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Press Releases
Charitable Insights: Why Not Give Anonymously?
April 21, 2008
By Spicer
Bell
A donor who recently gave the largest gift in the history of the Opera Santa Barbara made the pledge anonymously. The donor is credited with saying, “I don’t want to walk into the coffee shop and have strangers come up and talk to me about this gift.”
These sentiments seem to be increasingly common among donors. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, unnamed donors gifted nearly $1.1 billion in 2007.”
While a large majority of donors still like to be recognized, some fear that publicity could bring calls from other charities and unwanted visibility in the community. Assurance of anonymity, allow the donor to achieve their charitable mission.
Locally, a donor started a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation five years ago and wished to remain anonymous. The protection of her identity allowed her to award over a dozen scholarships to deserving local students without public fanfare.
By prior arrangement, when she passed, her identity and the extent of her philanthropy became public. Through a generous bequest to the Foundation, Mrs. Elizabeth Pusey created the largest single scholarship program available to
Wicomico
County high school graduates – a fund that will award over $75 thousand in scholarships every year.
During her lifetime, she was able to enjoy her good work with the confidence that she would not attract unwanted attention.
In 2006
Westmont
College received an anonymous gift of $75 million – its largest ever. According to the college’s vice president, “This donor would like to stay in the background so they don’t get approached by dozens of other organizations looking for gifts. But most important to them is that we are a Christian college and they want God to get the credit.”
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times points out that “anonymity also allows donors to look in, unnoticed, on the objects of their generosity. At
Cal
State
Monterey
Bay , a man who gave $2.5 million toward a reading center sometimes strolls the campus. No one knows who the heck he is but the president.”
Anonymous giving is another option afforded donors who choose to channel their philanthropy through the Community Foundation. If anonymity fits your needs, contact a Foundation staff member to learn more.
Spicer
Bell is President of the Community Foundation of the
Eastern Shore .
