the separation of church and state, etc, are welcome.
And support non-political nonprofits doing key work in your community and around the world! My favorites are here and here.
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Progressives rejoice! Obama has been elected! We can plan our January 20th parties heralding a new age and take a well-deserved breather at the remarkable turnaround.
Except we can't.
Much work needs to be done. And much of it by the worthy organizations that helped get Obama and Congressional progressives elected. They have used up their resources for November 4th and now must start putting their agenda into actual action.
So, if you think you don't have to send in that $50 check to the local family planning clinic, think again.
The need is still there. It's overwhelming. Who deserves the money that you don't have? Don't fret, because I'm here to give you some unsolicited advice.
Give to the organizations that do real work. Sometimes they're the ones you've heard of, often times they're not.
If it is a national organization, find out what kind of grassroots organizing they do?.Do they spend your money on fancy fundraising consultants to ask you for more money? Do they spend it on a couple of high priced lobbysists? Or are they actually engage in grassroots organizing of the citizenry? If they can't tell you what they do in our state and community, bid them adiuex.
If they're a national organization that does work in your state, see if you can send money directly to the local chapter/affiliate instead. The local folks are usually more cash starved. Some national organizations will tell you they pass along your donation to the state level. If they're not lying, they do so after taking a heavy cut that goes to fancy DC consultants, lobbyists, or expensive, multi-color print-filled binders for Board members and fancy pens.
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Environmental groups. There are more environmental groups than there are people. How to figure that one out? I don't know what to tell you, except that you'll do better by going local. These big national and international enviros see your $50 check the same way: as an invitation to get a big donation from. They know that so many people out of 100 $50 donors will give them $5000 if asked enough. So, they'll spend a substantial portion of the $50 to resolicit you over and over and over again, even if you tell them not to. The smaller, local enviro will be ever so happy to put your $50 to good use.
GLBT organizations. Same thing. You might think that there is only one organization fighting for equal rights. But HRC is not alone. They could use some greater competition. Go check out the competition.
Reproductive health. (Moment of disclosure: I once worked for a NARAL affiliate but no longer have any connection to NARAL.) You can go two routes: political or direct services. If you want to protect the political right and support legislation that protects the right to choose and access to birth control and accurate sexuality education, give to your local NARAL affiliate (or the national organization). If you want to give to reproductive health services, Planned Parenthood is worthy, but there are many other sources that will put your dollars to even better use. Find out who the local independent family planning clinics are in your area. Give to one of many abortion assistance funds. I guarentee those funds will not go into fundraising or high-priced consultants.
UPDATE: These are the areas I know about. Does you have a perspective on nonprofits working on other progressive causes?
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What about that young person who comes knocking at your door? Should the canvasser from a worthy organization get your check? Should you take their literature and send it in? It depends.
First, ask them if they work for the organization in question or a contractor like the "Fund for Public Interest Research" or "Hudson Bay Companies." If they pause or admit to working for a third party entity, offer them a drink of water and a bathroom visit, but no money. Suggest to them that there are better canvassing operations that actually do grassroots organizing and that they often pay better.
Second, do they know what they're talking about? Are they passionate about it? Or is it clearly a script? Sometimes it's hard to tell, but sometime's it's easy. Especially be wary if they've created a false sense of urgency. I remember being told that "Congress is voting on this next week." It was August and I knew that Congress was on vacation and not voting on anything. You shouldn't expect a young canvasser to be a policy expert, but they should have some additional information that's not on their prepared script.
If they pass the test, then do give them money. Yes, they make a bonus off your contribution. But it's a well-earned bonus. (Figure you're only 6 of 60 people they talk to that night who actually give them a contribution.) If you sent the money in, the organization would simply spend a comparable amount for time resoliciting you by mail (even if you request not to be contacted). So instead of a cut of your contribution going towards paper and postage, have it going to a hard-working activist who is talking to your annoying neighbors about important issues over several hours each night.
In this economy, you're helping someone keep a job too! Give them at least $20. A good canvasser will try to "bump" you up from that level. Don't be insulted. Just be clear on the amount you are willing to give. (I usually say "$10" and then "allow" them to talk me up to $20 or $25.)
So, give the canvasser a check and tell them not to contact you (unless you want newsletters, etc.) There's only a 50% chance the organization will respect it, but it's better for everyone if you take your name off the list unless you're going to give regularly scheduled contributions. Otherwise, they're losing their money on you.
If your request to not be contacted isn't respected, don't blame the canvasser. They don't want the organization to resolicit you either. They know that they themself or a colleague will be knocking on your door one year later and want you to give the check to them, not mail it in. Sometimes organization development directors ignore those requests. More often, organizations' data entry isn't perfect. We're talking about volunteers here.
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The real world of nonprofit fundraising might make you cynical and say "screw it." That's the easy way out. Nonprofits have to be aggressive if they're going to fund their important work.
Donors are increasingly fickle. It takes an average of seven contacts before someone gives. You can be responsible by deciding the small number of groups you're going to give to, and give on a regular basis so they don't waste time chasing you. Tell other groups not to contact you if you're not going to give. Know that $100 to one group probably does more than two $50 contributions to two groups.
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