Corporate Donations, Government
Grants and the Public Relations Justification and Ethics in Giving
So often we hear people complain that this person is rich and
they did not give enough to that cause or that Corporation is only
giving for the Public Relations and they lack ethics. The question
is should they not give if they are only doing it for selfish motivations
or for a win/win scenario, which is tied to a public relations
and therefore a profit motive or in the case of a government to
win the hearts and minds of the people? If it is a government are
they only giving to help secure favorable trade deals or future
allies?
This has always been a topic of conversation indeed and it recently
resurfaced in an online think tank forum when someone complained
about why people, governments, companies and or organizations give.
But I find the debate rather aggravating as it is merely pointing
fingers and looking gift horses in the mouth, which we all know
is not wise. In my career in my company we have helped homeless,
done community fundraisers, participated in national giving and
gone out of our way to assist in the common good.
Now mind you these are just a few of the things I have been able
to do thru my company in trade for a little PR to justify it to
my company, team, franchisees, employees and customers, who all
assisted my efforts. By being able to justify the expenditures
to help the common good in a business in trade for a little PR
everyone wins. Had we not had that opportunity, it might be very
hard to justify these volunteer efforts and contributions to the
whole of humanity.
So, to criticize the efforts or cash given is the wrong approach
and therefore I will have to ask you to strike your comment and
reconsider your linear thought process. And I want you to tell
us all you have done to the common good and lets compare. In other
words which way works the best? My way, the entrepreneurial giver
or your way the complainer that nothing is ever right, or just
or fair? Because I am into problem solving not complaining; I do
not believe a Think Tank is a place to complain, but if you have
a complaint, a legitimate one, lets fix it without condemning capitalism,
gift givers, corporations, NGOs, governments or World Leadership.
Consider this in 2006.
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