6/27/2009
Notable quote by Gerard Ee
'Many social entrepreneurs do not understand that social enterprises are for profit. Some even feel guilty about it.' Gerard Ee
Do Singaporeans understand the above statement? Or do they need further explanations on the purpose of social enterprises? They are set up for profit, yes to make profit. What charity, what helping the needy, what nonsense?
There is no need to feel guilty about making profit. That is the reason for all enterprises, govt, social or charitable organisations. The rest of the reasons of how noble, how kind and compassionate, the need to help those who need help, are all a big bullshit.
Ok, profit is not necessary bad. Profit is good, just like greed is good. But make profit for what or for who? Be greedy and more greedy, for what and for who?
Now with so many professionals in it, they even coined the term venture philanthropy. They went in with the skills of well trained corporate executives and wielding knives as sharp as those of sushi chefs. Remember those organisations that collect a lot of money and were praised sky high that they were good? Even monks and priests are at it. If only they were not discovered and their dirty laundries washed in the open, they will continue to do what they knew best, and enjoy the perks of top class business executives.
Today we have several pages of write ups in the ST glamorising the passionate and committed, and in tailored suit executives doing charitable work, helping the needy. I hope they were doing it not for profit. But what's wrong with that? They should not feel guilty about it if they were doing it for profit.
I don't know how many of you will agree with my nonsense above?
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10 comments:
I can't understand. That's why I am lost in my own country.
Charity has lost its meaning in affluent red dot. And it's the professionals who are giving it a bad name.
There are a lot of small temples and churches doing excellent charity work overseas, quietly and untiringly, and I give them my full support. I had the privilege of following one of them recently. No nonsense, no talk of profit and no loud advertising. Just charity as it is supposed to be.
Lost Citizen
Singaporeans are suckers for the sob story if it is packaged with lots of glitz and sold with an equal dose of glamour.
The bigger the charity event, you can bet your last dollar(?) that most of the money will not go to the deserving. I have had enough of priests, monks, sneaky CEOs of big charities and their wily book keepers.
Best is to keep the money for myself so I don't need any charity!
But I never let my old friends' down.
Wake up Redbean. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Charities are all big cons. About 10% of the donated funds actually get to the needy. The rest are all pocketed by those managing the charities along the way. Lets face it, there are very very few of those charity workers who are passionate about their work, the rest do it for self gain and profit.
Charity is fast becoming a business in itself.
Do give directly to those You know are in need. Passing your money to a second party(middleman) for a third party(the needy) and beyond(charity/charitable organizations) may result in scandals as had happened in NKF, Renci and others.
patriot
quite true. i still remember the young man who was so inspired by our talented executives in the lucrative trade of charity that he set up 2 or 3 charitable organisations to help the needy. unfortunately he set up without much support and blessing or he did not know enough of the people he needed to support him and his charitable organisations were closed down.
i am greatly inspired to start a charitable organisation myself.
"Charity" organisations run by professional managers = fast track to fast bucks = gold taps to Gucci bags = shortest route to Changi.
LMAO.
Most Charity Organizations are enterprises now.
kopi soh
please note the distinction between social enterprises and charity organisations, one raise money through appealing to human feelings and another through human feelings as well as selling a service or product.
Hi Redbean;
I think the demarcation between a charity organization and a social enterprise is not very distinctive now.
Some charity organizations are involved in investments and other money-making activities.
patriot
Charity is for those needing a helping hand at some stage in their lives. And we all do, whither a kind and compassionate face, a cheer of encouragement or affirming words of justice. And at times, it may be financial assistance to simply pay the electrical bill for the next 3 months.
Charity organizations are a necessary unit in a community to perform organized channelling of funds and other resources such as medical supplies, equipment or expertise to people who happen to need it at that juncture just to make crossovers.
Charity organizations are not meant to provide assistance for the entire lives of individuals. Every individual has a responsibility unto himself/herself to lead meaningful lives and not as parasites.
Also, every organization has a responsibility to maintain a healthy balance sheet. In the achievement of such, every organization should be guided by moral principles such as not intentional taking of lives to achieve its aim.
Individuals working in charity organizations have executive powers of varying degrees. Where one individual has abused powers vested unto him or her and performs acts of fraud, it is as much a failure of the individual's morality as it is a failure of the organization's audit department.
All individuals are subject to tempting acts at every minute of our lives. We pick up a handbag left behind, set parking coupons to start 15 minutes later, skip school on a flimsy excuse or claim we have after-school projects just so we don't need to do housework! :)
Yes, wrongs are in varying degrees. But how would we perform had we risen to those heights? Put that audit process in place and let's move on.
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