Why bother?

Dave Pitchford
  Dave Pitchford
Intelligent Giving Managing Editor
 A beautiful sunflower

 

A FRIEND WHO DOESN'T GIVE to charity set me a challenge: to convince her, on this site, why she should give. Here goes. I can think of 11 good reasons:

1. It will be good for you
All research on happiness comes to the same conclusion: the more we look outside of ourselves, the happier we get. I'd imagine giving to others is a good start.

2. At the moment, you're freeloading
If you have been to hospital, visited a museum, been to the theatre, walked through a park or along a canal, ... a charity has almost certainly paid to improve your experience. Fair dues?

3. We're lucky...
You live in an immensely lucky country: a soft climate, rich soil, water everywhere, a democracy, no tropical diseases/ lions/ tigers/ earthquakes/ hurricanes/ volcanoes, circled by a moat. This is not through any effort of our own. We have lucked out.

4. ...but not all of us
If every day you saw the problems in this country you wouldn't hesitate to help (which is why poor people who see the problems give more to charity). But you don't see the worst of it. Gruelling statistics are available but if you don't have the appetite for them, believe it: there is plenty to fix.

5. Other countries are not lucky
If you visit a poor country you will meet people with brilliance in their eyes and you'll know they'll stay poor forever because they cannot possibly escape their situation. Then you will realise that it's not simply your genius that explains your comfortable lifestyle (see 4).

6. Others have paid for you
Previous generations dug deep to create great things you take for granted. Apart from hospices, helplines and scanners, this includes life-changing laws (equal rights, the vote, free education and healthcare) which charities lobbied for. What wonderful things will you leave behind?

7. You'll be more popular (probably)
Research on schoolchildren shows that the ones who help charities are more respected by their peers, more popular and happier. It isn't much of a stretch to imagine the same applies to adults.

8. It makes a difference
If charities weren't around, the arts would die, the country would get grimier, and people less lucky than you would suffer enormously. Charities provide a third of all social services in the UK. The money clearly makes a difference.

9. You'll be joining everyone else
The most conservative statistics say 65 per cent of Brits give to charity but most put it nearer to 85 per cent. So by not giving, you're in quite a small - some might say, mean - minority.

10. It's not cool not to give
Name a celeb who says s/he won't give to charity because it's a waste of time. Or because they're too busy. Or because it's against their principles. Would you, if the microphone turned to you?

11. You can ignore the rumours now
You can check out virtually all those rumours about fat-cat salaries and huge admin bills at intelligentgiving.com. No more excuses!



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Reader's comments

I am not convinced at all by
Submitted by Sally Delves (not verified) on Thu, 02/11/2006 - 4:49pm.

I am not convinced at all by this man's arguments. If I feel happy without giving, it seems like theres no need for me to give anything!! I've paid my taxes (and a lot of them) for years and I haven't used the NHS or put children through school or anything. This means I think that I've given more than enough to the 'needy' already!!!


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