Is It Ethical To Avoid Incentives

The New York Times Magazine features a column by Randy Cohen called “The Ethicist” debating how individuals have pondered on what tactic should be used to create the greatest amount of participation in over the existence of charitable events. So as a result, the idea regarding incentives came into play to benefit both parties, but also raises a question on whether it is ethical to offer incentives for charitable acts. Including incentives in exchange for donations is not only ethical but also logical. It increases participation in charity drives and activities while not hindering the community.
A charitable event with incentives proves to serve many cases, not only by increasing the participation but also the productivity. By not creating

an incentive, will result in a lack of awareness, thus creating a low participation and monetary rate. While participating in a canned food drive event, the purpose was to provide food and raise money for those in need. The first year we set off to accomplish the event we set no incentives, and later on we regretted that decision. The next year we wanted to do the same charitable event but with an incentive. The class who brought in the most canned foods would win a pizza party. We noticed that there was more participation and productivity throughout every class from the year before. The result in the incentive brought happiness towards the donators for winning the incentive and the people who are in need who received resources, which proves how it is ethical in including incentives for charitable events.
From donators to the recipients, the benefit will be mutual. For example, one activity is to send messages to the people in service. This may not seem to be beneficial to both groups; however, it is, as the people sending the messages received incentives as the people in the service gain emotional support. Charitable events with incentives prove to have many advantages as it raises more attention to the event, and keeps both sides happy and proving not only themselves but as a charity with incentives to be ethical.
Without incentives, most people are not motivated to donate in an event. They feel that they should not do it if they are not getting something back in return, which lowers the value of the event as well as its purpose. By making a charitable event have incentives will boost its efficiency and how effective it is as an event, which makes it become ethical in doing it.
Some may argue that charity is supposed to be voluntary. However, when making a charity event, you want to have the most participation as possible to help those in need as fast as possible. The people in need probably don’t care that the donors are volunteers, they just want help to better their situation, which is why it is ethical to add incentives to charity events as it generates more help to the people in need.
The practice of offering incentives for charitable acts forms different ranges as well as opinions. No matter the cost, the value of charity lies in helping those who are in need. Due to the way of adding incentives, seem to show advantages to a charity, it still completes the charities goal as it benefits society, which makes it ethical of offering incentives for charitable acts.