This article from Stanford Social Innovation Review reports on the results of a new study.
An excerpt.
“One death is a tragedy; 1 million is a statistic,” Joseph Stalin is supposed to have said. The more people we see suffering, the less we care. It’s an unfortunate quirk that psychologists so far have blamed on our brains: Humans are tuned to individuals, the thinking goes; we are just not capable of feeling compassion for whole groups.
“A new study calls that comfortable conclusion into question. “The collapse of compassion is an active process,” says Daryl Cameron, a doctoral candidate in social psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It’s not some passive limitation on human experience. It’s the end result of an active choice not to feel something.”
“Cameron designed a series of experiments to find out why four people in pain don’t get quadruple the sympathy of one. In one test, he had 60 college students read about one, four, or eight children from Darfur. The students who said they were better at regulating their emotions—who don’t easily lose focus or control, and usually know how to make themselves feel better—reported being less upset by multiple Darfur children in crisis than by one. In another experiment, different students reading about these same children were told either to let themselves fully experience their emotions or to think objectively and be detached. Again, those who proactively regulated their emotions showed a collapse of compassion when viewing eight victims compared to one.
“This suggests that people are perfectly capable of responding emotionally to groups. They just steel themselves against it. “If you really took everything to heart, to the full magnitude that all these disasters truly deserve, you’d probably be sitting home rocking yourself in a closet all day,” says Elizabeth Dunn, a social psychologist at the University of British Columbia who was not involved in the research. “We need to be able to cope.”
“Our capacity to empathize with a large number of people is good news for disaster relief, says Cameron. “If it is a choice, rather than a constraint, then we can try to get people to decide differently what they want to feel, and toward whom.” The bad news is that we seem to care only when we don’t have to act. Cameron’s other experiment compared students who had been prompted with the idea of a donation with students who hadn’t. “When people did not expect to have to help on the basis of their emotions, they experienced more emotion toward eight victims than toward one victim,” he says. Opening your heart is a lot easier when there’s no expected cost.”
Showing posts with label Subsidiarity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Subsidiarity. Show all posts
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Catholic Charitable Works
Catholic Charities is the largest private nonprofit provider of charitable work in the United States only surpassed by the federal government, and the overall charitable work of the Roman Catholic Church is thought by many to be the largest source of charitable help in the world.
For many years, committed Catholics have struggled with the wandering missions of many of its most historical charitable efforts, but lately, that has begun to change, as this story from the Catholic News Agency reports on the changes in one of the largest of them, Caritas.
An excerpt.
“Rome, Italy, May 24, 2011 / 11:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The goal of a new slogan adopted by the Vatican’s official charity is being called “unrealistic” by the Church official charged with overseeing the organization.
“Cardinal Robert Sarah said he doesn’t understand Caritas International’s new theme –
“One Human Family – Zero Poverty,” which was unveiled at the charity’s annual meeting this week in Rome.
“I think it would be wise not to follow some unrealistic slogans. But, I'm very hesitant to understand what zero poverty means, because Christ said we will always have the poor. So, what is a realistic way we can fight the poverty? But, it's difficult to absolutely cancel out poverty,” he told CNA May 22.
“The slogan is both the theme for this week’s conference and for the organization’s strategic document for the next four years.
“The cardinal’s comments come at a difficult time for Caritas. The organization faces criticism from Cardinal Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and others for a perceived lack of Catholic identity.
“Earlier this year, the Vatican blocked Caritas’ current general secretary, Lesley-Anne Knight, from running for re-appointment to her post. The charity’s governance is also being revamped to give Vatican officials more control over its work.
“Cardinal Sarah alluded to these concerns in his opening remarks at the Caritas meeting on Sunday, which was attended by roughly 300 delegates.
“I believe it is important to understand that our charitable organizations are located within the Church and not alongside her,” he said.
“A Caritas that wasn’t an ecclesial expression would have no meaning or existence. The Church cannot be considered as a partner of Catholic organizations. They are the organizations that take part in her mission.”
“He also stressed that the agency’s work is “not merely philanthropic” but above all “entails giving back to human persons all their dignity as children of God.”
For many years, committed Catholics have struggled with the wandering missions of many of its most historical charitable efforts, but lately, that has begun to change, as this story from the Catholic News Agency reports on the changes in one of the largest of them, Caritas.
An excerpt.
“Rome, Italy, May 24, 2011 / 11:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The goal of a new slogan adopted by the Vatican’s official charity is being called “unrealistic” by the Church official charged with overseeing the organization.
“Cardinal Robert Sarah said he doesn’t understand Caritas International’s new theme –
“One Human Family – Zero Poverty,” which was unveiled at the charity’s annual meeting this week in Rome.
“I think it would be wise not to follow some unrealistic slogans. But, I'm very hesitant to understand what zero poverty means, because Christ said we will always have the poor. So, what is a realistic way we can fight the poverty? But, it's difficult to absolutely cancel out poverty,” he told CNA May 22.
“The slogan is both the theme for this week’s conference and for the organization’s strategic document for the next four years.
“The cardinal’s comments come at a difficult time for Caritas. The organization faces criticism from Cardinal Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and others for a perceived lack of Catholic identity.
“Earlier this year, the Vatican blocked Caritas’ current general secretary, Lesley-Anne Knight, from running for re-appointment to her post. The charity’s governance is also being revamped to give Vatican officials more control over its work.
“Cardinal Sarah alluded to these concerns in his opening remarks at the Caritas meeting on Sunday, which was attended by roughly 300 delegates.
“I believe it is important to understand that our charitable organizations are located within the Church and not alongside her,” he said.
“A Caritas that wasn’t an ecclesial expression would have no meaning or existence. The Church cannot be considered as a partner of Catholic organizations. They are the organizations that take part in her mission.”
“He also stressed that the agency’s work is “not merely philanthropic” but above all “entails giving back to human persons all their dignity as children of God.”
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Election Blogging Break
Dear Reader:
I’ll be taking an election period break from blogging until Wednesday, November 3rd, when I hope we will all share in a great wave of common sense voting, bringing committed public leadership to serve this great nation and our beloved communities.
Take care.
David H. Lukenbill
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Government Funding & Human Service Nonprofits
In Sacramento there are discussions about turning over the government's help for the homeless to nonprofits, and in St. Louis, as reported by St Louis Today, nonprofits helping the homeless are asking for the money owed to them by the government.
Not a pretty picture anyway you look at it, and those who need help the most, the homeless and others—such as the domestic violence victims in the St. Louis article—continue to suffer from a disorganized method of help, all too often made worse by government’s involvement.
A terrific book to read for some foundational knowledge around this issue is, To Empower People: From State to Civil Society, by Peter Berger and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, and here is an excellent review of it.
An excerpt from the St Louis article.
“Nonprofit groups contracted by the government to provide basic shelter for the city's homeless and domestic violence victims are frustrated because they have been stuck holding the bills for months.
“The agencies began providing services for this year's federal emergency shelter grant in January. None of the $870,000 in grant money has been paid.
“The St. Louis Department of Human Services, specifically its homeless services unit, has administered such grants for years. Director William Siedhoff said Tuesday that he is disturbed by the "tremendous lag" in payments this year and assured checks would be cut sometime next month.
“Siedhoff said he became aware of the situation last month.
"There has got to be a better way to do this, and I am going to figure out how to do it," he said. "I know the hardship this creates."
“The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. James Heard, director of HUD's St. Louis office, said the money has been delayed this year because the city had provided incomplete paperwork about how the housing grant was used in previous years.
“He said this year's money was cleared for release last month.He was surprised to find out Tuesday that the nonprofit groups are still in limbo.
"We are concerned," he said. "They need to be paid."
“The delay has caused some nonprofit groups — already strapped by a heightened demand for services — to dip into reserves, lean on lines of credit and cut back on items as inexpensive as bus tickets.
"We have a really small margin of error," said Michelle Schiller-Baker, executive director of St. Martha's Hall, which helps abused women and their children. "We don't have bus money to get to that doctor's appointment, to get to that job interview."
“She said the city owes her agency $35,800 in housing grant money. It's just a sliver of the nonprofit group's $900,000 annual budget, but Schiller-Baker said "every single penny is accounted for."
"Regardless of what amount it is of our budget at the shelter," she said, "you owe me the money, you better give it to me."
“Lydia's House, which provides transitional housing for domestic violence victims, is owed $27,000.”
"We are looking forward to getting that funding," said executive director Ellen Reed. "We haven't had to cut programs, but it has certainly made things tight. We have had to dig into our reserves."
"Catholic Charities Chief Financial Officer Colleen Dusek said its Housing Resource Center for the homeless is owed $80,000. She said the agency experienced similar delays last year. The center has covered its costs with a line of credit from the Archdiocese of St. Louis."
Not a pretty picture anyway you look at it, and those who need help the most, the homeless and others—such as the domestic violence victims in the St. Louis article—continue to suffer from a disorganized method of help, all too often made worse by government’s involvement.
A terrific book to read for some foundational knowledge around this issue is, To Empower People: From State to Civil Society, by Peter Berger and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, and here is an excellent review of it.
An excerpt from the St Louis article.
“Nonprofit groups contracted by the government to provide basic shelter for the city's homeless and domestic violence victims are frustrated because they have been stuck holding the bills for months.
“The agencies began providing services for this year's federal emergency shelter grant in January. None of the $870,000 in grant money has been paid.
“The St. Louis Department of Human Services, specifically its homeless services unit, has administered such grants for years. Director William Siedhoff said Tuesday that he is disturbed by the "tremendous lag" in payments this year and assured checks would be cut sometime next month.
“Siedhoff said he became aware of the situation last month.
"There has got to be a better way to do this, and I am going to figure out how to do it," he said. "I know the hardship this creates."
“The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. James Heard, director of HUD's St. Louis office, said the money has been delayed this year because the city had provided incomplete paperwork about how the housing grant was used in previous years.
“He said this year's money was cleared for release last month.He was surprised to find out Tuesday that the nonprofit groups are still in limbo.
"We are concerned," he said. "They need to be paid."
“The delay has caused some nonprofit groups — already strapped by a heightened demand for services — to dip into reserves, lean on lines of credit and cut back on items as inexpensive as bus tickets.
"We have a really small margin of error," said Michelle Schiller-Baker, executive director of St. Martha's Hall, which helps abused women and their children. "We don't have bus money to get to that doctor's appointment, to get to that job interview."
“She said the city owes her agency $35,800 in housing grant money. It's just a sliver of the nonprofit group's $900,000 annual budget, but Schiller-Baker said "every single penny is accounted for."
"Regardless of what amount it is of our budget at the shelter," she said, "you owe me the money, you better give it to me."
“Lydia's House, which provides transitional housing for domestic violence victims, is owed $27,000.”
"We are looking forward to getting that funding," said executive director Ellen Reed. "We haven't had to cut programs, but it has certainly made things tight. We have had to dig into our reserves."
"Catholic Charities Chief Financial Officer Colleen Dusek said its Housing Resource Center for the homeless is owed $80,000. She said the agency experienced similar delays last year. The center has covered its costs with a line of credit from the Archdiocese of St. Louis."
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Government & Nonprofits
This article from the San Mateo Daily Journal raises the question if government should fund nonprofits and the answer is yes and no.
Yes, if there is a mutual mission addressing the public good, which government and specific nonprofits are partnering on; and no, if not.
Subsidairity should also play a role here, and each mutual mission decision should be decided at the local level, so this local discussion is an excellent one.
An excerpt.
“Before Charlie Bronitsky was elected to the Foster City Council in November he did not realize the city was in the practice of doling out money to area nonprofits every year.
“Monday night, freshman councilman Bronitsky voted against all 12 requests the city received by nonprofit agencies for funding, with Mayor Rick Wykoff voting against the funding for most of the requests as well.
"Bronitsky’s stance is that the city should not be spending taxpayer money to fund nonprofit agencies at all.
“Wykoff, however, considers the request on a case-by-case basis, he said. Councilmembers Art Kiesel, Pam Frisella and Linda Koelling, however, approved most of the requests, although many were lower than the dollar amount sought.
“The city’s website currently features an opinion piece authored by Bronitsky that states the city should stop funding nonprofit agencies altogether.
“His contention worries some local nonprofit leaders, though, who hope his wave of thought doesn’t spread to other councilmembers in other cities.
“The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County provided services to 43 low-income households in Foster City last year, said Executive Director Lauren Zorfas.
“The society helped keep families in their homes who may have faced foreclosure due to medical conditions, for instance, Zorfas said.
“Cities and nonprofits need to get creative in leveraging limited resources to keep people housed, healthy and fed,” Zorfas said. Cities would have to pay more for public safety and other services without the support nonprofits provide for the most vulnerable, she said.
“The nonprofits that requested funding were CALL Primrose, PARCA, Samaritan House, San Mateo County Jobs for Youth, Shelter Network, Foster City Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Hillbarn Theatre, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, Sustainable San Mateo County, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and Sustainable Silicon Valley.”
Yes, if there is a mutual mission addressing the public good, which government and specific nonprofits are partnering on; and no, if not.
Subsidairity should also play a role here, and each mutual mission decision should be decided at the local level, so this local discussion is an excellent one.
An excerpt.
“Before Charlie Bronitsky was elected to the Foster City Council in November he did not realize the city was in the practice of doling out money to area nonprofits every year.
“Monday night, freshman councilman Bronitsky voted against all 12 requests the city received by nonprofit agencies for funding, with Mayor Rick Wykoff voting against the funding for most of the requests as well.
"Bronitsky’s stance is that the city should not be spending taxpayer money to fund nonprofit agencies at all.
“Wykoff, however, considers the request on a case-by-case basis, he said. Councilmembers Art Kiesel, Pam Frisella and Linda Koelling, however, approved most of the requests, although many were lower than the dollar amount sought.
“The city’s website currently features an opinion piece authored by Bronitsky that states the city should stop funding nonprofit agencies altogether.
“His contention worries some local nonprofit leaders, though, who hope his wave of thought doesn’t spread to other councilmembers in other cities.
“The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County provided services to 43 low-income households in Foster City last year, said Executive Director Lauren Zorfas.
“The society helped keep families in their homes who may have faced foreclosure due to medical conditions, for instance, Zorfas said.
“Cities and nonprofits need to get creative in leveraging limited resources to keep people housed, healthy and fed,” Zorfas said. Cities would have to pay more for public safety and other services without the support nonprofits provide for the most vulnerable, she said.
“The nonprofits that requested funding were CALL Primrose, PARCA, Samaritan House, San Mateo County Jobs for Youth, Shelter Network, Foster City Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Hillbarn Theatre, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, Sustainable San Mateo County, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and Sustainable Silicon Valley.”
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Giving Through Others
In a model of reflective and serious philanthropy, Marion Rockefeller Weber shows how giving can be done simply and elegantly, as reported in the Christian Science Monitor.
An excerpt.
“Marion Rockefeller Weber makes many of her philanthropic decisions accompanied by the music of two singing finches, the becalming presence of her Blue Heeler dog, and a cat named Hermione.
“Not exactly the office décor of most philanthropic institutions. Then again, Ms. Weber is not your standard philanthropist.
“Her minor menagerie is housed in her home office, a cottage on a wooded hillside overlooking the Pacific north of San Francisco.
“Her journey here has been one of personal transformation. In the process, she has established a kind of outpost on the frontiers of philanthropic giving, one that puts a premium on intuition, relationships, trust, and discovery.
“Born into wealth, Weber says she has been a philanthropist since age 21, deciding which worthy causes to support among the many that would come her way.
"The table would be like this," she says lifting both hands shoulder high to indicate the stacks of proposals piled high on her living room table.
“It wasn't a pleasant process for her. Later, she took a one-year sabbatical, a time of self-reflection, in which she also made out her will. In the will, she gives her money to "visionary friends and associates" so they can, in turn, give it away.
“And so the idea of giving money with the stipulation that it, in turn, be given away, took root.
“Weber's brand of philanthropic giving has no offices, staff, or bureaucracy. It's called the Flow Fund Circle. Since its inception in 1991, Flow Funders have identified and supported projects all over the world, from orphanages in Uganda to reforestation in Sumatra to organic farming in Ecuador.
“Some 500 projects have been funded, nearly 80 percent of the money flowing outside the United States.”
An excerpt.
“Marion Rockefeller Weber makes many of her philanthropic decisions accompanied by the music of two singing finches, the becalming presence of her Blue Heeler dog, and a cat named Hermione.
“Not exactly the office décor of most philanthropic institutions. Then again, Ms. Weber is not your standard philanthropist.
“Her minor menagerie is housed in her home office, a cottage on a wooded hillside overlooking the Pacific north of San Francisco.
“Her journey here has been one of personal transformation. In the process, she has established a kind of outpost on the frontiers of philanthropic giving, one that puts a premium on intuition, relationships, trust, and discovery.
“Born into wealth, Weber says she has been a philanthropist since age 21, deciding which worthy causes to support among the many that would come her way.
"The table would be like this," she says lifting both hands shoulder high to indicate the stacks of proposals piled high on her living room table.
“It wasn't a pleasant process for her. Later, she took a one-year sabbatical, a time of self-reflection, in which she also made out her will. In the will, she gives her money to "visionary friends and associates" so they can, in turn, give it away.
“And so the idea of giving money with the stipulation that it, in turn, be given away, took root.
“Weber's brand of philanthropic giving has no offices, staff, or bureaucracy. It's called the Flow Fund Circle. Since its inception in 1991, Flow Funders have identified and supported projects all over the world, from orphanages in Uganda to reforestation in Sumatra to organic farming in Ecuador.
“Some 500 projects have been funded, nearly 80 percent of the money flowing outside the United States.”
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nonprofits & the Homeless
Nonprofits traditionally do a much better job working on social problems than government, primarily due to the principle of subsidiarity (#1883 in the Catholic Catechism), and this forthcoming arrangement—as reported by the Sacramento Bee—between the County and a nonprofit could be of benefit to all, while keeping a threatened program alive.
An excerpt.
“The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is poised to transfer control of the Mather Community Campus – site of key area homeless programs – to Volunteers of America.
“The supervisors are scheduled to discuss the measure at 11:30 a.m. today at board chambers, 700 H St.
“The move comes about six months after the county's budget problems threatened to close the campus and is part of a larger shift of social services from the county to local nonprofits.
"In the next couple years the face of nonprofit work in the community is going to change," said Leo McFarland, VOA's president and chief executive officer. "We're just testing this out."
“Mather Community Campus has been around since 1995 on the site of the former Mather Air Force Base. The campus offers transitional housing for about 320 people who might otherwise be homeless and provides them with vocational training, job search assistance, children's services and meals.
"It's a renewal. It's people who have a second chance to really turn their lives around," McFarland said.
“Grappling with budget deficits, the county cut much of the program's funding this fiscal year. General fund money for the campus dropped from about $2.5 million the past two years to about $400,000 for the fiscal year that ends June 30. The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency helped offset the loss of general fund money this year so officials could find a way to keep the campus open.”
An excerpt.
“The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is poised to transfer control of the Mather Community Campus – site of key area homeless programs – to Volunteers of America.
“The supervisors are scheduled to discuss the measure at 11:30 a.m. today at board chambers, 700 H St.
“The move comes about six months after the county's budget problems threatened to close the campus and is part of a larger shift of social services from the county to local nonprofits.
"In the next couple years the face of nonprofit work in the community is going to change," said Leo McFarland, VOA's president and chief executive officer. "We're just testing this out."
“Mather Community Campus has been around since 1995 on the site of the former Mather Air Force Base. The campus offers transitional housing for about 320 people who might otherwise be homeless and provides them with vocational training, job search assistance, children's services and meals.
"It's a renewal. It's people who have a second chance to really turn their lives around," McFarland said.
“Grappling with budget deficits, the county cut much of the program's funding this fiscal year. General fund money for the campus dropped from about $2.5 million the past two years to about $400,000 for the fiscal year that ends June 30. The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency helped offset the loss of general fund money this year so officials could find a way to keep the campus open.”
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Nonprofits and Government
In this article from the Union Leader, the role of nonprofits and their impact on the size of government is commented on.
The principle of subsidiarity, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which informs my thinking about this subject, states:
“Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good." (#1883)
An excerpt from the Union Leader article.
“Lew Feldstein, the liberal head of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, doesn't get up in the morning to enable the conservative movement, but limited government depends on a thriving nonprofit sector and Feldstein's NHCF cultivates just that.
“New Hampshire nonprofits are proliferating. The state's 7,317 registered nonprofits make New Hampshire a national leader in nonprofits per capita. Another 700 registered this year. They range from schools with large endowments, such as Dartmouth College and St. Paul's School, to hospitals with thousands of employees to local youth soccer leagues. They also include United Ways, humane societies, visiting nurses, food banks and hospices that provide needed services through private means instead of bigger government.
“New Hampshire gets by with a relatively small state government, Feldstein posits, because of its strong nonprofit sector. He cautions, "It's a mistake to assume that one substitutes for the other one for one." He describes the foundation's $25 million in grants as a "rounding error" compared to the state budget.
“The foundation is a clearinghouse, an amalgamator and matchmaker that pairs givers with organizations. NHCF manages some $410 million in assets, receives an average of $25 million to $30 million in gifts each year and gives away a similar amount to hundreds of donor-advised grantees while managing more than 1,000 educational scholarships. Donors pay a 1 percent fee on assets in return for professional investment management and grant-making administrative support.”
The principle of subsidiarity, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which informs my thinking about this subject, states:
“Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good." (#1883)
An excerpt from the Union Leader article.
“Lew Feldstein, the liberal head of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, doesn't get up in the morning to enable the conservative movement, but limited government depends on a thriving nonprofit sector and Feldstein's NHCF cultivates just that.
“New Hampshire nonprofits are proliferating. The state's 7,317 registered nonprofits make New Hampshire a national leader in nonprofits per capita. Another 700 registered this year. They range from schools with large endowments, such as Dartmouth College and St. Paul's School, to hospitals with thousands of employees to local youth soccer leagues. They also include United Ways, humane societies, visiting nurses, food banks and hospices that provide needed services through private means instead of bigger government.
“New Hampshire gets by with a relatively small state government, Feldstein posits, because of its strong nonprofit sector. He cautions, "It's a mistake to assume that one substitutes for the other one for one." He describes the foundation's $25 million in grants as a "rounding error" compared to the state budget.
“The foundation is a clearinghouse, an amalgamator and matchmaker that pairs givers with organizations. NHCF manages some $410 million in assets, receives an average of $25 million to $30 million in gifts each year and gives away a similar amount to hundreds of donor-advised grantees while managing more than 1,000 educational scholarships. Donors pay a 1 percent fee on assets in return for professional investment management and grant-making administrative support.”
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