"Raising Money"

In Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery, I read Chapter 12, "Raising Money." Booker T. Washington talks about his attempts to raise money for the Tuskegee Institute.

This chapter reminded me of an experience that I once had. I was at a church, and it had the dream of refurbishing its basement so that it could have programs that would help the community. But someone at the church told me that it was going about it in the wrong way: rather than refurbishing the basement, and then developing the programs, he said, the church should set up the programs first, and then try to raise money to refurbish the basement. When potential donors see that there are real programs, but that there isn't a lot of room for them, then they'd be more likely to donate money to refurbish the basement.

This chapter was about that sort of thing: Tuskegee already existed as an institution, and it was teaching African-Americans skills that would help them to succeed. But it needed money. And Booker T. Washington sought to convince potential donors that Tuskegee was worth supporting.

Actually, some to think of it, Washington told a story that was really similar to my church experience---with its lesson of "Have the programs first, and then ask for money." Booker T. Washington told Andrew Carnegie that Tuskegee had a lot of books, but not enough room for them. And so Carnegie gave the school money for a library! And, according to Washington, Carnegie wasn't the easiest person to ask for a donation!

This chapter had good stories, with valuable lessons. Washington says, for example, that he met with a person who, at the time, had no intention of donating to the school. But Washington met with him anyway, and, two years later, the person donated $10,000 to Tuskegee, as he recalled the chat that he had with Booker T. And so Booker concluded that time spent with someone is hardly a waste, even if that person initially appears unresponsive.

Booker also stresses that Tuskegee was not 'just lucky" (my words) in terms of the donations that it received, but it got those donations through hard work. Washington would probably agree with Desperate Housewives' Bree Hodge that people make their own luck! I don't buy into that as an absolute, but there is something to be said for hard work!

Booker also defended rich people who are accused of not giving enough to charity. He said that they're bombarded with numerous requests, and that many of them do give a lot of money away---albeit in secret. He also made somewhat of a defense of capitalism: "In the first place, those who are guilty of such sweeping criticisms do not know how many people would be made poor, and how much suffering would result, if wealthy people were to part all at once with any large proportion of their wealth in a way to disorganize and cripple great business enterprises."

In a previous post, I wondered if Booker T. Washington was hostile to Tuskegee receiving government assistance. After reading today's chapter, I'd say "no," for he happily reports that the state of Alabama increased its funds for Tuskegee.

Booker believes that Tuskegee received the help that it did by working to become the sort of institution that deserves help, even as he lauds the magnanimity of its supporters.