In Response to “Why I’m Not Donating to Jessica Ahlquist’s Scholarship Fund”

| Mon 20 Feb 2012 | 9 Comments | 1219 Views

Author Emily Dietle

My focus is on state-church separation & social issues. I'm an avid reader, and feel that one of our most valuable tools is the free movement of information and ideas. | @emilyhasbooks

Dave Muscato, super atheist and really cool dude recently blogged about why he’s not donating to Jessica Ahlquist’s Scholarship fund.  Whereas it’s important to analyze the effectiveness of charitable donations, I think Dave came to the wrong conclusion.

I know that supporting one of our own is very exciting and feels like the right thing to do. And it is the right thing to do—Jess deserves and indeed has earned our support.

But there are plenty of ways to support someone: financially, emotionally, morally, etc. Financially, I want to make clear, is only one way to do that.

That’s where I feel Dave should have stopped.  Yes, donating money is not the only way to support someone, there are plenty of other actions that can be done, and many of us have acted in support of Jessica with blog posts, public support, flowers, tweets, and spreading her story.

I find it easy to agree with Dave that it’s very important to think critically and assess the impact your charitable donation will have.  When thinking about Jessica and the work she’s already done to support church-state separation and promote positive values, and the commitment she has to continuing these efforts, I feel strongly that putting Jessica through college is a valuable and direct investment into the atheist community that will reap huge benefits.  No amount of personal references, endorsements, or publicity will pay for her college education, it’s the dollars that count.

For those that can donate to this cause, they should. Your donations will not limit the amount of funds going elsewhere, for when you make a charitable donation once, you’re far more likely to again… and the more awareness & excitement there is around this campaign to raise money for Jessica, there will likely be more zest spreading outwards to other fundraising campaigns for organizations like RDFRS, CFI, FFRF and more.

In a response to my initial reply on Dave’s blog, he asks, “Would it matter if Jess’s parents were millionnaires?”  Yes, that would be something to consider.  If her family did not need the financial assistance, there would have been a polite decline for the funds by now.  As that has not occured, I gather that it’s safe to assume that any donations are needed and much appreciated.

I disagree with your statement, “Their donations will not limit the amount of funds going elsewhere, for when you make a charitable donation once, you’re more likely to [donate] again.” That is a non-sequitur.

Dave is right, this was a hastily written response and contained a non-sequitur, so let me re-phrase- It cannot be safely said that donating to Jessica’s cause is taking funds away from other organizations, as the monies given to her scholarship might not have gone to any organization; and by contributing to this cause, the donee may be more apt to give again.

As far as the idea that people who make a charitable donation once are more likely to [donate] again, is that actually true? I mean, do you have some empirical backing for this claim? It makes intuitive sense, but at the same time, I could see just as easily how someone might tell him- or herself, “I’ve done my share of being generous for today,” and decide NOT to donate to something else on account of feeling like they’ve already contributed their fair share.

Good point, which is why I rephrased my conclusion in the blog post, as opposed to what was written in my initial reply.  I don’t have empirical backing, though I looked for it, and I’d love to see a study on it.  As for those who would decide not to donate anymore because they “already contributed their fair share,” I’m sure they exist, but to what degree is that more likely, compared to those that would feel compelled to keep giving in the future?

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  • Keiv

    I think Jessica is great and I’ve been extremely impressed by her. Seems she should have no trouble earning loads of scholarships.

    • http://www.muSASHA.org Dave Muscato

      Keiv, that’s my thinking exactly. I talked in length about that in the original blog post. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t get at least 1 full-ride offer.

      In fact, she’s already received $12,000 in scholarships from the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Not enough for a 4-year education, but she’s only a high-school sophomore right now, too.

      Emily, you said that if her parents were millionnaires, that might change the situation. What if they only have $800,000 in liquid assets? Would that make a difference? What if it were $600,000? I think we need a better measuring stick because this could get muddy fast. The real question we need to ask ourselves is, “Does Jessica need financial help affording college?” And we don’t have any way of knowing that until she starts applying and starts getting scholarship offers (in addition to the scholarships she has already received, I mean).

      • Homer

        I think a better question should be “Are there people out there in the atheist community who need the money MORE than her?” rather than a question of whether or not she needs it. Most of my friends, even the ones who received scholarships, needed more money for college and are now paying of debt including me. Unless there is no doubt that her parents have 600k in liquid assets, we would be safer betting that she will need some money for college. If you have trouble with that logic, donate to the ACLU like you said.

  • http://www.muSASHA.org Dave Muscato

    I think the main thing to consider here is why this fund was started in the first place. It’s my understanding that Hemant got the idea, whether intentionally or subconsciously, because he started a similar fund for Damon Fowler last year. Damon’s situation was VERY different from Jessica’s: He was kicked out of his house and had to move to a different state in order to live with his brother. He had no resources and no way of affording college at all, unless the atheist community stepped up to help (which we did, raising about $30k – disclosure; I contributed $10 to that fund).

    When Jessica started making headlines, Hemant, apparently, took Damon’s situation as precedent and set up this scholarship fund. But in Jessica’s case, her parents have not kicked her out (in fact they helped her file the lawsuit) and we have no evidence that Jessica is unable to afford college, as far as her parents’ expected contribution and scholarships she has already received and will likely continue to receive as she gets closer to 18 years old.

    I think it was just overall an impulsive idea that did not apply to her particular situation. I am NOT SAYING that Jessica does not deserve our praise & support; I am just saying that we have no evidence that she actually needs our money right now.

    If our goal is to support her cause – separation of church & state – doesn’t it make more sense to donate to her partner in this whole case, the ACLU?

  • John Eberhard

    I contributed a second time because in reading the posts from the foaming-at-the-mouth knuckle-draggers commenting in the Providence Journal, a rapidly growing scholarship fund for Jessica was making them chew their own arms off, kick their heels on the ground, and hold their breaths until they turned blue in the face. Where else can you get that much entertainment for the cost of a movie?

  • TychaBrahe

    I don’t think it matters whether or not Jessica needs the money. It’s a show of solidarity. If I lived near Jessica, I would have been supporting physically. I would have sat near her at school board meetings to help prevent harm to her. I would have volunteered for a neighborhood watch on her street, or to escort her at school, when the threats were bad. I would have spoken up against her detractors in person.

    I can’t do that. But I have $10.

    Jessica endured a lot of negative attention, over the Internet and in person. But she also has support from across the US and around the world. The money is symbolic of that.

  • PJMurphy

    I donated $10 to the fund, and here’s why…

    Yes, I know that Jessica will probably get a full-ride scholarship. She will probably have her choice of offers. That was not a factor in my deciding to donate.

    First, I wanted to offer a concrete representation of my solidarity with her. I wanted her to know that I was one of thousands who appreciated her efforts, and was willing to express that appreciation in the one meaningful way that was available to me. Financially.

    Secondly, even if she does hook a full-ride, there are probably a myriad of additional expenses that won’t be covered. Let her use my money to cover them.

    Thirdly, she may wish to travel to a conference, or attend an event that would not be covered under the full-ride scholarship. Let her use my money to cover those travel and accommodation costs. Not all education takes place on campus.

    And lastly, she has experienced some pretty hateful and uncomfortable events. I don’t know the terms of the donated scholarship money, but if she wanted to peel off a few bucks to go out and have some fun, I really wouldn’t have a problem with it.

    Yes, I donated. And I have no regrets.

  • Thomas Adams

    I donated because Jessica made a very brave stand for our Bill of Rights. To have that judgement in the teenage years is admirable. High school for me was a long time ago but I remember the pressure to assimilate even when you knew the reasoning was wrong. The cause for reason and justice will not be won outright or for decades to come. It’s one step at a time and is depended on the younger generation to take the torch when the old ones pass on.

  • http://www.reason-being.com Reason Being

    Initially, I found myself wondering whether or not she needed the money. As I thought about it more, the whole solidarity thing came into view for me. Jessica has brought a ton of awareness to the separation of Church/State. By supporting the fund, it shows that she is not a lone person in this fight. The bigger that fund gets, the more people will notice how many others support her ideas.

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Category: Atheism & Religion