Religion and Philanthropy

Charity is an important element of nearly every major religion including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus who lived a life in service to others. One of the Five Pillars of Islam, Zakāt, requires followers to annually donate a certain amount of wealth to the poor. Judaism is very much grounded in tzedakah, or the Jewish teaching to provide for those in need. Though this is merely scratching the surface of the depths of philanthropy in religion, it is very clear that the basic principles of nearly every major religion stress the importance of charity. Religious charitable views translate very well in modern day society as there are many religious not-for-profit organizations in existence today. However, different religious views of charity impact various approaches to philanthropy. This article will use illustrative example to examine the way some religious philanthropies apply charitable beliefs.

The Christian Appalachian Project is described as an interdenominational Christian organization dedicated to serving the needy in Appalachia. The organization provides physical, emotional and spiritual support through various activities including counseling and providing a volunteer workforce to renovate and reconstruct dilapidated homes. The guiding principles of the organization include specifically Christian ideas like “To live out and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all of our actions” as well as items like “To foster open, honest and effective communication both inside and outside the organization.” Although the services provided by Christian Appalachian Project are geographically restricted to Appalachian states, they do not restrict services to anyone in need. A variety of fundraising opportunities are available to those interested in giving to the organization. In addition to online donations, auctions, and in-kind donations the organization also provides a gift catalogue and planned giving opportunities. Though it is very clear that the Christian Appalachian Project spreads the word of Christianity, it is doing so through positive action which makes an incredible impact on the community as a whole.

The Women's Sector? Not Quite...

Cigar smoke, scotch on the rocks, “boy’s club” antics.  Fortunate for those of us in the nonprofit and philanthropic world, such stereotypical images of the corporate elite and gender homogeny do not find themselves within the walls of our altruistic endeavors.  We fight for social justice, equality, and unbiased access to opportunity.  We benefit from the diversity and equality that is the object of so much of our work – or do we?

The common perception of the nonprofit and philanthropic workplace, both within the sector and among the general public, is that it is less gender-biased and more “warm-and-fuzzy” than its for-profit counterpart.  The reality, however, is that the nonprofit sector has its own set of gender disparities – both in staffing and wages – that can be detrimental to nonprofit organizations.

In this article, we aim to draw attention to some of the major gender-related issues affecting nonprofits as well as demonstrate the benefits of incorporating greater gender diversity into all aspects of these organizations.

Staffing

At first glance, nonprofits appear to be predominantly female-run; even though they make up just under half of the U.S. total work force, women fill 68% of nonprofit staff positions.  Moreover, when looking at nonprofits as a whole, 40% and 60% of executive directors are male and female, respectively (Halpern, Patrick R. “Workforce Issues in the Nonprofit Sector,” American Humanics Initiative for Nonprofit Sector Careers, (May 2006): pg. 7).

Yet, the story does not stop here.  When we take a deeper look at the gender composition of senior management, nonprofit size makes a significant difference.  Although women do comprise the majority of all nonprofit executive directors, they are over-represented in nonprofits with an annual budget of less than $500,000 and under-represented in nonprofits with an annual budget of $5 million or more. 

March: Diversity

This month, FLiP has decided to wade into a complex subject: diversity. Starting now, and going forward on a regular basis, we want to address the various ways in which diversity impacts our jobs in the philanthropic sector. Diversity of ethnicity, gender, age, and religion all play a role in the choices that funders make, as well as in fundraising strategy.

A recent study from the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reported that most people choose to donate within their particular ethnic group. While this may not be a big surprise, to some it is a growing interest and concern. To me, the study initially rang alarm bells about what it says about our social progress (or lack thereof): Is there a need for specific ethnic-focused nonprofits in the 21st Century? In a time of increasing diversification across American society, is it right for our philanthropy to remain behind, locked in very specific camps?

This edition of FLiP also brings to the fore concerns about gender diversity. Although the sector counts women among its most influential members, according to research conducted in 2006 at Indiana University by Debra J. Mesch and Patrick J. Rooney, women in fundraising earn 13 to 14 percent less than their male counterparts. Clearly, gender diversity issues are alive and well in philanthropy.