Question for Readers: What Inspires You to Give Back?
January 28, 2012
Sara Wilson
Communications and New Media Officer
United States
Sara has worked as Communications and New Media Officer for The Hunger Project since October 2010.
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Comments
Victoria and Jim,
Thank you for your commitment to The Hunger Project and for sharing your valuable insights. I know I'll think twice about how I frame "giving" from here on!
s.
Robert - I appreciate your thoughts about the connotations of "giving back".
To me "giving back" can imply that the giver should not have had the $$ in the first place e.g., a thief returning what they have stolen. Giving back can become some version of "correcting an inappropriate imbalance" or "returning the $$ to those who should have it". Plus it keeps the focus on the "giver" instead of the new future that is being created by the gift. And it is fundamentally a look "back"ward.
As someone who has both given and raised money for THP for more than 25 years, I appreciate their use of the term "invest" as a context for giving. To me "invest" implies, a forward-looking commitment to generate a return (social vs financial) and it keeps the investor/donor focused on the long-term difference the investment is intended to make. That encourages more accountability and transparency since the "investor' intends to stay in an ongoing relationship with the organization and those who benefit most directly from their programs.
I think about "giving back" as more of a "transaction" as opposed to "investing" in a longer-term relationship. For those committed to creating a lasting positive change in our world, I think "invest" creates a much healthier and more appropriate context than does "giving back".
I give back in many ways -- each is an expression of gratitude for what I have been given. To be honest my parents set an example by volunteering regularly. Whether it's donating time or money, or working for a social enterprise, contributing to communities that are building the kind of world I believe I want to see.
It keeps me grounded to stay connected to important issues and initiatives.
Robert -- What interesting insight and thank you for sharing! Why is it that this age-old adage suggests a balancing act of getting and giving? I'd love to hear from other "givers" on this topic. You've inspired me to pose it to a wider audience! I'd love for you to do the same!
Giving back implies some kind of trade off. Maybe when I've given X amount and balanced the account I can stop. Is that how it works? It also implies that I'm losing something when I give as in "I'm giving some of it back."
Why does one have to give back rather than just give? Maybe I feel shortchanged by the universe, does that mean I don't have to give anything back?
How about I give because I don't want to see people suffer or more accurately I want to see people happy healthy and fulfilled. That's where I'm at.
I guess it's whatever turns you on and has you give.
Thank you for the great work that you do
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