Redundant Charities: Escaping the cycle of dependence

by Weh Yeoh

"It's a good cause...or is it?" Is a charity worth supporting if it continues to exist perpetually? When does a charity ever end? How does it know that the job is done? 




Charities aren't geared to ever stop. They're geared to continue. The fundamental design of charities hasn't shifted much since their inception decades ago.




But, in a number of grassroots charities, change is afoot. These are charities that defy the limitations of this design by setting end goals and clear exit strategies. They are more interested in finishing the job than creating dependency. They are more interested in shutting down than growing. These charities are known as Redundant Charities.




In this book, Weh Yeoh builds on his experience working globally with international and grassroots charities. This book is for those looking for a new approach to charity work. An approach that starts by recognising that a successful charity is one that makes themselves redundant.

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2023

About the author

Weh Yeoh has worked internationally and in Australia, his home country, in the social impact space for close to two decades. He is the founder of OIC Cambodia, an initiative that aims to establish speech therapy as a profession in Cambodia. He has a BA in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney and an MA in Development Studies from the University of NSW. He has volunteered with people with disabilities in Vietnam, interned in India, studied Mandarin in Beijing, and milked yaks in Mongolia. He started OIC in 2013, and handed over leadership to a local Cambodian team in 2017. He has since co-founded Umbo, a social enterprise bridging the gap for rural Australians to access allied health services.

Reviews

[Jessica Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for everyone! Regardless of whether in the non-profit sector or not, Weh Yeoh’s approach to what a good charity should look like is both thought-provoking and inspiring. He touches on some hard truths that really makes you think about the flaws in the current design of charities and how the goal of redundancy could solve many of these issues. Overall, the book was easy to read and written by someone who has been embedded in the non-profit sector so he’s able to share a lot of first-hand knowledge and offers a fresh perspective. Highly recommend giving this one a read!!

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thought-provoking critique offers a new perspective on the development sector today. A lovely writing style and Yeoh nicely looks across a set of analysis about exit strategies and the need for development in the modern world. Yeoh's insightful and imaginative approach looks to challenge some of our preconceived notions about NGO sector broadly, making this a must-read for anyone interested in the world of nonprofit organizations.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redundant Charities is a refreshing take on how donors can ensure their money is used to solve problems, not create dependencies. The book is entertaining, easy to follow and I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with the problems that Weh Yeoh presents. Rather than simply critique aid (as many have done before), he presents a clear pathway for how donors can empower leaders in-country to be in charge of their own solutions. Weh presents a range of clearly described case studies of charities that have insisted on becoming redundant, and in doing so, have demonstrated how they have avoided the tempting lure of aid dependency. Having worked in the sector for almost 20 years, it’s rare to see new ideas and practical ideas for giving to charity. Through this book Redundant Charities, Weh Yeoh has successfully delivered a fresh new lens on evaluating charities.” - Jessica Bowman, Charity Analyst, Seedling Giving.

[Tasnia Alam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mindset shift that we all need to aspire too - this book is for all, government, corporates and not for profits. This book questions the sustainability of charities that perpetually exist without a clear endgame. It challenges us to consider whether a charity's effectiveness should be measured by its ability to render itself unnecessary, rather than its perpetual growth.

A thought-provoking and timely exploration - offers readers a fresh perspective on the social impact sector. A must read!

Great work Weh!

[Robert Andersson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weh's book is compelling!
Much of the insights in redundant charities could be applied in other sectors, e.g. the sickness sector (today incorrectly named the 'health' sector).
If you are ready to challenge the dominant discourse in regard to charities, I highly recommend this book.

[Margaret O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redundant Charities is a must read for everyone who is involved with charity. It can be an uncomfortable read at times as you reflect on your own thinking and decisions, but that's what makes it a powerful read. It's a call to action and a chance for all of us to do better with a clear view of what better can look like.

[Tom Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brave and inspiring book explores many of the worst blind spots and habits of the non-profit sector, especially in the developing world: founder syndrome, white saviour complex and the power imbalance of funders, fund seekers and beneficiaries.

Most of all, it's about how charities (and, I would say, social enterprises as well) can be drawn into focusing on their short-term growth and survival rather than achieving real impact in the longer-term.

A "redundant charity" is one that works with the end in mind, genuinely working towards making themselves obsolete by solving the problem or handing over power to the community.

Weh calls for charities to solve real problems and to empower, rather than make dependent, the community they serve. Good intentions are not enough, we must be accountable for outcomes and impacts, rather than obsessed with inputs (fundraising numbers) and outputs (the percentage that goes to mission-related expenses, or number of people reached).

It’s a wonderful thought-provoking read. I don’t agree with everything he writes and it’s a hard standard to stick to, but it’s refreshing to hear a leader like Weh calling out the bad habits too often ignored or taken for granted in the social change sector.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: "Redundant Charities" by Weh Yeoh - A Thought-Provoking Exploration

At first glance, "Redundant Charities" by Weh Yeoh may seem like a typical book centered around the world of charities. However, it transcends its initial premise, offering readers a multifaceted journey into leadership, personal growth, and the art of reshaping one's perspective.

What truly sets this book apart is Weh Yeoh's candid vulnerability, as he delves deep into the intricacies of ego and the relentless pursuit of validation in our efforts to make a difference. He fearlessly exposes how these tendencies can often undermine the very purpose we set out to fulfill in the world of philanthropy.

This book may not be an easy read for everyone, as it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our intentions. Nevertheless, "Redundant Charities" is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration that challenges us to reevaluate our approaches and ultimately emerge as more effective and compassionate agents of change.

[Kelly Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the topic of this book! It is a really unique proposition and one that I hope will raise the importance of this type of conversation. Weh proposes that it's time we think differently about what a charity is, and how they are designed. He shares his experience in setting exit strategies that will help charities break the cycle of dependency. While I’m sure it will raise a few eyebrows, I think that’s smart! It’s by discussing different perspectives that we will help elevate everyone in society.

[Queeneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I attended one of Yeoh's GLP colloquia and got introduced to the concept of redundant charities. Learning about redundant charities has renewed my hope in effective charities. At the end of the colloquia, he plugged this book, and I was glad to read. It was a well summarised explanation of what a redundant charities is. It was also nice to get more examples of redundant charities at their different stages. This a short book, so I recommend that everyone gives it a read.

[Lewis Whales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this interesting and thought-provoking book. Weh Yeoh takes a critical approach to defining success for charities and sets the bench mark for organisations achieving their purpose. "Better than nothing" is not good enough. The book concludes by encouraging us to start a conversation about charities and what success looks like, an important conversation to undertake.

[Matthew McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful read about an important topic we should all be aware of. Weh writes from the heart, from his own experience and backs it up with logic through the right sources. I learned more than I thought I would reading Redundant Charities and I especially like the conversational advice when speaking with fund-seeking charities!

[Socheat Nhip · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eyes opening book!
Bring lot of rich perspectives between traditional and redundant charities. It is really interesting to learn that some charities define their success based on the size of money they raised & the numbers of people they reached.
I believe this is a critical topic and need to be discuss now!!

[Steven Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone keen to identify worthy charities, I found ‘Redundant Charities’ a fascinating and insightful read. Weh Yeoh’s engaging and accessible style made complex issues easy to understand. The book has profoundly impacted my perspective on charitable giving, and I will be reconsidering where I donate my money based on the issues raised.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read and well put together argument. There are some very important lessons for charities, broader businesses and leaders about a well structured mission, vision and purpose.
Congratulations Weh 😊

[Jessica Chew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear-eyed book on how charities work and essential reading for anyone in, or looking to enter the nonprofit and civil society space. I have long held the Redundant Charities model of having an exit strategy as the gold standard for doing good works.

[Reuben Schwarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise, well-written and well-reasoned book that clearly articulates a major problem with today's non-profit industry. I'm pretty ignorant about the space but had no trouble understanding the problem and proposed solutions, and the example of the solutions in action were thought-provoking.

[Giovanni García-Fenech · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, because its message is valuable: many nonprofits would do well to concentrate on sustainable projects and solutions that won't need them after they get going. This is where the name "redundant charities" comes from -- according to Yeoh, nonprofits should aim to become unnecessary.

All well and good, but the book itself is quite flimsy. The first section is largely unsubstantiated, based on stories that Yeoh has supposedly heard about, or based on his own mistakes, which he then assumes are typical. Most of the citations he uses are not about nonprofits, they're about entirely different subjects and he makes big leaps to fit them into his arguments. Things get a little better on the second section, where he uses actual examples of charities that fit his ideal, but this is when the writing gets quite, um, redundant.

Yeoh shares an important message, but he really could've benefited from the help of a strict editor.