Donation sensation

A man in a hat is standing in a wood. "Every year," he says, "over 200,000 children are born without the ability to smile... In poorer areas there is no way for many of these people to get healthcare, meaning thousands of them will grow up without ever having the opportunity to receive surgery, which results in bullying and social isolation."

This is the opening of a video introducing Operation Smile. In it, the founders of the charity explain how they have spent 40 years treating children with cleft palatesA gap in the upper lip and or the roof of the mouth that is present from birth. Cleft palates occur when parts of a baby's face do not join together properly in the womb. . Next we see two men travelling to Puebla in Mexico, meeting families with such children, and organising free operations for 100 of them. At the end, viewers are exhortedStrongly encouraged (someone) to do something. to donate to the charity.

The man in the hat is Jimmy Donaldson - better known as Mr Beast. The video is the latest on his Beast Philanthropy channel, which has 23.1 million subscribers.  

At 25, Donaldson is the world's most successful YouTuber. Growing up in North Carolina, he started posting videos when he was 13. Five years later he hit the big time with one which showed him counting to 100,000: it took him 40 hours.

Since then he has become known for his amazing stunt videos, some of which cost millions of dollars to produce. They include a real-life - though harmless - recreation of Squid Game, with a £330,000 prize. It has had 591 million views. His fortune is estimated at nearly £400m.¹

In 2020 he founded the Beast Philanthropy channel. Its projects have included giving away 10,000 turkeys for Thanksgiving, donating 20,000 shoes to children in Africa and providing 2,000 free prostheticAn artificial body part, such as a limb. limbs. He declares that "100% of the profits from my ad revenue, merch sales, and sponsorships will go towards making the world a better place!"²

But some of his projects have met with fierce criticism. One was the rebuilding of the Baphumele Orphanage in South Africa, which was rundown and facing closure.  

Though the staff and local people were delighted, a charity called Hope and Homes for Children was not. It believes the world should put an end to orphanages because they can be places of "violence, abuse and neglect". It says 80% of the 5.4 million children in orphanages actually have families who could care for them.³

The charity contacted Donaldson to tell him his project was a bad idea, but says it got no response. It accused him of using the rebuilding as "a ploy for more views" and being a "White saviour" - a term intended as an insult.

"One thing is for sure," said its spokeswoman Lourenza Foghill, "Mr Beast is denying the so-called 'orphans' from Baphumele their right to grow up in a family."

Another project, to build 100 wells in Africa, was described as "stunt philanthropyGiving away (lots of) money to help people. ". One expert, Rebecca Reiner, warned that such schemes might attract huge attention to begin with, but then be forgotten: "Ultimately, what charities need is sustained interest and funding in order to continue to carry out their missions."

Is all philanthropy selfish?

Yes: People only do it so that they can feel better about themselves and enhance their reputations. Otherwise they would remain anonymous rather than fronting videos or having hospitals named after them.

No: In his essay The Gift, sociologistSomeone who studies human social behaviour. Modern sociology was developed by European thinkers in the 19th century, but it is also based on the writings of African American thinkers like W. E. B. DuBois. Marcel Maus argued that giving is the basis of all human society. Donaldson did not need Beast Philanthropy to win more followers - he already had a huge number.

Or... Whatever you think of philanthropists, the world would obviously be worse off without their donations. Criticising people for their generosity is as perverse and mean-minded as you can get.