Editorial Viewpoint
The gift of giving
The initial one crore rupees (Rs 10,000,000 or US $ 2,17,000) to be donated by industrialist Nusli Wadia towards ameliorating the lot of the priesthood is one more manifestation of the benevolence of wealthy Zoroastrians. The money is expected to supplement the income of mobeds, especially the elderly ones. Several schemes for the clergy had also been initiated earlier, one with the support of the house of Godrej.
That the number of priests continues to decline is not due to a lack of effort by either the laity or the ministry but the fact that priesthood today is not a very attractive proposition. All the community can do now is to ensure that those who are in the profession are financially assisted.
The practice of giving is engrained in people and more so with Zoroastrians. Whenever there were and are worthy causes people loosen their purse strings. Thus the laudable objective of women’s education saw wealthy patrons donate generously to open schools exclusively for girls. Religious fervor saw fire temples and dakhmas erected. Hospitals were created to tend to the sick.
What drives people of varied backgrounds, differing economic and social strata to give? One overriding factor is empathy, a concern for others. Another could be a moral imperative: “we must assist the less fortunate.” A third prime mover is dedication to a cause, be it women’s liberation, care of the elderly or animal rights.
But many people who are charitably inclined may not give to deserving causes because they do not know about them or are not sufficiently motivated to find out. As Peter Schoewe, a senior accounts executive at Mal Warwick Associates, USA, noted in the November-December 2009 issue of Philanthropy, the newsletter of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP), “the most successful fund-raising innovation in the coming year will be one that ensures an individual — who has the means and inclination to help — is asked for a gift.”
Traditionally in our community people have courted the large donor, the philanthropist who with a stroke of the pen can underwrite an entire project or a large portion of it. But the drawback is such benefactors are inundated with appeals, most of which they cannot entertain. Or they may want to attach conditions to the gift.
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) therefore look for a wider support base where they are not beholden to any one or two large donors. Many established organizations follow this practice. Well-known NGOs such as UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), SOS Children’s Villages International, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), CRY (Child Rights and You), Helpage and others send out countless mailers to current and potential givers. But this practice is not followed by most other organizations. Even schools and colleges do not tap their vast alumni base for donations. Many educational institutions do not even have the contact details of their graduates.
The number of appeals from Zoroastrian charities is negligible. The Liaison Committee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) sends out appeals most years and one or two other Parsi trusts. But the appeals are usually a single page letter often without a reply paid envelope or a form with the potential donor’s name and address printed on it. The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital is one of the favorite recipients of the community’s largesse but one does not recall receiving an annual appeal for assistance from them. In the days when Parsi doctors performed plays to raise funds, institutions and individuals would be approached to place advertisements in the souvenir and purchase tickets. But the plays ceased to be performed and with them the opportunity for people to support the institution by buying tickets or booking advertisements. Another magnet attracting funds is the Iranshah in Udvada. But there is no overt effort to raise funds.
But aside from these two institutions and a handful of others, everyone else has to market their institution if they want assistance. Walls to prevent encroachment of dakhma lands require substantial funding as does maintenance of anjuman property. Community publications and newsletters carry various appeals to which philanthropic readers occasionally respond, more so if the cause is close to their heart. The Zoroastrian associations in the West are often on a fund-raising drive to procure monies to purchase property for community centers or to redevelop, renovate or enlarge the existing ones.
Well meaning people who do fund-raising along with their professional/business/trust responsibilities often find that the routine work drains them of energy. While a particular individual or group may begin a project with great vigor and optimism, with time and energy expended, the enthusiasm ebbs. Knocking on doors, working the phones can be frustrating, more so when the answer is often a “no” or “not now.” A new venture may catch the imagination of donors but they may not be as willing to give money for its day-to-day running. The alternative then may be to liquidate some asset of the trust, very often property.
To avoid this calamity, trusts hand over the management of their assets to professional fund managers. This ensures optimum growth of wealth. Second, and as important, they employ professional fund-raisers or, if they prove unaffordable, recruit well meaning individuals with social skills.
In our community trusts can build up mailing lists of civic minded individuals who can be sent appeals at the time of the three New Years or other auspicious or sacred occasions. A sprit of giving can also be inculcated such that on festive or formal occasions instead of spending money on garlands and food, an equivalent amount can be donated to a cause dear to the organizer’s hearts. In addition to distributing dinner boxes at election meets, let the candidates donate a rupee or more to charity for every individual who attends.
But fund-raising and handing out money does not ensure a charity achieves its objectives. A few years ago the BPP set aside Rs 30 to 40 lakhs to form a youth group. The monies reportedly were expended on a “rain dance” party. Whether that year saw a bumper monsoon is not known but there was definately a drought of purpose.
“Charities do good work,” said Poona-based industrialist and CAP director Darius Forbes (see “How charity works,” Parsiana, December 7, 2009). “Can they not do better?” He advocated a one to 10 rating to determine an NGO’s effectiveness.
We are a community that believes in giving. Let us capitalize on that virtue so that charity, in addition to being a way of life, also continues to be life giving.
That the number of priests continues to decline is not due to a lack of effort by either the laity or the ministry but the fact that priesthood today is not a very attractive proposition. All the community can do now is to ensure that those who are in the profession are financially assisted.
The practice of giving is engrained in people and more so with Zoroastrians. Whenever there were and are worthy causes people loosen their purse strings. Thus the laudable objective of women’s education saw wealthy patrons donate generously to open schools exclusively for girls. Religious fervor saw fire temples and dakhmas erected. Hospitals were created to tend to the sick.
What drives people of varied backgrounds, differing economic and social strata to give? One overriding factor is empathy, a concern for others. Another could be a moral imperative: “we must assist the less fortunate.” A third prime mover is dedication to a cause, be it women’s liberation, care of the elderly or animal rights.
But many people who are charitably inclined may not give to deserving causes because they do not know about them or are not sufficiently motivated to find out. As Peter Schoewe, a senior accounts executive at Mal Warwick Associates, USA, noted in the November-December 2009 issue of Philanthropy, the newsletter of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP), “the most successful fund-raising innovation in the coming year will be one that ensures an individual — who has the means and inclination to help — is asked for a gift.”
Traditionally in our community people have courted the large donor, the philanthropist who with a stroke of the pen can underwrite an entire project or a large portion of it. But the drawback is such benefactors are inundated with appeals, most of which they cannot entertain. Or they may want to attach conditions to the gift.
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) therefore look for a wider support base where they are not beholden to any one or two large donors. Many established organizations follow this practice. Well-known NGOs such as UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), SOS Children’s Villages International, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), CRY (Child Rights and You), Helpage and others send out countless mailers to current and potential givers. But this practice is not followed by most other organizations. Even schools and colleges do not tap their vast alumni base for donations. Many educational institutions do not even have the contact details of their graduates.
The number of appeals from Zoroastrian charities is negligible. The Liaison Committee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) sends out appeals most years and one or two other Parsi trusts. But the appeals are usually a single page letter often without a reply paid envelope or a form with the potential donor’s name and address printed on it. The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital is one of the favorite recipients of the community’s largesse but one does not recall receiving an annual appeal for assistance from them. In the days when Parsi doctors performed plays to raise funds, institutions and individuals would be approached to place advertisements in the souvenir and purchase tickets. But the plays ceased to be performed and with them the opportunity for people to support the institution by buying tickets or booking advertisements. Another magnet attracting funds is the Iranshah in Udvada. But there is no overt effort to raise funds.
But aside from these two institutions and a handful of others, everyone else has to market their institution if they want assistance. Walls to prevent encroachment of dakhma lands require substantial funding as does maintenance of anjuman property. Community publications and newsletters carry various appeals to which philanthropic readers occasionally respond, more so if the cause is close to their heart. The Zoroastrian associations in the West are often on a fund-raising drive to procure monies to purchase property for community centers or to redevelop, renovate or enlarge the existing ones.
Well meaning people who do fund-raising along with their professional/business/trust responsibilities often find that the routine work drains them of energy. While a particular individual or group may begin a project with great vigor and optimism, with time and energy expended, the enthusiasm ebbs. Knocking on doors, working the phones can be frustrating, more so when the answer is often a “no” or “not now.” A new venture may catch the imagination of donors but they may not be as willing to give money for its day-to-day running. The alternative then may be to liquidate some asset of the trust, very often property.
To avoid this calamity, trusts hand over the management of their assets to professional fund managers. This ensures optimum growth of wealth. Second, and as important, they employ professional fund-raisers or, if they prove unaffordable, recruit well meaning individuals with social skills.
In our community trusts can build up mailing lists of civic minded individuals who can be sent appeals at the time of the three New Years or other auspicious or sacred occasions. A sprit of giving can also be inculcated such that on festive or formal occasions instead of spending money on garlands and food, an equivalent amount can be donated to a cause dear to the organizer’s hearts. In addition to distributing dinner boxes at election meets, let the candidates donate a rupee or more to charity for every individual who attends.
But fund-raising and handing out money does not ensure a charity achieves its objectives. A few years ago the BPP set aside Rs 30 to 40 lakhs to form a youth group. The monies reportedly were expended on a “rain dance” party. Whether that year saw a bumper monsoon is not known but there was definately a drought of purpose.
“Charities do good work,” said Poona-based industrialist and CAP director Darius Forbes (see “How charity works,” Parsiana, December 7, 2009). “Can they not do better?” He advocated a one to 10 rating to determine an NGO’s effectiveness.
We are a community that believes in giving. Let us capitalize on that virtue so that charity, in addition to being a way of life, also continues to be life giving.
◆ ◆ ◆
From the archive