An interesting argument by William Drennan in the Alabama Law Review, proposing a limit by with the name of a charity can be modified. It starts and makes reference to one of my favortte examples of testamentary excess, Leona Helmsley's gift to the dog world.
People put their names on all kinds of things, charities and private organizations are willing to oblige. The international star registry comes to mind. While much of this is harmless, the article does point out some of the costs to society, especially over centuries.
Eventually, the name of the person who founded a charity may have to give way to the cause that created the charity in the first place. The two can be at odds with each other in ways that I did not realize. Its worth a read.
However the damage can come sooner then anyone expects, as Mr. Drennan points out with the example of a business school's name being associated with a person who came to be known as a corporate villain.
A proposal of a 50 year limit for the name of a vanity charity seems reasonable and well worth considering.
There are without a doubt reasons to give charity in secret and reasons to give charity in public. However for Muslims who want to give in charity, its best to do away with the vanity names altogether.
