Scandals regularly erupt in the blogosphere involving fraudulent activities by volunteers and fundraisers for the front lines. In this environment, people have long since learned how to create fake reports with photos and videos, confirming the transfer of funds to specific units in exchange for money.
At first, it seemed that within a year, the chaff would be sifted out and only a few trusted organizations would remain. But this did not happen. Every governor wants to have his own controlled fund. Every big commander prefers to work with people he knows. And no model can protect against theft.
In countries where charity became part of public life more than a century ago (including the Russian Empire), it has long been understood that there is only one mechanism that reliably regulates abuse of voluntary contributions: reputation. In Russia, the institution of reputation is absent. Voluntary resignation as part of this mechanism is unknown to us.
Only a small part of society lives in a sphere of genuine trust and reputation. One example is Nyuta Federmesser’s fundraising for palliative care in oncology. Another is the Gift of Life Foundation.
But there are very few citizens with an impeccable reputation who are trusted by everyone. This is because it takes a very long time to build up, and it is a burdensome task to live by high moral standards. And it can be destroyed almost instantly.
In these conditions, officials and businesses try to replace the reputation of the fundraiser with trust in his other qualities for donors. This is respect for high ranks, high positions, family ties with well-known commanders in the armed forces, as well as the influence of propaganda. In other words, it is assumed that generals, governors, and relatives of heroes cannot steal. This should be written on every fence and as often as possible — then the money will flow.
It soon becomes clear that ranks, awards, and even participation in the SVO do not guarantee anything against theft. And they all try to keep their suitcases higher up to protect them from curious security forces. Incidentally, the latter also have their own interests. There are dozens of cases of funds and volunteer organizations being hastily liquidated at the administrative level or having criminal cases brought against them.
Until generals, politicians, their friends, and relatives suspected of embezzlement are immediately dismissed, reputation as a phenomenon will not work. Why immediately? Because then everyone will understand why. In the meantime, every donor must be morally prepared for the “misuse” of funds by the people they have trusted.
There are many honest people and organizations among volunteers and frontline aid funds. But that does not negate what has been said. Corruption is not born in the army or in the trenches, but in society.
Reading this reminds me how fragile trust is and how easily it can be shattered, yet how essential it remains in any society. It’s almost like reputation is a delicate thread woven slowly over time but can be cut in a moment, leaving a gap filled by suspicion and cynicism. When systems fail to uphold true accountability, we are left navigating a landscape where appearances are deceiving and where genuine integrity becomes a rare treasure. It makes me wonder if the struggle isn’t just about fighting corruption itself but about nurturing the deeper human values that sustain trust—patience, honesty, and the courage to accept responsibility. Without these, even the noblest causes risk being tainted by doubt. 🌱🤔
This article really highlights how complicated the issue of trust and reputation is when it comes to fundraising, especially in such difficult circumstances. It’s sad to realize that even positions of power and influence don’t guarantee honesty, and that corruption can thrive when there’s no accountability. It makes me think more carefully about where my support goes and how crucial transparency and integrity are in these situations. The idea that reputation takes so long to build but can be destroyed instantly feels very true and quite heartbreaking. 🕊️