Techsoup seems to violate it's own policy

According to the Techsoup discrimination policy, they do not discriminate on the basis of  "age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background."

The problem is that all of their vendors do violate the policy in restricting donations to religious organizations.  Under the policy, the North American Man-Boy Love Association (an organization that promotes pedophilia) qualifies, yet a church/mosque/temple does not...

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me...

Hi - Your post is critical of vendors, yet the subject tries to suggest that Techsoup itself violates its own policies... Unfortunately this doesn't make a lot of sense because Church's and other religious groups can be eligible for donations providing they meet the simple requirement of a non secular community designation - in other words, provide assurance that they (also) do not discriminate on religious grounds.

revmedic, the vendors decide which areas of the non-profit arena that they want to donate to.  Some vendors are more restrictive than others.  I know it is frustrating to not qualify, as our org has ran into this with Cisco and Adobe, but Tech Soup's hands are tied.  If they violate their agreements with the vendors, then the vendor will pull the product and noone will receive donated products. 

Do you have proof that orgs such as the one you mention qualify for aid? If so, maybe this discussion could get more interesting.

My guess is that TechSoup follows whatever terms set by its vendors, and that's the price we pay for getting free stuff. (Not quite as much fun as "OMFG, TS ppl are, like, tewtally hypocritical!", I know...)

Please note that open source does NOT discriminate.  You can be the biggest yahoo and still do whatever you want with that code (except close your changes).  So, if you're feeling slighted, head on over to SourceForge, pick a project relating to something you need, and put any possible angry energy you migh have into baking half baked projects.

I didn't mean to stir a pot or indulge in a personal or ad hominin attacks against anyone here (which  I guess would make me a "troll") or Tech Soup.  I just thought as it is written, the non-discrimination policy is logically inconsistent if they allow vendors to discriminate against people and organizations of faith.  Logically, they are complicit in the discrimination if they are the clearing house for vendors who discriminate.

The "work around" mentioned- forming a separate 501c3 organization to qualify for reduced costs is generally in itself cost prohibitive, especially in this economy.  Besides, forming such an organization just to skirt a rule would be in itself dishonest, so it's not a valid work around for an organization that promotes morality.

I apologize if I offended anyone, as some of the emails I've gotten are pretty angry.

The restrictions for donations are set by the vendor, and it's their perogative to do so since they are donating the products/services. There are a number of other restriction parameters, not just religious affiliation, that by this logic would also be discrimatory.  Imperfect? Yes, but in keeping with our mission of helping nonprofits with their technology needs, TechSoup feels that the benefits of being able to offer a large number of nonprofits substantial technology savings through these programs outweighs the vendor-set donation parameters.

Best,

Megan

Hi Revmedic,

There is another point you seem to be missing that might help place this in perspective for you - A donation is a donation; it is not an expectation or a right. Donors have the right to choose whom they donate to - freedom of choice is a God given right we all enjoy - You cannot criticize a donor for choosing not to donate to religious groups, however religious groups could well be criticized for expressing an expectation that everyone should donate to them.

My advice - be grateful for any donations you do receive - It is not charitable to criticize those who choose to donate elsewhere.

Don

Don,

I completely understand what you are saying, and in general agree with you.  I wouldn't want to be forced to give to someone/thing that I am in total disagreement with (like being forced to pay taxes that go to fund abortion).  But then I don't have a non-discrimination policy...

I'm just saying it's disingenuous at best to say out of one side of your mouth we have a non-discrimination policy, and then by your actions discriminate against someone for their religious beliefs.

I guess it's just the society in which we live...

Revmedic discrimination is something we all do every time we make a decision - I suspect what you really accusing (Techsoup? - Vendors? not sure which) of is prejudice - you are trying to imply prejudicial actions with respect to donations... but seemingly you still misunderstand just what a donation is, and now go further to suggest (someone?) is saying something out of the 'side of their mouth' yet acting in a reverse manner. I'm sorry but you are talking nonsense. Nobody is being forced to give anything - Nobody is presenting an argument pro or con any particular belief system... What happens here, is that donors (vendors) chose to donate to whomever they wish, as is their right.

(end for me on this)

I understand completely what a donation is, but that is non sequitur.  The main point was having a non-discrimination policy and then discriminating or by allowing other to discriminate being a logical counterdiction.

Either way, it appears no one is going to change anyone's mind here, so be blessed, and have a good weekend. :) 

Dear John Oscar,

Thanks for your comments concerning TechSoup eligibility requirements for donations. TechSoup is charged with the administration of donation programs of more than two dozen generous technology companies, each of which has its own donation guidelines. Additionally, TechSoup has an anti-discrimination policy that organizations must comply with in order to participate in our program. However, it’s important to distinguish between the donors’ program rules and our anti-discrimination policy.

The donors’ rules should be viewed as a means for each of our partners to focus their limited donations to organizations conducting social benefit activities they wish to promote. Requesting a TechSoup donation is not unlike applying for a grant for which an organization must be screened and determined to be eligible.

Faith-based and religious organizations are actually eligible for a broad range of donations through TechSoup programs; religious organization which demonstrate that they operate a secular program open to all, without religious content or proselytizing, may even have broader access to donations, depending on their organizational activities, budget size and other donor rules.

TechSoup’s anti-discrimination policy reflects the core values of inclusion and diversity central to our organization’s philosophy.

We hope that we will be able to serve your organization in the future.

Bruce Ackley

TechSoup

Customer Service

Nice pat answer that does nothing to address the point.  I suppose I could make a dozen moral comparisons here, but it would be a waste of time.

The point is, by omission of action you are allowing organizations to discriminate against people of faith.  You are correct in that's their choice, but in allowing them to do that through your service, you are complicit in their discrimination and in violation of  your policy.

I know I'm not going to get anywhere here, so I'll just end it with this post.

The proverbial brick wall Bruce .. but thanks for trying :-)

Revmedic,

As long as we're building this molehill into a mountain, it's probably worth mentioning that two somewhat different issues are being treated as one.

Religious discrimination is generally considered, from both a legal and practical standpoint, as favoritism or preferential treatment toward one religion over another.  That is not the case here. So an accusation of religious discrimination, or a claim of conflict in Tech Soup's anti-discrimination policy is inappropriate, no matter how much one whines about it.

The real question is whether it's fair and ethical for some donors to exclude all religious organizations; or all libraries, or all health care facilities or anything else for that matter. I don't know the donors' reasoning behind their exclusions so I can't answer that question, and neither can you unless you've asked them.  One thing that comes to mind though is that churches usually derive on-going income from a congregation and may therefore be considered "less needy" than a soup kitchen or homeless shelter that doesn't have that luxury.  

Since you seem uncomfortable with Tech Soup's current position on the subject, what exactly do you think they should do about it? 

-ENO

A more apt and truthful title would be Techsoup allows some vendors to violate their own policy.   There are also polices against donation to groups with political activities and governmental entities like schools (thus age discrimination). I have always taken the tack that f someone discriminates let them know it directly and allow them to change before yelling out publicly.

Secondly church are discriminated against not  people of faith organizations (like kids/schools). Lots of religious based organizations have received stuff including YMCA, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Girls Scouts.

Frankly these type of arguments, on all sides,  are only meant to prove mental , emotional or spiritual  superiority and not to solve the problem or have anything to do with right or wrong.

Lastly, I am wiling to work with vendors so that churchs are allowed, if that is really what you want.