Sponsorship and blackmail

Gra76

Slightly harshly worded title I'll admit but that's how I currently feel.

My sister is doing the Great North Run this weekend. In previous years she's run it for a charity close to my heart and I've had no problem sponsoring her, and I usually sponsor her pretty generously as I support the charities she's picked.

This year she's chosen a charity I've got absolutely no interest in whatsoever. I wouldn't put money in their tin if it was rattled under my nose in the street so I don't see why I should give them money via my sister. The charity she's picked is irrelevant, the point is I don't support her chosen charity. She's now sending me texts that literally just read 'Sponsorship??'.

My head is telling me that I should just shut up and sponsor her for the minimum amount and get over myself but my heart is saying I'd much rather give to a charity I support. Kind of leaves me with limited options as I see it:

1 - Sponsor her for a minimal amount and the money goes to a charity I don't support and she moans at me for sponsoring her a minimal amount (in previous years I've contributed quite a bit of money to her other sponsored activities as I gladly supported her charities of choice)

2 - Tell her I'm not sponsoring her but instead give the money I'd normally have given to a charity of my choosing? This will probably still get me a mouthful of abuse from her as well.

3 - Sponsor my sister for the usual amount I would have done if it'd been a charity I supported and be annoyed that I'm giving money to a charity I've zero interest in.

If anyone has a better option that doesn't involve me getting an earful from my sister or having to shell out a sizeable chunk of money to a charity I don't support I'm all for hearing it.

tomtontom

Get over yourself and sponsor her. Your sister is putting in a massive effort by doing the run, even if you don't support the charity you should support her. We're not talking about some random knocking at your door are we!

If you would rather fundraise for another charity, perhaps you could run yourself next year?

comeandgo

But surely when you sponsor someone you are acknowledging the effort they are making not debating where the money is going? I would just sponsor her, it will make your life a bit easier I think, no earache from her.

HappyMJ

If it's a charity you do not support for whatever reason then you should not sponsor her at all for any amount. There's some charities I also wouldn't touch as well. They aren't all as charitable as they claim and many campaign for the complete opposite of my beliefs so there would no way I'd support them.

I think you'll get an earful though. She'll get over it....won't she?

Mojisola

Would she understand why you don't want to donate to that particular charity?

Does she have some good reason to raise money for them?

Georgiegirl256

Its obviously a charity close to her heart I would have thought, or why else would she have chosen it? She's your sister, she's raising money for charity (whether it's one you would have chosen or not) so support her in her efforts.

PenguinOfDeath

If she supports a variety of charities herself, you sending a donation to a charity you support in her name wouldn't offend her, surely?

Gra76 wrote: »

She's now sending me texts that literally just read 'Sponsorship??'.

This is rude. I don't understand why people who choose to do these events for charity demand sponsorship, most people only chuck money their way to shut them up! What wrong with doing these challenges for the pure challenge of it?

Gra76

I'm very happy to give to any of the charities she's chosen in previous years. The charity she's chosen this year is something to do with her husbands extended family. I get the reasons she's running for them, I just don't agree with supporting that charity myself. In an ideal world I'll ask her if she minds me donating to one of the charities she previously ran for and she won't be offended.

System

tomtontom wrote: »

Get over yourself and sponsor her. Your sister is putting in a massive effort by doing the run, even if you don't support the charity you should support her. We're not talking about some random knocking at your door are we!

If you would rather fundraise for another charity, perhaps you could run yourself next year?

Exactly what i was thinking! He/she doesn't support the charity but should be showing moral support for the sister. The challenge of doing a big run is difficult as it is but knowing you have people backing you gives you that determination to keep going when the run gets tough.

Indie_Kid

Gra76 wrote: »

She's now sending me texts that literally just read 'Sponsorship??'.

This would make me much less likely to want to sponsor her tbh.

fairy_lights

I would sponsor her, I think it's more about her feeling like she's achieved something than about the individual charity.
And even if it's not a charity you would choose to support, you're still doing a good deed that will benefit others.
Unless it's a charity who's aims directly conflict with your personal beliefs in which case explain to your sister that you can't give sponsorship to something you disagree with but are very proud of her for doing the run anyway.