Money Moral Dilemma: Should I donate my cashback to charity?

Former_MSE_Nick

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I buy quite a few bits on behalf of a charity I volunteer at, claiming back the money with receipts. Everything is agreed in advance and I always shop around for the best deals. Sometimes I go via a cashback site if possible - should I keep the cash I get back or donate it?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

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AuntyVi

How about this for a compromise option?

There's a site called easyfundraising.co.uk which works like a cashback site, but donates the money to your selected charity instead. If you get your charity set up on there, you can check the site and go through there whenever you buy from one of the companies listed there, and the donations will go to your charity - plus, you can share the details with other supporters, who can then also use it for personal shopping to raise money for the charity. (It's particularly good as it includes some stores that don't usually appear on other cashback sites, apparently, such as Amazon).

Then, I would say whenever you are buying things but find the company you're buying from is not listed on easyfundraising, you can go through a normal cashback site instead and keep the cashback without feeling guilty. Does that sound good?

Serenmor

If you were not buying on behalf of the charity you wouldn't have the opportunity to make any money via cash back. Be charitable!
However, if you feel a sense of entitlement, discuss with the charity and the dilemma will be solved for you. If you are told to keep the money, your conscience will be clear.

thegrifter

If you're using your own card to buy these thing then I don't see why you should. If the charity wants to benefit from cashback sites then they ought to set up an account of their own with a card which you can use to make these purchases whereby the cash would automatically go to their account.

pollypenny

If you're using the charity's money to buy, then yes. The cash back belongs to them.

dan2097

I don't think they are morally obligated to, especially as the person in question is a volunteer. The charity still got the bits and pieces it expected. As they're volunteering for that charity they probably believe in the charity's work and hence should want to donate anyway.

gaving7095

In my opinion, the most important thing is that you're getting the charity the best possible prices on it's orders. If you are, then I'd say keeping the cashback is OK. In my experience cashback rarely amounts to much anyway.

I think we can assume you're initially paying using your own money / card, then being reimbursed, so any "risk" or "hassle" involved with the ordering, delivery, getting the money back, paying your card on time, etc. is all yours. So if you get a token for taking that on, then fair enough.

As long as you're not having to deliberately choose a more expensive supplier to qualify for the cash back - which I don't think you are - but that's all I think matters.

crmism

As I see it, you are committing a fraud on the charity. The transactions of buying and claiming reimbursement, and then receiving money in return, are connected, ie if you didn't buy from such outlets, you wouldn't get cashback at all.

Doing what you have in mind rather defeats the object of supporting your charity, doesn't it?

maisie_cat

I'd say technically and morally no you shouldn't keep the cashback you should be claiming for your "out of pocket expenses" and this is net of the cashback. if the timing of the cashback is sometime after you paid for the initial purchase it should be refunded later. Having said that, if the amount is not large it might not be worth the charity's time in admin, ask them.

tgroom57

I wonder how many of the above posters volunteer?

[Deleted User]

I used to volunteer for a charity which offered to reimburse me for car parking and petrol to get to the charity's office. I refused to claim it as every penny I took out would mean a cut in the funding for the charity's work. I looked on my travel costs as part of my contributions on top of my time spent with them.