Though I'm not religious, there's a specific set of bible verses I think of when I see news of someone being publicly charitable:
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
--Matthew 6:1-4
I think it means that the spirit of charity is purest when it is anonymous.
If your goal is to increase the amount of donations to a charity, then by all means, do it publicly...inspire and/or pressure others to do the same. If your goal is a personal exercise in selflessness and giving, then do it anonymously.
And which is the more selfless-and-giving of the two goals? The one that's about maximizing the benefit to a charitable organization, or the one that's about maximizing one's personal selflessness?
Depends, one is a short term investment and the other is a long term investment. Which is more giving and selfless: giving a man a fish, or investing time in learning how to be a great fishing teacher, then teaching men to fish?
Personally I believe that the purpose of charity is to give unyieldingly and without reserve or provocation, without any personal gain to you...not to look good to others, not tax breaks, whatever.
Anonymous charity is irrational from a survival perspective. It makes no sense to help someone unless you have something to gain. So therefore helping others at the expense of yourself is the purest form of selflessness.
> What about when your deed might inspire/put pressure on people of similar stature to do the same? Ie: Gates or AH?
Depends on your goals. If your goal is to increase the amount of donations to a charity, then by all means, do it publicly...inspire and/or pressure others to do the same. If your goal is a personal exercise in selflessness and giving, then do it anonymously.
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
--Matthew 6:1-4
I think it means that the spirit of charity is purest when it is anonymous.