Random Thoughts on Fundraising

Today is a Tuesday.

Honestly I did not want to write today and I only did it because I want to maintain my reputation as "a man of his word".

So, what do we have on a Tuesday evening? More fault finding, unfortunately. Don't worry, though because if is not about politicians. Some of you here have labelled me a budding politician. Ndakukanani.

Ideally, I wanted to write something about making a difference and all that. Productive stuff, but just as I was to start drafting ESCOM did their thing and that (believe it or not) disturbed my line of thought. It brought me to the memories of the not so perfect country we live in and switched me back to the fault finding mode. Or witch hunting mode if you like.

On Saturday I happened to be in Limbe. I was actually waiting for my friend from the Lower States who was in town and wanted a meet up. I was waiting for him at the Post Office (ndipamene anthu timakumanirana mu Limbe) and was lost in scouting for nice cars in the one way Churchill Road when an uninvited guest aroused me from my important activity.

Here was some middle aged man, fairly dressed (was a relief, the dressing). Kind man. He greeted me nicely. Towards the end of the greeting he produced an envelope out of nowhere and began to introduce himself as someone who works for some 'ministry' that does charity works in some areas around what Vincent Wandale would call the Traditionalist Republic. We all know where this went, right? Yeah. Asking for money.

As I said, the guy was moving with some documents. They had some official (District Commissioner's, I think) stamp and they were some sort of authorization for soliciting of funds from random people. There was one catchy thing about this authorization, though. It was written "Chakuti Chakuti" International Ministries. The word international got me wondering whether this was just a scam or whether it was just another grouping abusing the word "international" (mukudziwa ma international churches tili nawo mmagandafuta mmenemu). My mind raced and I got myself matching the word international with the standard of the mode of fundraising that was at play and the scope of the work the money was supposedly going to help in (I think there was a mention of 12 orphanages). Something wasn't right about this, because if I was to help, I wouldn't have contributed anything beyond an aloe vera. Sadly for this man I only had K600 in my pocket; K400 forbmy transport to Lunzu and K200 contingency in case I stepped on somebody's tomatoes (we all need that, plus I got really big feet that could misbehave anytime). I unfortunately didn't help and one unanswered question that keeps coming is that of what I would have done if I had the money.

This was just one of the stories about what we could call second generation solicitors. These are not the "ndikuchokera kuchipatala" type, but they do come in with stamped papers coming for help. Cancer patients looking for money for chemo, teens looking for fees, choirs looking for equipment and people looking for money for orphanages. While I agree that these are good causes, I have every reason to disagree with this mode of fundraising. Why? Firstly it is inefficient and secondly it is suspicious. I wouldn't have to explain the second point but I think I should for the first.

I do not have experience with running an orphanage, but my assumption is that it would be an expensive activity. It would involve providing food and possibly clothing to a reasonable  number of children and personally I do not see how a form in town, where people would mostly contribute change would suffice. I might be wrong. Choir looking for a PA system? After a number of rounds with a 20 member team, maybe. Not an efficient and dignified means, in my view.

On this being suspicious, well, it always is suspicious, isn't it? How sure would you be that the money is indeed going to the supposed cause? Someone could be coming and telling you they need chemotherapy in Tanzania and truly so, but how sure are you that someone hasn't yet covered the bill and the guy is only using the papers to dupe you? Difficult to know, right? Fundraiser for a local church? You may sign your name against the amount you gave, but how sure are you that the money and your signatures will head the right direction without diversion? Suspicious.

Having said that, I do not mean to dismiss everyone who is out there asking for money. My point is that there is a need for a reasonable approach to some of these things and while they may work, it is important to realize that there are better options elsewhere.

Most of us are people who like to make a positive change and that is something to be hailed. Some of us are in desperate need for financial help and that is something that can happen to anyone. It is good to realize that there are individuals and organizations who are willing to help in such areas. I have been helped by some of those. Draft a nice proposal and put it in an envelope. Drop it in person at the company and convince the Public Relations Officers of Marketing Managers or whoever it is. Go to that Overseer at that church and approach that rich and nice individual in your area and pitch the need, otherwise izi zoyenda ndi mapepalazi is just not fit for a Richie Online reader. At least organize a big walk and write the big companies to support. If this works, it is cool. Very efficient and doesn't make you sweat more than you are suppose to. If it doesn't, on the other hand, it spares you a bit of negative emotion.

Ndiye wina ndimuone akupanga zomwezi. Ndimumenya khofi ndithu.