Corporate Donations, Government Grants and the Public Relations Justification and Ethics in Giving


By Lance Winslow

So often we hear people complain that this person is rich and they did not give enough to that cause or that Corporation is only giving for the Public Relations and they lack ethics. The question is should they not give if they are only doing it for selfish motivations or for a win/win scenario, which is tied to a public relations and therefore a profit motive or in the case of a government to win the hearts and minds of the people? If it is a government are they only giving to help secure favorable trade deals or future allies?

This has always been a topic of conversation indeed and it recently resurfaced in an online think tank forum when someone complained about why people, governments, companies and or organizations give. But I find the debate rather aggravating as it is merely pointing fingers and looking gift horses in the mouth, which we all know is not wise. In my career in my company we have helped homeless, done community fundraisers, participated in national giving and gone out of our way to assist in the common good.

Now mind you these are just a few of the things I have been able to do thru my company in trade for a little PR to justify it to my company, team, franchisees, employees and customers, who all assisted my efforts. By being able to justify the expenditures to help the common good in a business in trade for a little PR everyone wins. Had we not had that opportunity, it might be very hard to justify these volunteer efforts and contributions to the whole of humanity.

So, to criticize the efforts or cash given is the wrong approach and therefore I will have to ask you to strike your comment and reconsider your linear thought process. And I want you to tell us all you have done to the common good and lets compare. In other words which way works the best? My way, the entrepreneurial giver or your way the complainer that nothing is ever right, or just or fair? Because I am into problem solving not complaining; I do not believe a Think Tank is a place to complain, but if you have a complaint, a legitimate one, let’s fix it without condemning capitalism, gift givers, corporations, NGOs, governments or World Leadership.


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