Philanthropy

I do know that I shouldn't bite the hand that feeds me, but can I at least nibble a bit? Most of you know that I'm over fundraising. As a professor, I will have to fundraise to support my research and whatnot, but it won't be anything like the level of fundraising I do as a Development Director. I must say that there is not a lot of humor in philanthropy, which is part of the reason it isn't rewarding for me. Relationships are sensitive and cautious when money is the reason for the relationship, so emotions are high, but the language of philanthropy is "joy of giving," "stewardship," "generosity," etc. It is really not ever humorous because humor takes a certain perspective that is rare to find in philanthropic transactions.

So, given all of my mixed feelings on this video and how it manages to celebrate white privilege and employs minority students to do so, I have to appreciate this video on some level for bringing out the humorous side of major gifts and the steps people like me have to take to properly steward those gifts once they are made: