The Mother of All Sins?

Greed.  I am not the only one to put at the feet of greed the current financial mess in which America currently finds itself.  Larger lifestyles, larger profits, larger risk.  All to get more.  Greed, greed, greed. As a result of these voracious appetites —which most of us were taught is not a trait to be coveted or embraced—folks are actually being rewarded.  We have bailouts in the works for greedy homeowners, greedy bankers, greedy insurance companies, greedy mortgage companies, even greedy car manufacturers.  The clear message is care about yourself first and even if it gets you into trouble, we, the government, will reward you. Perhaps that is the problem with the nonprofit sector.  We simply aren’t greedy enough.  We are, perhaps, too comfortable living without, living on the brink of nothing.  And now, because of many in the for-profit sector’s greed and the greed of individual Americans, the economy has tanked.  And as a result, the nonprofit sector is at risk. Far too many of my phone calls and e-mails are now from executive directors and board members talking about their nonprofits at risk of closing down, long-serving, mission-driven individuals about to be out of jobs, and general questions of how to weather these tough, tough economic times.  But so far, no one has contacted me to discuss a bailout for the nonprofit sector. Don’t get me wrong.  I am not saying the sector needs a bailout.  We haven’t tanked—and we won’t.  But there are many, many nonprofits which are currently struggling and will continue to struggle, and be joined by many, many others in the months to come.  Because the nonprofit sector wasn’t greedy, does that mean it doesn’t deserve a bailout?  What would a bailout for the nonprofit sector look like?  Start simply:  increase the tax incentive for individuals and companies to support charitable purposes.  This would simply encourage those who think about others, those concerned with improving the quality of life for all, those who want to give back, a little extra thanks.