Against charity: for business

This blog has been looking at what we mean by 'charity'.

These entries are from last week:
Futures Forum: Against charity: for NGOs
Futures Forum: Against charity: "many young Africans hate the corrosive ‘white saviour’ imagery of this bloated industry"
Futures Forum: Against charity: "Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim."
Futures Forum: Against charity: outrage and self-righteousness "will only damage the interests of the most vulnerable"

Today, BBC Radio 4 starts a new series looking at the point of charities - and even suggests that social good happens better through doing business:

The Charity Business

Fundraising

The Charity Business,Series 1

Matthew Taylor begins a new series examining how charities work, and asking what they are for.

In this first episode, Matthew asks what we think about when we think about charities, and examines whether the reality is different. He looks at the differences between large and small charities, examines some of the recent scandals surrounding the charity sector, and hears from a man who thinks business, rather than charity, is the best way to solve social problems.

In Leeds and Bradford, Matthew visits a small volunteer-led horse sanctuary, a charity music gig, and a church hosting a children's centre as he delves into questions around charity fundraising. How efficient are charities' fundraising operations? Has the big increase in money spent on fundraising recently resulted in more money coming into the sector? And how does what we imagine charities do to raise money differ from the reality?

BBC Radio 4 - The Charity Business, Series 1, Fundraising
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