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To donate, by definition, is to give freely and without any return consideration. This would make any donated transaction one of charity, usually to a financially incapable person or to a needy cause. But how many of the not-for-profit organisations that we know of have set a “return on investment” on their donated money, asset or service? Do they know where their money has gone and how it was utilised? And if so, was it within the spirit or the letter of the contract of donation?
The handful of international organisations that exist in Cyprus (Red Cross, Rotary, Lions, etc.) have succeeded to expand their franchise network to all towns and are vertically integrated to assist people from all walks of life; this is achieved based on years’ of experience and knowledge ploughed back into their manuals of operation. But these are poorly structured groups that rely heavily on volunteer services and contributions, either from fund-raising events or from membership. Of the remaining charities, few have redefined their purpose and structured themselves as large-capital foundations with an annual plan of giving, and this because of the bureaucratic system that deters NGOs from seeking tax-incentive donations from wealthy individuals or profitable companies.
We are all aware of the Radio Marathon Foundation or the Anti Cancer Society and so many other worthy NGOs that barely get to meet their budgets from donations and funds raised.
This is why a new culture has to set into the mindset of those who have established these non-profit organisations and NGOs, be they for the protection of wildlife or endangered species, for environmental or educational purposes or even for improving civil society and the quality of life, with the latter being the most important ingredients in building a healthy society and prosperous society that cares.
Cyprus society needs to introduce it’s own ‘Gross Happiness Index’, similar to the one established by the King of Bhutan four decades ago with the purpose of measuring the quality of life and social progress, in contrast to the sole economic prosperity indicator we use on a daily base, the Gross Domestic Product.
Businesses ought to compare the GHI of their own staff to that of a national Index, which should be relative, but not reliant to, GDP.
There is nothing wrong in asking for a ‘return on investment’, as long as this is clear that it is not a loan. Scholarship foundations should insist that a beneficiary should return the money awarded in the form of volunteer services or in kind. In the current economic crisis, the generosity of charitable institutions should not be abused for personal gain, especially as there are other needy students or causes that would excel in their profession or even in society if given the right help at the right time.
Let’s rate individuals and corporations based on their GHI or rank them on their level of giving, both in a straightforward charitable sense and in wisely planned investment in society.
