Good intentions are not enough

Dr Hale raises some interesting thoughts in her commentary, “The greatest good,”¹ 2 of which deserve further exploration. In speaking of her encounter with a young Haitian boy, she states “[h]is only hope lies in the kindness of strangers.” She later endorses the use of images of “emotionally or politically ‘hot’ topics, like malnourished children” by aid agencies to raise funds.

While I certainly appreciate the intentions behind these statements and the stories she shares that drive them, their implications are not benign. Too often when Canadians are asked to donate toward development projects or disaster relief in low-income countries, images of ragged, fly-covered women and children are put forward. Whether explicitly or implicitly, the message is clear: only through your donations and that non-governmental organization’s actions can the course of these lives be changed.

This fundraising tactic might be effective in the short term, but it feeds into a larger and very subversive narrative in the long term. It appeals to and cultivates feelings of pity and works to dehumanize those we seek to serve. We are not knights gallantly rescuing damsels in distress.

What if fundraising were focused instead on sharing stories of resilience, of innovation, and of empowerment? What would happen if the minority of non-governmental organizations doing so became the majority? Good intentions are not enough, and we need to acknowledge this—even in the non-profit world.

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