unfinished idea, mutual aid
Thinking of offering discounts on my (generally pretty well-paid) freelance work in exchange for customers sending money directly to people asking for aid (eg. on fedi), to cut out myself as the middleman, but this feels like something that could have unintended effects if not thought through carefully...
The idea being to normalize sending money directly to people who need it, as a part of business procedures
unfinished idea, mutual aid
@joepie91 That is often part of what I do when teaching white people about anti-racism I even talk about it in my rates document. Because so many people are so reticent to participate in mutual aid and I perceive some of that reticence as white supremacist in origin/inspiration. Here's my rate sheet's current version (Google Docs): https://docs.google.com/document/d/10GS8pAyodimogoKYeylKVW36ooB1bbhPxzAi2foNWCA/edit
TBH it needs an update and more links/language about donations and mutual aid.
unfinished idea, mutual aid
@perigee Yep, that document was what inspired this idea originally, actually (though I couldn't recall where I'd seen it as it was a while ago, thanks!)
Mostly I'm concerned about ways this could backfire, especially when the customers are for technical services and the recipients are meant to be individuals rather than organizations that are prepared to deal with this sort of thing.
I don't have any *specific* problems in mind, I'm just generally wary about pointing 'detached' folks (like tech customers) at marginalized folks for any reason, but at the same time I think normalizing direct engagement (rather than with relatively faceless charities) is important, so feedback on that point would be very welcome
unfinished idea, mutual aid
@joepie91 well on one level, receipts are receipts. An individual or an organization can, if they choose to, contribute to any organization or individual.
IME, it does take some cultural education to get people and organizations to shift gears from tax deductible charitable organizations to non-tax-deductible contributions to individuals in need. And I usually start by asking my clients to donate to nonprofit organizations first, then talk to them about the politics and necessities of individual mutual aid.