Philanthropy
Co-opted by Wal-Mart?
Where should the line be drawn in public-private collaboration?
“As an American citizen, I don’t want the Statue of Liberty co-opted by Wal-Mart,” says Rep. Maurice Hinchey as quoted in the April 4 edition of the New York Times in an article on the role of private funding for national parks and monuments. The article, focusing on questionable practices by the nonprofit foundation that raises money to support the Statue of Liberty, raises an issue of rising importance in public-private relationships: Where is the proper line drawn between the influence of private money and decision-making, on the one side, and agenda-setting by public agencies, on the other? As public agencies of all sorts—parks, schools, historical sites, hospitals, among others—ever more eagerly solicit private donations (“public-private parnterships”), are they becoming increasingly vulnerable to private influence as well?
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COMMENTS
BY Paul Guenette
ON April 16, 2004 10:03 AM
Many non-profits are experiencing increasing pressures to operate efficiently and make decisions in a business-like manner, conscious of long-term costs and benefits. I am enjoying building contractual relationships between for-profits and non-profits to combine forces to win and implement international economic development contracts. Both sides can gain from such relationships - the key is not surprisingly - institutional compatability, characterized by like-minded management, employee ideals and values, and similar institutional objectives. But it IS possible!
BY Joe Merchant
ON May 19, 2004 09:38 PM
No way I could believe that you could separate t yourself from the problemsthat would arise, can you say agency problems. Wal-Mart would like have the Statue of Liberty dress in a shirt, made in Mexico, waving the American flag.