Books Quote by Elizabeth Powers
““He donated a lot of money to charity, but his interest in their day-to-day operations mostly consisted of looking at their books to ensure that a good portion of his funding went to operational costs, and not into printing return address labels and sending them to people who didn’t want them or use them.””
About This Quote
A donor gives money to charity but focuses on administrative costs, neglecting the mission’s direct impact.
In simple terms: Donor cares about paperwork, not real help.
Ensure donations support core mission, not bureaucracy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- grant making
- non‑profit auditing
- donor education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can charities increase transparency?
- What motivates donors to focus on overhead?
Donors may have limited influence over operational decisions.