I worked at a charity event, couple of months ago. I showed up, sweated in the afternoon sun, and carried on as best I could – there were actually two of us – and I was moderately worried about my associate’s frail nature in the searing Texas sun.
I also collected a paycheck for my efforts. I was never approached about doing this job as either a donation or a tax-deductible service. Or charity. I had to take time out, work in less than wonderful conditions, incur the added burden of travel and so forth…. I didn’t mind getting paid, even though it took almost two months to collect the checks.
Now, from two different sources, I’ve entertained the notion that one of the easiest ways to raise money for a business is to pick a charity and “sponsor” it.
Sounds a little dubious to me.
Some of this goes back many months, back to when I started charging admission for the current scopes.
The suggested model was like this:
Charity event -> donate portion of proceeds to named charity -> pocket a sizable amount for “overhead”
Sounds too politically incorrect, even for my tastes. That’s just downright dishonest.
The other version, I’m less sure about. I admire what Pamie has done with donations to the Oakland Public Library. Certainly, especially locally, libraries need help. But the readership around here is about 1/3 Austin, and 2/3 from “elsewhere” (2% from Canada, go, go, go “some team name here.” Ice hockey?)
I’m afraid to pick a political candidate to back, although, my current disdain for the present group of jackbooted thugs should be apparent. Vote. That’s a simple message.
I mean, if I was to be perfectly honest, the best place to donate money? It’s convoluted trail, but there’s a Dart that could use some funding. But that’s not like, a real charity, and as of this morning, that’s the only real cause I could support.
I do own the name “astrofish.org” and I could run the website up there, too, as a “not for profit” type of site. Then I could cut myself a hefty salary, and live off that. Which, once again, sounds like it might not be politically correct.
I’m wondering if “dishonest” is a better word.
Not in Pamie’s situation, that’s for sure. That appears to be 100% up and up.
