Charts & Graphs

Earthly Reasons

Donors explain why they give.

Quotations from donors included by Waldemar A. Nielsen in Inside American Philanthropy. Nielsen (1917–2005) was an expert on charitable foundations who worked as an adviser to philanthropists.

“If I could, I’d just order a bigger shroud and take my money with me.”

“From this base, like that old Greek said, I could move the world. But where to? You got any ideas?”

“I made the money. You guys’ll have to figure out what to do with it.”

“Getting is my forte. Giving it away just isn’t my line of country.”

“Getting even. Getting some respect. That’s what charity gets you, and it’s very sweet.”

“Giving little bits is easy. Giving big chunks is very hard.”

“Setting up a foundation is like a premature death ritual. I can’t face it.”

“It all comes too late. Too late. And too many lawyers.”

“It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s like a kid in a candy store. I love it.”

“I like to hear and touch the little ones we help. Their hugs and laughter are my reward.”

“Frankly, my money is a lot bigger than my ideas.”

“I’m doing this simply out of love for my dear dead mother.”

“I believe God wants me to do this, and he will reward me.”

“I can do it. I can make a difference. I did it in my business, I can do it with my foundation.”

“I love this town. That may sound dumb, but this has been my place on earth. So I have a debt to pay.”

“It’s the rarest possible privilege a person could hope to have. It’s being God in a small way.”

“This is going to be my mark, my little scratch on the face of eternity.”

“I don’t want to be forgotten. I don’t want to be forgotten. That’s what it’s all about.”

“Why, why, why didn’t I start earlier?”