Through myths and misconceptions, most charitable institutions have received a bad reputation. Fact, one-third of U.S. adults (32%) have less than positive feelings toward America’s charitable organizations. Myth, all charities are ineffectual and misleading with donations. This misnomer and others like it are hurting fundraising efforts. Although there are many myths surrounding charities, there are three that significantly affect giving the most.
Myth: Small Gestures Of Giving Qualifies As Philanthropy
False. In one article, slactivism’s description is the willingness to perform relatively costless, token displays of support for a cause accompanied by the unwillingness to devote significant efforts to enact change. Even though small charitable gestures are an essential cog in the mechanism known as fundraising, they don’t qualify as philanthropy. Pure altruism isn’t a transaction like buying a box of cookies or dropping cash in a bell-ringer’s bucket, better known as slacktivism. As an example, people can hand out money to an impoverished man, or someone can devote themselves to becoming a vital component of the cause.
Myth: Social Media Is Good For Charities
False. Unfortunately, social media has proven some forms of slacktivism does hurt fundraising efforts. Studies find that a person who uses a social platform such as Facebook or Twitter to publicly declare support for a charity is far less likely to donate later. Instant gratification is now like a form of currency. Say a Facebook user sees a story or watches a video promoting a cause, and they hit the like button. Some misconstrue an instant display of support of this nature as enough to help. Other people just like or comment on a charity through social media to present themselves to friends as a concerned and charitable person. Once, social media platforms were an untapped source for fundraising, now user’s feeds are inundated with foundations and movements asking for money.
Myth: Fundraising Professionals Shouldn’t Receive Compensation
False. Although false, this myth is an understandable notion if one is not familiar with fundraising’s inner workings. Charitable work has always been through the service of volunteers. More significant foundations understand that to retain the top echelon and extract substantial donations from benefactors, there it should be a paid position dedicated to doing so. As time went on due to this myth, skilled professionals were avoiding this line of work. The 30,000 member Association of Fundraising Professionals touts of more than 100 Billion in contributions annually. A fundraising professional’s earnings are a drop in the bucket in the broader scope compared to their donation earning potential.