Sad When They Will Take Everything and Not Care
One of the saddest parts of being a parent is realizing that some of the lessons your children need most are the ones you wish you never had to teach.
As the father of a 13-year-old and a 9-year-old, I increasingly find myself having conversations about protecting themselves from people who do not have their best interests at heart. I want my children to grow up believing in people. I want them to be trusting, optimistic, and open to new relationships and experiences. At the same time, I have a responsibility to prepare them for reality.
Part of that reality is understanding that there are people in this world who will take everything they can if given the opportunity. They will deceive, manipulate, and steal. They will take advantage of trust. They will exploit kindness. They will look for vulnerabilities and use them for their own gain.
That is a difficult lesson to teach a child because it runs counter to the values most parents hope to instill. We spend years encouraging empathy, generosity, and compassion. Then, at some point, we have to explain that not everyone operates from those same values.
Recently, I read an article about scammers creating fake Venmo accounts that closely resemble legitimate nonprofit organizations. Donors believe they are supporting a cause they care about. Instead, their gifts are diverted to criminals who have no connection to the organization. While the financial loss is concerning, what struck me most was the complete disregard for the people involved. These scammers are willing to exploit generosity itself. They see someone attempting to help others and view that act of kindness as an opportunity for personal profit.
There is something particularly troubling about that.
Those of us who work in philanthropy spend our careers building trust. Donors trust organizations to use their gifts wisely. Organizations trust donors to partner with them in meaningful ways. Communities trust institutions to fulfill their missions. Trust is the foundation upon which philanthropy operates.
Unfortunately, trust also creates opportunities for bad actors. The same people I warn my children about are willing to target nonprofit organizations, donors, volunteers, and staff. They do not care about the mission. They do not care about the people being served. They do not care about the consequences. They care only about what they can gain.
The lesson for nonprofits is the same lesson I teach my children. Protect yourself.
Protect yourself personally by remaining aware of risks and verifying information before acting. Protect yourself professionally by following sound practices and maintaining healthy skepticism. Protect your organization through strong policies, staff training, donor education, and effective oversight.
Most importantly, never assume it cannot happen to you.
Every victim of fraud once believed they were not a likely target. Every organization that experiences a scam thought it happened somewhere else. Complacency is often the vulnerability that criminals exploit most effectively.
I wish I did not have to teach my children that some people will take advantage of others. I wish nonprofit organizations did not have to dedicate time and resources to protecting themselves from fraud. Yet both realities exist.
The best response is neither fear nor cynicism. It is awareness. Trust remains essential in families, communities, and philanthropy. But trust should always be accompanied by vigilance. In today's world, protecting what matters requires both.
