Brigid Slipka

So, crazily, I’ve been blathering on about giving for months and haven’t even defined the durn thing.

Duh.

Because our conversation can move in so many directions based on what we think a Gift is.  Is a donation to my church a gift?  Is my attention to someone a gift?  Is my discarded bra a gift?

I use two definitions, one practical, one theoretical, neither particularly complete.  But as a jumping-off point, a gift is either:

1. An exchange that the IRS says is a gift.

A tax-deductible donation is the central point of fundraising offices, philanthropic advice, and the American notion of charity.  Yep, people give donations outside this definition (to international nonprofits not recognized by the IRS, for example) but it’s a good definition for the day-to-day work of American fundraising and philanthropy.

2. An exchange that generates goodwill.

Unlike a capitalist or market-based transaction, which generates wealth, a gift transaction generates warm fuzzies.   It’s presents at Christmas and letters to grandparents and yummy feely-goodyness.

As always, the really interesting discussion is happening at the boundaries.  Is cause marketing a gift?  I’ve said no, Joe Waters argues yes.

I’m planning to thrash around in this stuff more (is medicine a gift?  Is education a gift?  Is food a gift?) but in the meantime: What do you think is a gift?