“With an earthquake, it’s easy; everyone is an innocent victim, and they have a problem
that will eventually end,” said Amanda Seller of the International Rescue Committee, who notes that even the phrase “innocent victim” unfairly segments philanthropy.
“There’s lots of people who think Charity: Water is working on the wrong issue, or they’re telling the wrong stories,”
said Patrice Martin, who helps run IDEO.org, a nonprofit organization that has worked with Charity: Water.
Which is surprising, because while you have probably never experienced an earthquake, visited Yemen or Nepal, or been personally affected by many of the causes you support, it’s quite likely you have ancestors who were refugees or migrants themselves, and odds are good
that you’re working or living near émigrés and their families.
Instead, it showed a smiling child holding a “Future Doctor” sign, and proclaiming
that “all of us sharing a little more can make a big difference.” It sought donations to “educate the next teacher, farmer or doctor.”
“The second ad was a huge success,” Mr. Hudson told me.