The Big(ger) Picture

People who run nonprofits, who deliver the services they offer, who raise the money to fund programs are, by nature, givers. And doers. They want desperately to help, especially when disaster strikes and people are suffering. So it can't sit right with them to step back and carefully assess the situation, the need and how much real difference they can make. But it serves them well to do exactly that. Jumping into the fray and raising money just because there's a platform to do so — without a concrete plan to meet real needs that are consistent with the charity's mission — leads to suspicion and legit questions about where the money is going.