A Critical Fundraising Perspective: Considering the Experience of Constituents

• In Event: Reframing Nonprofit Organizations: Democracy, Inclusion and Social Change

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how current literature and practices in fundraising often ignore the people served by NGOs altogether or reduce their role to mere “exhibitions” used to raise more money and focus instead on donors and why they give. We do this by drawing on concepts highlighted in post-colonial theory, which helps us to understand the exploitation and subjugation of people in countries colonized by Western European empires, through fundraising. Post-colonial theory gives us tools to better understand the problems faced by people living in colonized countries and gives a sense of direction toward solving some of the issues created by the process of colonization, such as poverty, in these countries. The main argument of postcolonial theorists is that the process of colonialization led to the systematic exploitation and subjugation of the human and natural resources of colonized countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere. Through this process, the binary of “Us versus Other” (colonizers versus colonized subjects) was created. Several sociologists have argued that such binary opposition still exists and can be seen in NGOs’ portrayals of people in these areas particularly those who are poor (e.g., Bhati 2021; Cohen 2001; Dogra 2012).

Fundraising is essential to the growth and subsistence of NGOs which can play an essential role in reducing poverty, increasing quality of life, and providing employment to millions of people around the world. Using a critical post-colonial perspective, this paper highlights that we should be careful to assume fundraising as totally “positive.” On the contrary, fundraising can have a “negative” side. There is growing pressure on NGOs to increase the centrality of donors in philanthropy and place less importance on constituents. Similarly, constituents are often portrayed in a stereotypical way to generate donations and this may lead to growing power asymmetries between people living in wealthier countries and less wealthy countries. These representations foster colonial attitudes toward the poor living in formerly colonized countries as being “weak” and “unhappy,” and thereby may lead to racial biases among people from these countries. Finally, this paper argues that fundraisers should be aware of the unintended consequences of how images of constituents are used in fundraising campaigns and strive to present constituents in context and more holistically.

Authors

• Abhishek Bhati, Bowling Green University

• Angela M. Eikenberry, University of Connecticut