If I Told You #1

The whispers are rising.

“Twins” by Willie Birch

If I told you of a non-profit organization who receives donations hand over fist from personal and corporate philanthropists, but doesn’t measure up to their lofty goals and can’t retain people, what would you say? Everything with this group is bright & shiny and looks like a 501c3 utopia from the outside. When you actively spend a little time inside, though, you realize the aim doesn’t reach the claim. The loosey goosey structure from top down makes for a functional mess, things barely seem to come together, and they peel off hordes of well-meaning staff & volunteers as quickly as 2 pounds of boiled crawfish on a table with 10 people around it. And where does all the money go?

If I told you that what often tells the tale about any individual or organization is how they mix with others, then what would you think if you knew that almost no one in town wants to collaborate with them? Those who tried got burnt and the word is out. The whispers are rising. They talk a great game in the planning meetings, but then when production time comes, their deep pockets quickly go empty, staff and volunteers turn shy, and they can’t seem to motivate interest among the kids they serve. And where does all the money go?

If I told you that almost all the off-site events come by way of donated tickets or funds from the event spot itself, then you might wonder what happens to all the money. What’s it used for? Is the organization, as in too often the case in New Orleans, top heavy with the CEO clutching an outsized amount for themself, leaving little money to trickle down? It feels like that. The question asked too often—Is it corruption or incompetence? To be fair, they have a small staff who make necessary effort, but outside of them, something doesn’t add up. There are lots of great parties and mixers, though.

If I told you that the end result is that the kids who need the most are ultimately getting the least, would it make you as sad as it does me? I suppose in this city having a safe place for kids to congregate has its own benefits, but is that enough? Don’t forget, a guarded spot for a few children doesn’t cost millions. A glossy campaign of proclaiming x when it’s really y happening keeps z flowing in the bank, though. And again I ask, where does all the money go?