Stopping donating to charities...advice please

Garnet_Gem

I have a standing order paid to a local children's hospice. Apart from an odd letter telling me about events and sending their Christmas card catalogue they don't bombard me with junk mail asking for more money. Now and again I get a nice letter thanking me for helping them. Maybe we should all think harder about which charities deserve our money.

Mrs_Wossinge

Can I put a good word in for World Vision? I sponsor two children in developing countries through WV, and am kept up-to-date with school reports and letters from the children. I am asked if I would like to make extra donations (around the £5 mark) to provide birthday/Christmas presents (usually school equipment), but receive no other requests to give more money.

Until recently, this was my only connection with World Vision, and I was already impressed. But then they asked me to write some of the annual country reports that are sent out to sponsors (I'm a freelance writer). I saw the financial reports from the individual projects, and how the money is really spent and combined with all available local and international grants so that it is put to the best possible use. Yes, I was paid for my work, and there are neccessary admin costs in telling people how their money is spent. But my glimpse behind the scenes only strengthened my support for what they do. I would recommend child sponsorship - it's a very rewarding way to help.

flybynight

i can assure u guys that the british legion poppy collectors are not paid or on commision. i tend to do 5 weekends a year in the run up to remembrance sunday to take between 20 and 40 13-19 yr old cadets poppy collecting and we are definatley not aid for it. although i think i did once get a free cup of tea in the legion after a remembrance parade ( i think it was actually snowing that year)

katiekittykat

Some of them are a joke, my nan used to donate £2 a month to the NSPCC and they were always ringing her up and asking why she didn't or why she couldn't donate more, how much money she had spare each month etc.

It's disgusting - in the end she cancelled the DD.

Saucepot

I find the best approach to the commision charity muggers is when they to stop you say "I don't want to give you anything on the grounds that I think you're all a bush of c**ts"

katiekittykat

i thought it was actually illegal for them to ask you from money in the street?

emmaroids

your all gonna call me mean but what the hell

ages ago we had a knock at the door and there was this young very nice looking lady there asking if we would be interested in donating to a disabled kids charity, anyway she came in and we had a chat ( well i was looking at her long legs:rolleyes:)
and we decided on donating 10 quid a month :eek:

about a few days before the payment was due out i canceled the DD with my bank and a few days after that i gotta phone call thanking me for been nice and donating and the kids appreciate it blah blah blah, and i said to her `ahh its ok anything for the kids`

did i feel guilty??

i would be lying if i said yes.

Noble_Scarlet

Saucepot wrote: »

I find the best approach to the commision charity muggers is when they to stop you say "I don't want to give you anything on the grounds that I think you're all a bush of c**ts"

I'm quite good at doing the 'anxious, I'm going to be late walk' or I'll find some tall person going in my direction and hide behind them . Seriously though, what's the rush with giving a chugger your bank details & personal info to set up a dd donaton right now on the streets?

We're all advised to be careful when using the atm, or using our cards in shops, restaurants etc. Should I be any less cautious because it's a stranger wearing a silly bib and holding a clipboard?

jeanssis

On Friday afternoon we could barely get into Asda for all the collectors for the lifeboats. There were six, three just outside the main doors with three between outer & inner doors at each side. I commented to the meet & greet staff I found this intimidating as I'd come to do my shopping not to run the gauntlet ! The meet & greet staff (two women) agreed & said they, too, weren't at all happy with it. :mad:

Some weekends we go to two supermarkets & find this happening at each. It really annoys me when a friend & neighbour comes across with the Dr. Barnardos envelopes annually & I feel totally unable to say no to her. I save loose change just so I can put a load in & I feel she knows it's only 20p in one pence & two pence pieces. I have high blood pressure & can feel it upsetting me but what do you do ? :mad:

We used to give to the RSPCA monthly directly out of hubby's wages but a friend told me about their high payouts rather than spending the donations on the animals &, as she helps round up feral cats in Spain & says they spend every donation 100% on the animals, that seems better value. It annoyed me that the RSPCA kept on sending us letters asking if we could spare more. I kept asking them not to waste what we'd given them on letters to us but it didn't stop. :mad:

It's the same with us being lifetime members of The National Trust, they, also, keep writing to us asking if we could donate more.

:mad:

morg_monster

Yesterday I inadvertantly found a good way to avoid the chuggers. I was wearing sunglasses and since they couldn't be sure they'd caught my eye they didn't bother me... yay! Now i will just have to put up with people thinking I have a hangover from hell when I wear them on a cloudy day...