“Funding should NOT be a popularity contest.”

—

Arts Groups Are All A-Twitter Over [American Express] Grant Money – NYT ArtsBeat blog

*sigh*

Also see: 

• February post in which I express my concerns, arising from the Chase Community Giving and Pepsi Refresh contests, among others, regarding matters of “popularity” (read: shamelessly seeking votes online for funding) and the dissolution of grantmaker/grantee relationships.
• Related posts: about Target’s online charitable initiatives and an April NPR story.

[There are times when I truly miss wearing the director of development (fundraising) “hat” on the staff of a non-profit organization. This would not be one of them.]