I have always wondered what the purpose of organizations and Yeshivos placing large Nichum Aveilim advertisements in newspapers? It is well known that the wife of a very generous Askan just passed away. Over the last two weeks there were countless ads for nichum aveilim in the various Jewish newspapers. Do these organizations think that the donor is going to give them more because of these ads or less if they don’t place them? If it were me, I would be insulted to think that these needy organizations feel that they need to use tzedoko money to buy these ads in order for me to want to donate more.
It is hakaras Hatov for the past. Not (necessarily) angling for the future. If your mossad is in with the source, they will generally be OK without the ad. And if they’re not, the ad will only appear to be like ambulance (hearse?) chasing. And the gvir, who was smart enough to get as successful as he has gotten to be so far, will not fall for it.
This is meant as a general thought, not in direct relation to any specific niftar or nifteres.
It’s the same reason organizations plaster donors names over buildings or make grand dinners in honor of donors. It is vanity. But a vanity ??? ??? ?????? is a big money raiser since big shot donors like it. Thus it is the lesser of two evils. Better raise the desperately needed Tzedaka at the cost of licking up some folks vanity.