What’s Wrong with this Picture?

I won’t reveal where I took this picture, in order to protect the reputation of this non-profit, but I did take it on September 15, 2011. I just happened to be passing through this building and was so surprised by what I saw, I had to take this picture.

I will admit, it was taken here in Michigan, where I live. Bottle drives are very popular here, because there is a ten cent deposit paid on every single carbonated beverage bottle or can. Non-profits and schools can really rack up a tidy profit if they’ve got a bunch of students and supporters bringing in big trash bags full of returnables.

However, there are several things that disturbed me about this organization’s effort at fundraising. Let me list a few.

The garbage can looks like it has been run over by a garbage truck a couple of dozen times and then shoved in a corner. What is that?! You are asking people to donate money (in the form of bottles and cans) to your organization, and that’s the best you can do? That’s embarrassing! Would you show up to a golf outing or auction in ripped clothes covered in mud? It’s the same thing! Every time you ask for money, you are making an impression on your audience. What kind of impression do you want to make?

In addition, the collection can is sitting in a corner with dirt surrounding it, a broom (which obviously hasn’t been used) behind it, and an empty watering can left out in front of it. You might as well put up a sign on the wall above it that says, “No, we’re not really interested in you donating to us. Just forget it.”

The thing that bothers me most is that this total fail is that it tells me a lot about what kind of organization this is. If they can walk by something so bad every single day, then there’s got to be all sorts of other problems with their overall fundraising effort. I would not feel comfortable donating any money to them, based on what I saw in their foyer with the bottle collection can debacle. They wouldn’t handle it well, based on how they ask for money

Let this be a lesson. Please, go take a look around your own facility. Is there something that would look very bad to the public and cause them to think this poorly of your organization? If so, fix it immediately! I am absolutely positive it is costing you money and ruining your reputation!

1 Comment »

Comments RSS