Introduction

Introduction

A number of ethical issues come up regularly when discussing charity work.

Who benefits from charity?

• The person who receives it
• The giver
• The alternative funder

Ethical issues

• Priorities are emotional, not ethical
  • Charity may focus on big disasters or attractive projects rather than on real chronic need
  • This can result in giving too much to some causes while others go short

• Charities fund work that should be done by governments
  • It's often argued that some of the work done by charity should be funded by the state, and thus that some charitable donations actually benefit government as much as the recipient.
• Wrong motivation
  • Charity is sometimes driven by compassion and guilt, not by a wish to transform the world through the most effective long-term development programmes
  • But does this matter? If the need is dealt with, and the recipient helped, does it matter what motivated the donor?
• Gifts with strings
  • Governments and corporations often impose conditions on their donations that suit the donor's purposes rather than the recipient's need
• Lack of coordination
  • Charities haven't always worked efficiently together to address particular needs, although nowadays they have a great focus on coordination
• Too much amateurism
  • Some charity work is criticised for being done by amateurs - but if it wasn't, it might not be done at all
  • Too much professionalism can discourage the donor base
• Limited worldview - limited accountability
  • Most charity decision making is done by the donor organisations (and ultimately by the donors choosing what to give to)
  • The decision makers may have a very different worldview to those who need their help
  • Charity decision-making can thus be insufficiently driven by the wants and needs of the recipients
  • Charities don't always hold themselves directly accountable to those they aim to serve

• Lack of accountability and strong reporting systems
  • This continues to improve
• Dubious fundraising practices
  • Many charities now abide by clear codes of conduct
• Corporate charity issues
  • Corporate charity is often inspired by PR needs rather than altruism, or by the wish to use particular tax benefits for charity
  • Corporations may impose strings on their gifts

Religious charity issues

Religious charities may give rise to some extra discussion topics:

• Tied to specific religious goals rather than need
• May be limited by ethical principles of the religion rather than recipient need
• May involve missionary work that weakens indigenous culture and tradition
• Likely to promote specific social policies