Sooner or later every author is asked to contribute to a charity, endorse a worthy cause, or shout out a kickstarter or patreon.
A short list of some of my favorite charities…
- The San Francisco LBGT Center
- The Marsha P Johnson Institute for Black Trans Awareness
- The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
- Local Girls Education Club
- Pencils of Promise
- NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
More recommended? 8 Bookish Nonprofits and Organizations
I have been asked about a tip jar or patreon for myself. If you would like to support me, specifically, please make a contribution any one of these in my name, tell me about it if you’d like, I will make sure to thank you!
And now, the post!
Here’s why asking a “celebrity” to support your personal cause is challenging…
Here’s why it’s a problem, Gentle Reader.
When you ask for an endorsement, charitable or not, you’re asking me to trust you with my whole reputation as an author and as a decent human being.
That’s my livelihood and integrity. That is HUGE ask.
How do I know you aren’t a scam?
I don’t. So I have to spend hours researching your trustworthiness. On the internet! Because you Tweeted at me?
Your 5 second Tweet request has now taken up half my day.
So here’s what I can do:
I can support a select group of causes, schools, and libraries with both donated books and funding. I value literacy & education. That’s how I enjoy giving back to my community because that’s how I earn a living. I’m also queer and write queer characters, so many of my causes are tangential to my own identity and personal experience in life. (Occasionally I will offer exclusive special short stories to my newsletter supporting certain charities.)
Mostly, I prefer to stay private about the specifics of my philanthropic endeavors (see tzedakah). I spend a good deal of time researching to ensure every single one I choose is run efficiently and with few ulterior motives or agendas.
I simply don’t have the time or the money to research, qualify, and support every request I receive.
I receive a LOT of them.
It’s for this reason that I prefer not to endorse publicly (through retweeting or other means) additional charitable organizations. (Or non-charitable ones, for that matter.)
I’ve adopted a policy of proactively finding causes dear to my heart, rather than responding to solicitations.
I hope that my Gentle Readers out there will understand and respect my wishes in this matter.
FYI, I contribute foreign editions to Pat Rothfass’s Worldbuilders Fundraiser for Heifer International.
Moo!
Once, I even offered up a hat tuckerization! (The hat appeared in the final Finishing School book, made by Vieve.)
Yours in positivity and support,
Miss Gail
Book Riot’s list of Literacy Charities in 2020
Want more behind the scenes sneak peeks, or exclusive shorts with proceeds going to charity? Join the Chirrup
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Quote of the Day:
“Tzedakah is not a benevolent contribution given to be kind or nice to those who need it, it is a balancing of the scales, an active working towards justice. One should donate to the local food bank not to gain favor with a god, or to be nice to those with less than ourselves, but because it is unjust for anyone to be without food, especially while others have plenty. Correcting injustice, balancing the scales, evaluating the distribution of power and creating equity is tzedakah.”
~ Anonymous
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