The Dangers Of Shutdown Philanthropy

The Dangers Of Shutdown Philanthropy
In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, Nia Sockwell holds her granddaughter, Heaven, 1, outside a housing unit at Our House, a nonprofit organization that provides childcare, shelter and other programs for working homeless people in Little Rock, Ark. People have been donating to the organization to fill in the gaps left by missing federal money caused by the partial government shutdown. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
In this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, Nia Sockwell holds her granddaughter, Heaven, 1, outside a housing unit at Our House, a nonprofit organization that provides childcare, shelter and other programs for working homeless people in Little Rock, Ark. People have been donating to the organization to fill in the gaps left by missing federal money caused by the partial government shutdown. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

As the federal shutdown limps on, donors large and small have stepped forward with gifts to maintain shuttered government programs.

Laura and John Arnold provided $10-million to continue Head Start programs. The Fisher House Foundation worked with donors and the Department of Defense to ensure a timely payout of survivor benefits to families of fallen service members.

The Arnolds made clear that they don’t want government to think philanthropists can or should step in to provide the payments. Perhaps that is why the Arnolds made their contribution a loan that must be paid back when the shutdown ends, and Fisher House, too, is expected to be paid back.

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