Charitable Donation

Dave_Oak

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but I really wasn't sure where to post it.

The story is this,

Some old friends of mine are doing a run for a charity they volunteer for. It is a charity I used to volunteer for and was very impressed with the work they did whilst I was there. I donated a large sum (by my standards) via the fundraisers Virgin Money Giving page. This was in February. The sponsored run is due to take place next week.

Four weeks ago I discovered some very disturbing and unethical behaviour that the charity is involved in and I feel very strongly that I no longer want them to have my donation.

Virgin Money informed me that the donation only stays in the Virgin account for a few days before it is passed onto the charity, therefore my donation would already be in the charity's bank account. However, Virgin said they would request a refund on my behalf from the charity - the charity refused, informing Virgin that I would need to explain my reasons to the charity myself.

So I emailed the charity with my reasons and thus far they are giving me the run around and refusing to refund the money, claiming it's not a simple matter to give the money back to Virgin or myself.

For info, this charity has a huge turnover which completely dwarfs my donation so they do have the funds readily available.

Anybody know where I stand legally on this?

Thanks in advance.

System

Legally its no longer your money.

Charities thrive on publicity. Threaten them with negative publicity if thy don't refund.

Dave_Oak

I'm holding that option in reserve.

The way I see it I gave them the money in good faith and have since discovered that they have not upheld that good faith because of their unethical behaviour in their charitable work. Therefore for them to hold onto my donation seems unethical and dishonest.

wealdroam

Dave_Oak wrote: »

The way I see it I gave them the money in good faith and have since discovered that they have not upheld that good faith because of their unethical behaviour in their charitable work. Therefore for them to hold onto my donation seems unethical and dishonest.

The way I see it is you gave them the money. Full stop.

Did you actually attach any conditions to this gift?

If not, that is the end of the matter.

halibut2209

I tend to find that most "charities with huge turnover" are the least ethical charity-wise. Enormous overheads, boards with large salaries, "volunteers" on commission.

Stick to local charities

ThumbRemote

If you gave the money to be restricted to a specific project, and you find that project isn't happening, or is happening in a substantially different way to what you expected, you maybe entitled to ask for the money back.

If it was a general gift, then it is now their money, you can't ask for it back just because you've changed your mind.

If their behaviour is that unethical, shouldn't you be naming them so others don't make the same mistake?

zoob

If you have sponsored your friends to do a run for charity next week, the charity shouldn't have the money yet as they haven't ran yet?

bris

A charitble donation is a gift, you cant take gifts back.

paddyrg

The charity sector is riddled with crooks and dubious practice.

Convicted perjurer the Rt Hon Lord Jeffrey Archer, self-financed Baron of poundshop heaven Weston-Super-Mare made his first biiig money fundraising for charities.

Dave_Oak

zoob wrote: »

If you have sponsored your friends to do a run for charity next week, the charity shouldn't have the money yet as they haven't ran yet?

I thought that, but Virgin Money pass the funds on within a week so they can't be accused of making profits via interest accrued on charitable donations sitting in their bank accounts.

Dave_Oak

ThumbRemote wrote: »

If you gave the money to be restricted to a specific project, and you find that project isn't happening, or is happening in a substantially different way to what you expected, you maybe entitled to ask for the money back.

If it was a general gift, then it is now their money, you can't ask for it back just because you've changed your mind.

If their behaviour is that unethical, shouldn't you be naming them so others don't make the same mistake?

Unfortunately what I see as unethical and unacceptable others may well look past because it is not happening on their own door step and they don't have the need to see the connection. I don't think it's fair to name and shame until I've exhausted all my options.