Page 1 of exploiting charity

A friend of mine has recently stated that he wants to do a charity, fundraising trip to Machu Pichu. It`s one of those deals where you get people to sponsor you, for something like cancer research.

Now, i know it`s for charity, but these things really get on my nerves. If i want to give to charity, then i will. What i resent is when friends come up to you asking you to sponsor them for something like this. For a start, it`s not really like you can say no, when it`s someone you know.

But then, also it`s the fact that only about 60% of the moeny you donate goes to the actual charity (this varies from place to place and depends on how much you actually raise, but you get the idea), the rest goes toward sending this person on the trip of a lifetime.

It just really bugs me that people hijack the altruism of others for their own ends.....and if you don`t give money, you`re the one that feels like an asshole.

Does this sound tight and selfish to anyone?

yes

:)

My collection

You don`t have to feel like an a***hole,
Just give to the chariddy`s that you feel you want to support,
You can`t give to them all that`s foolish.

Is it true that some of the people who collect in the street and outside supermarkets take a cut from the collection at the end of the day?

____________________________________________________________________________________

if you mean the `chuggers` then some do get `commission`, although I`m sure they have to tell you up front if this is the case. Not that they actually do of course.

My collection

On a separate charity related note, is anyone else plagued by bucket-rattlers at the doorstep of their own home?

I give where i can, not a whole lot, mainly to Water Aid and the SSPCA, but i resent being harassed by collectors at my door (4 times last week, 3 charities), even though all they`re after is some change.

Does this sound tight and selfish to anyone?

I`m a firm believer in give what you can, where and when you can, but giving is a personal choice, not something to be harangued about, whatever the method.

EDIT: I always give, by the way. I just get a little annoyed afterwards, `is all

"Gimme Ed til i`m dead!"

This item was edited on Wednesday, 25th May 2005, 12:36

We`ve had a few press releases from a PR company representing a "charitable" organisation that offers to take your old mobile phones and ink cartridges, reconditioning them and selling them on, giving money to good causes in the process.

However, this turns out to be a limited company, NOT a registered charity, and only a percentage of the profits go to charity, which means someone is making money out of it.

I`ve noticed a number of leaflets come through the door asking for clothes, again they say a percentage goes to charity, but still a percentage of the profits does not.

I refuse to give to any organisation that isn`t a registered charity, since by law (and verified through inspections every now and again) if you are a registered charity you are not allowed to make a profit.


Editor
DVD REVIEWER

"The Green Belt policy is a Labour Policy, and we intend to Build on it"
John Prescott

I`ve considered doing one of these type of holiday/fundraising things, and if I do ever decide to do it, I will be donating the amount that the `holiday` is worth myself, I think that`s only fair.

Quote:
I refuse to give to any organisation that isn`t a registered charity, since by law (and verified through inspections every now and again) if you are a registered charity you are not allowed to make a profit.

It doesn`t mean a charity can`t pay their employees higher wages to eat into the "profit" though ;)



What I`m listening to...

Quote:

I`ve considered doing one of these type of holiday/fundraising things, and if I do ever decide to do it, I will be donating the amount that the `holiday` is worth myself, I think that`s only fair.


This is admirable bethy, however it begs the question, why not just go on the holiday yourself and not bother your friends to give to a particular charity of your choice?

It just seems a little silly. It`s like i remember about a year ago i was out drinking with a load of friends and one of the lads had a beard. The girls were extolling him to shave it off and he duly complied but instead of just shaving it off, he went around to all of my friends asking them to sponsor him to shave it off. I mean, he was going to do it anyway.

Now, in terms of ends justifying means, it`s all fine.

Just to clarify, it`s not people i don`t know who come up to me asking to support a given charity. I have certain charities that i always donate to when i see them and i don`t mind that (i usually feel better after giving to them). It`s just when friends come up to you, i feel like the decision is out of my hands...i just have to give.

Goddamn do-gooding types, trying to make me feel generous!

Quote:
This is admirable bethy, however it begs the question, why not just go on the holiday yourself and not bother your friends to give to a particular charity of your choice?

Fair point, hadn`t thought of it that way :/

(anyway, I have just raised over £2000 for putting myself through 5 hours of agony, so I shan`t be annoying my friends for another year or two at least!)