On Worthiness: How to Avoid Falling into a Charity Model Trap

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When it comes to philanthropy, the idea of “worthiness” is often an important factor in a donor’s decision to give. Causes are worthy of investment. Problems are worth solving. Committing to a nonprofit with a mission you believe in is a worthwhile undertaking.
But there is an insidious side to worthiness that sometimes plays out in our sector, too. When the assessment of “worthy” (and consequently: “not worthy”) is turned on the people our organizations serve, it becomes a weapon.