There was one patient in my practice who referred more new patients to me than any other.
She was tireless in beating the drum for me. Over the years she sent more than fifty Medicare Advantage patients—dual-eligibles, the best kind.
I asked her how she became my biggest booster. Her answer surprised me.
She was the treasurer of one of the “couple” bowling leagues my wife had us join. At the beginning of every league year, there’s a meeting where the members decide on the rules. A donation to help those who can’t afford the league dues is also commonly solicited.
My wife and I threw in enough to pay for someone’s dues. I didn’t even remember doing it.
But since then, this patient became my biggest booster.
There are two types of charity.
There is the giving you do anonymously—at church, for disaster relief, or for international organizations.
This is the giving you do for your own spiritual development and to strengthen your character.
I’m not talking about that here.
I’m talking about your charitable giving that reinforces your personal brand.
If you give to United Way through your employer or, worse yet, to your employer’s own charitable fund—you are wasting your money.
In the case of United Way, your employer is getting the credit—though at least some of your money goes to good causes after the high overhead.
Sure, you might get invited to some “thank you” event or other, but rest assured it’s you’re employer’s reputation that gets the boost from your donation, not your own.
In the case of your organization’s foundation, your donation is going directly towards supporting your employer’s corporate goals—very little goes to actual charity. Every large organization has a charitable foundation and every one of them treats their foundations as another source of revenue—a vehicle through which they can channel resources for expenses that they otherwise would have to pay on their own.
It’s standard business practice taught in every MBA program.
I’ve been a fly on the wall. Deep down, beyond all their marketing and flowery talk, they think you’re a sucker for giving.
And your participation means absolutely nothing to your employer either. it will have no effect on your longevity or your compensation or in how they treat you.
“We can’t increase Dr. Jane’s RBV target, she generously supports our foundation.” said no administrator ever.
Not-for-profit or religiously-based, it doesn’t matter what kind of organization you work for— the most you’ll get is a thank you note—if that.
This is harsh real talk, not something you learn in a book or in residency—it’s the type of thing you used to learn from a mentor. But everyone around you is too busy looking after themselves to do any real mentoring now. I’m stepping up here to fill in the gap as I do for my other clients.
Better to give to your local community foundation. Find yours here.
They are generally very low overhead and direct your money locally in ways that make a real difference.
You’ll find yourself getting the credit your generosity deserves—and like my patient who couldn’t send me enough patients, you might be surprised where it leads.
Again, we’re not talking about the charity you do anonymously, we’re talking about the giving you do to reinforce your personal brand.
Don’t waste it by giving through your organization—for them, it’s just another dodge. But for you, it’s your reputation.
Give through your local community foundation instead.
Do so consistently and you never know where the boost in your reputation will lead.