Conde’ Nast Portfolio published a feature article called “The Generosity Index” in their November issue. This profiles the upper tier of philanthropy in the U.S., complete with a ranking of the wealth and generosity of billionaires whose giving is known to the public. They are quick to point out that the list may not include billionaires who choose to do their giving in private (apparently a sizable number of the wealthiest choose to remain anonymous). As Scripture says, do not announce your charitable deeds with trumpets (Matthew 6:2); I wondered if that was what they were thinking.
During this time of great economic uncertainty, the ultra rich could seize an opportunity to set an example of generosity. But do they? As I looked over the short profiles of these billionaires, I saw that their gifts were directed largely toward three areas: education, the arts, and health care. Poverty and the environment come in there in lower numbers. Curiously absent from these profiles was any major giving to religious causes. It almost seems that the ultra rich want to play God instead of lending their largess to those ministries doing the Lord’s work here on earth.
A theme that emerges from this article is that the rich give to try to outdo one another. One fundraising consultant summed it up, “Successful men and women want to outdo other successful men and women.” One possible result of this one-upmanship is philanthropic dollar inflation. In other words, an eight-figure gift can’t get you any respect these days. The consultants are saying you have to have a $100 million gift in order for your charity to upgrade. The billionaires are coughing up more, but doing it over a multi-year period in order to get into the category of nine figures.
I have wondered many times whether philanthropy on these levels really accomplishes much. It seems that billions have been spent in the name of finding cures, increasing scholarship, and defining quality in the arts. What has been the lasting effect? One has to wonder. I remember reading something by economist and educator Howard Bowen written back in the 1970s that dealt with “the revenue theory of cost” in higher education. Essentially, this theory stated that in higher education the costs will always rise in accordance with how much money can be gotten or raised. Bowen argued in his works that the economics of higher education centered not on profit motives, but rather on prestige and increasing the quality of students’ educational experience. I would argue that prestige might be the number one factor in organizations seeking larger and larger gifts. It seems the one-upmanship of the givers has been transferred to the charitable organizations they lavishly support.
Should the next generation look to these billionaires as embodiments of stewardship? My thinking is that we might learn from these folks, but the true lessons learned are by being faithful with the amounts we have—whether large or small. The Lord looks on the heart. I wonder what the hearts of some of these rich look like and I hope that they one day might experience the heart change that Christ has to offer. Let’s learn to give from the heart, and not from our desire to attract the admiration of men.
