Word: goldmans
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...Goldman's reputation has been tarnished," says Goldstein. "If it is something that can elevate the stature of the firm in the public eye, then I think people...
Nonprofits, too, are likely to cheer the plan. Bradford Smith, who is the president of philanthropy-research firm Foundation Center, says Goldman's move could help service organizations at a time when many are struggling to raise funds. "Ideally, you would hope rich people would voluntarily share their wealth," says Smith. "But Goldman is leader in the corporate world, and if others follow, this could be a needed windfall for nonprofits...
...others say the charity plan is likely to fall short of its assumed goal: reversing a slide in Goldman's public image. That's because the amount the program is likely to generate in donations will be dwarfed by bank bonus payouts. In the next week or so, Goldman and other large financial firms will hand out an estimated $140 billion in 2009 bonuses. Goldman alone is expected to enrich its employees by $18 billion. The large bonuses have drawn scrutiny because they are being paid at a time when the unemployment rate is 10% and many Americans are suffering...
Under the old Bear Stearns plan, top executives were required to donate 4% of their bonuses to charity. For Goldman, that would mean a charitable donation of just over $700 million. And that's if every employee is forced to participate, which is not likely to be the case. Still, even $700 million would be far less than the $12.9 billion Goldman received when AIG was bailed out by the Federal Government. And it's a fraction of what Goldman has been making in the market at a time when the government is spending trillions to support asset prices...
What's more, Goldman executives are already big donors, and that hasn't done anything to stop its slide in public opinion. Under the firm's voluntary-giving plan, which was started just before the firm handed out bonuses two years ago, Goldman's top executives gave about $130 million to charity in 2008. Goldman's own foundation, which it funds with corporate profits, has about $200 million in it, making it one of the largest charity trusts in corporate America. Indeed, a plan announced a few months ago by Goldman to give away $500 million to promote loans...