While I am forming an opinion on the recent Baltimorean uproar over Lee Freeman's public installation in Mt. Vernon Place, allow me to ask a question:

How many people have received non-profit junk mail?  This mail uses strong, guilt-inducing language and often even stronger images.  Most recently I have gotten packets of photos of children with terrible cleft lips, children at the brink of starvation, and women in Bangladesh who have started their own business and achieved economic freedom thanks to people like me.  Especially offensive are the packages that also contain free gifts and even money.  Whimsical address labels with my name on them make me feel guilty every time I use them, yet I feel like it would be wasteful to throw them away.  But these gifts, regardless of how cute or pretty or useful, are hardly friendly gestures.  In fact, they are supposed to make me feel badly.

As new generations become increasingly susceptible to language and images employed by the media, so they become less able to discern their own feelings and opinions from those provided by external sources.  That non-profits seem to be able to prey upon this growing weakness deeply disturbs me.  If these practices continue, where will our money and support be going in the future?

Below is a letter I wrote to UNICEF.  I will continue to reply with similar letters to every organization that operates these manipulative campaigns.

April 7, 2008

Caryl M. Stern

President & CEO

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

Dear Ms. Stern,

Over the past six months I have received two letters from your organization. Both have contained a letter with a nickel attached. Your letter states that this solitary nickel “could save a child's life,” making the implication that by failing to return that nickel - or far worse, by tearing it away from its paper backing and slipping it into my wallet - I have somehow affected the life of an innocent child.

I would like to know why you choose to operate your fundraising campaign in this manner, by giving people something unsolicited, then making them feel indebted to you. Allow me to point out that this is the primary tactic used by the Taliban to gain control of their target populations.

I work for a non-profit organization in Baltimore, Maryland whose mission is to strengthen neighborhoods through a multi-faceted approach that includes caring for our children and making sure they have a chance at a bright future. This year we celebrate our fortieth anniversary.

I can guarantee that our executive director would never use guilt to solicit money from our donors. Why? Because we believe in partnering with people and building strong relationships. A partnership implies mutual respect and mutual benefit. Our organization receives donations and grants because we have proven ourselves a worthwhile investment. Wasting money on an unethical fundraising campaign that emotionally strong-arms people doesn't show respect for anyone: not your prospective donors, and certainly not the children.

I will never donate money to an organization that sends unsolicited “free gifts” - or even cash, as seems to be the style these days - before I have expressed any interest, knowledge, or investment in the organization. At best, this is emotional bribery and a strategy not worthy of reward by anyone. Please remove me from your mailing list until such a time when you no longer use guilt as a primary motivator to encourage donations.

Sincerely,

Jaclyn L. Cole

AmeriCorps*VISTA and concerned citizen