I contribute money to a lot of things that can be called
charities: Social-change organizations, feed the children, help animals and
wildlife, save the environment, cancer research, political organizations--the list
goes on.
It ticks me off that so many of them, when you send them
money, reply, in effect, "Thanks, but now send us more!"
And I'm getting even more annoyed at them over a variety of
practices: When they want a contribution, their solicitation will come in an
envelope that says something like, "Second renewal notice," which I
feel makes me look like a deadbeat (okay, only my mail carrier would notice and
he most likely doesn't concern himself).
Online solicitations have their own particular tricks. They
say something like, "If you could contribute just $3, it would help us. .
. " Then you click and go to the contribution page, and is the default
amount $3? No, it's $25.
Also, by default you are agreeing to make it a monthly
contribution. You have to uncheck a box to make it one-time. I already make
monthly contributions to four or five organizations and basically do not want
to commit to any more.
I believe in being charitable. My religion (more or less)
commands it. However, I have found, lately, that I've been giving to so many
groups: usually small amounts, but a few dollars here and 10 or 15 bucks there,
it adds up to hundreds before you know it.
And yet, I go online and here's a "Help my
campaign" or "Donald Trump has done such-and-such, help us fight back"--and
I can't resist.
It's been making me do some thinking about my finances and
just what I can and cannot afford. Wish I knew how long my retirement nest egg
needs to last me. . . .
Copyright © 2018
Update, March 1, 2018: I've continued to have the problem of contributions being made "recurring" when I did not intend that. I am quite certain that the little box, "Make this a recurring contribution," was not checked, and yet this has happened at least three times. I've responded to that by unsubscribing to emails from those organizations so that there's no danger that I will forget that I should not contribute to those guys. And, where they asked for a reason for the "unsubscribe," I told them about this, and the fact that it's made me very angry. Are they going to take any notice? I doubt it. Still, I feel I've done what I could to punish them for how they (as I feel) tricked me.
Update, July 17, 2018. Another matter I need to mention: If you watch much television you probably have seen long commercials showing kids with cancer, who are in wheelchairs and/or have had their hair fall out due to chemotherapy; or pathetic, abused dogs, in cages or chained up. These ads are undoubtedly effective at tugging at our heartstrings.
However, before you send them money, ask this question: How much do those TV ads cost? How much of my donation is going to program efforts (that is, the work they are supposed to be doing) and how much to fundraising (e.g. TV commercials)? You can find out how much any charity spends on fundraising from a web site called Charity Navigator. Me, I will give to them when I see a notice on the screen, during those ads, saying that all of the work to produce the ads, and the airtime, have been donated.
Update, March 1, 2018: I've continued to have the problem of contributions being made "recurring" when I did not intend that. I am quite certain that the little box, "Make this a recurring contribution," was not checked, and yet this has happened at least three times. I've responded to that by unsubscribing to emails from those organizations so that there's no danger that I will forget that I should not contribute to those guys. And, where they asked for a reason for the "unsubscribe," I told them about this, and the fact that it's made me very angry. Are they going to take any notice? I doubt it. Still, I feel I've done what I could to punish them for how they (as I feel) tricked me.
Update, July 17, 2018. Another matter I need to mention: If you watch much television you probably have seen long commercials showing kids with cancer, who are in wheelchairs and/or have had their hair fall out due to chemotherapy; or pathetic, abused dogs, in cages or chained up. These ads are undoubtedly effective at tugging at our heartstrings.
However, before you send them money, ask this question: How much do those TV ads cost? How much of my donation is going to program efforts (that is, the work they are supposed to be doing) and how much to fundraising (e.g. TV commercials)? You can find out how much any charity spends on fundraising from a web site called Charity Navigator. Me, I will give to them when I see a notice on the screen, during those ads, saying that all of the work to produce the ads, and the airtime, have been donated.
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