There's plenty of externalities here as sc4mayor mentioned, it's not a perfectly competitive market, so I am very happy to donate.
There are some businesses I would regret not helping if they closed down tomorrow. Left Bank is one of those. I walk over, browse, pet the cat, linger in the used section etc. the whole experience is way more than just getting a book. Right now I am avoiding non-essential enclosed spaces. Hence I donated money.
Not that I need to explain but since we are about the exchange of ideas and perspectives on here...
Not that I need to explain but since we are about the exchange of ideas and perspectives on here...
Honestly I'd rather for profit businesses ask people for donations than the alternative. Seems in this country businesses frequently receive massive bailouts, tax breaks, incentives, etc...often at taxpayers expense. Aren't there like 90 Fortune 500 companies that didn't even pay taxes in the last year or something like that?
At least if they're asking for donations I have the option to not participate...
At least if they're asking for donations I have the option to not participate...
Amensc4mayor wrote: ↑Nov 03, 2020Honestly I'd rather for profit businesses ask people for donations than the alternative. Seems in this country businesses frequently receive massive bailouts, tax breaks, incentives, etc...often at taxpayers expense. Aren't there like 90 Fortune 500 companies that didn't even pay taxes in the last year or something like that?
At least if they're asking for donations I have the option to not participate...
I suppose the alternative in this case would be closing or the owners just eating the costs as a business of this size would not be receiving a tax payer funded bail out.
Back to the non-profit thought: One nice bit of information to have when donating is the ability to review the organization's financials before doing so.
I found it slightly interesting that one article I read concerning the outpour of support for Left Bank Books the owner declined to say how much in donations they've received, but that they've been receiving a lot of support.
Are they making an over abundant windfall in donations? Probably not, but still might be nice to know to gauge how much help they need.
Back to the non-profit thought: One nice bit of information to have when donating is the ability to review the organization's financials before doing so.
I found it slightly interesting that one article I read concerning the outpour of support for Left Bank Books the owner declined to say how much in donations they've received, but that they've been receiving a lot of support.
Are they making an over abundant windfall in donations? Probably not, but still might be nice to know to gauge how much help they need.
- 2,656
LBB benefits the community in a huge and tangible way. It's not like good bookstores are everywhere these days.
Yep. Just as many other local non-profits do.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Nov 04, 2020LBB benefits the community in a huge and tangible way.
- 3,762
^ so i don't really understand the problem. people who want to give money to LBB can do so. people who want to give money to other local non-profits can do so. is it just that you think people should be prioritizing differently?
Who said there was a problem? I'm just interested in discussing my brilliant idea of community valued brick-and-mortar businesses transitioning to a non-profit model if/when they are no longer able to be profitable.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Nov 04, 2020^ so i don't really understand the problem. people who want to give money to LBB can do so. people who want to give money to other local non-profits can do so. is it just that you think people should be prioritizing differently?
It's really a phenomenal idea I came up with on my own and have never heard mentioned elsewhere.