Support of one or more charities is a very important part of life for those who have time or money to share. That role shouldn’t be the last thing on one’s list of responsibilities, but, rather, high on that list. Dan Pallotta’s 2009 book Uncharitable shows that the public applies different criteria to charities and for-profit enterprises, primarily overhead or administrative and fundraising expenses.
The author explained how the greatest problems of the world—hunger, homelessness, AIDS, diseases of all kinds and on and on—deserve the best and the brightest. Yet those individuals are definitely not attracted to nonprofits because of their reluctance to offer outstanding compensation for outstanding performance or to invest in advertising and long-term planning.
I believe capitalism has produced much for humankind because it incorporates human nature into its formula. The author believes that this formula ought to be applied to nonprofits as well as for-profits.
Why should outstanding persons who work for nonprofits not get outstanding compensation? After all, they are seeking the end of hunger, homelessness, AIDS and other ills, worthy goals all, not selling more widgets.
