Charity Donations - where do you draw the line

[numnum]

I have nothing against giving to charity and do so a lot, but recently I've had a number of friends and family emailing asking for donations.

I don't want to look stingy but its really getting slightly OTT with the amount of people that are needing sponsored for something. I don't want to donate to one friend one month and nothing to another if I'm skint the next month

We were thinking to pick our own charity to donate to and if anyone asks for a donation we can say we already donate to whatever charity we decide.

Just the other week it was £20 for a friend that done a half marathon, spent about £15 on raffle tickets at the weekend, then £5 for another thing I got invited to a few days ago. I donate prizes for local raffles aswell

If I sponsor everyone thats emailed I'll not have a wage this month!!!! ( i only work a couple days a month as I have two young kids)

Haha, just as I'm typing a text has come in to sponsor a family member

Out of curiosity how much do you donate. Ours seems to be ranging from £5 to £20. Gone are the days when you'd be happy if someone put a pound down on your sponsor sheet

[starone]

I only donate to my nearest and dearest and also now and then when members of AB ask. Apart from that I ignore them as there are so many charities asking for money that, as you say, I would not have anything left for myself and would have to send out emails asking for succour for ME.

[wolf63]

I used to give to a few animal charities but it got silly - I was falling for every sob story.

I now give about £20 to Cats Protection and work 2 afternoons a week in an Oxfam Book shop.

You have to draw a line somewhere.

[RATTER15]

I wish I could afford to give to charity, mind you! you should see the amount of stuff we have taken to the local animal ambulance charity shop, they will make a small fortune out of us I think.

[numnum]

we can hardly afford to give at the moment. i work for myself and had a few weeks work money saved up in a jar in the kitchen and all thats gone between donations, birthday presents for kids class etc.

i live in a small village where everyone knows everyone so its very difficult to give to one and not the other

[DaisyNonna]

Sad to say that if you donate to one charity many others seem to jump on the bandwaggon. How do they target their appeals? Mail and telephone. Am happy to sponsor individuals I know but was scandalised to find out how much the Just Giving page creamed off. Won't use that again.
Am tired of telling random (supposedly) phone callers that as I support a few charities monthly I cannot afford to take on any others. I support people, not animals.

[DTCwordfan]

I give accordingly, set a budget or a percentage to income, numnum, and stick to it.

The 'lesson'came home commercially as in one job, the number of people who came in at the last moment for race sponsorship with a major brand was unbelievable.........stick to your guns and give money to those who meet your aspirations early on.

[numnum]

its just friends and family that have been contacting us, thankfully not getting any phone calls

but, having a large family, and as said living in a small village that everyone will just ask everyone for a donation its making it difficult to say no. theres 3 family members all about to do the same even and have all asked for seperate sponsor money

i think we'll need to tell the 3 family members we'll make one donation to cover everyon

[maggiebee]

I was always told to choose two charities (maximum) that are close to you heart and donate to them. Don't feel guilty about not giving to others - somebody out there WILL be supporting them. There is only so much an individual can do.

[woofgang]

I have the charities that I support and that's about it. Will drop odd change in a collecting box. I am retired now but made it a rule at work to never do sponsorships. I also discouraged my own staff from asking for sponsorship at work. By me it's unfair. You get folk who are struggling just to support ther family who are embarrassed to say they can't afford to sponsor or can only do a pound or two.. It's not nice to put them under that pressure at work.

[boxtops]

we give some charitable donations, but sponsorships only get a tenner a time.

[Maydup]

I'm asked to sponsor people fairly often but I've decided to be honest and tell people that I cannot sponsor everyone who asks me. I have sponsored the first person who asked me for Race for Life (£20) and have told the others that I've already sponsored R4L this year.

Otherwise I'll only sponsor my very close family and am happy to tell people this in the nicest possible way. In the meantime I'll give to all manner of charities but no-one knows who, what, where or when. Its more about what I wish to support rather than what others want me to support via their fundraising.

Don't be frightened to say no, just say you've supported loads of things connected to the children and can't manage anymore, or just don't reply!

[sherrardk]

I give as I see fit. Not so long ago I gave money to a monk (who so did not look like a monk), but he was very nice, no idea what the money was for, but it seemed like good Karma (that's not why I gave him the money) at the time (he also gave me some book or other). I refuse to be made to feel bad about not giving.

[woofgang]

Boxy when I was working, if I had sponsored every request for even a fiver I would have been living on value baked beans and no toast!

[mojay]

I am retired with a limited income and I decided some time ago that I'd not give to anyone that asked - and I've selected one local charity - one that has no ridiculous director salaries as overheads - it's a hospice that offers wonderful help just when patients and families need it !

[paddywak]

Apart from the RNLI, we normally only donate to local charities, as much as we can afford at the time, and never to organisations that are going to send money out of the country.

[joko]

its as you say...you have to draw a line... if you keep giving to everything you will be first on the list everytime...people begin to 'expect' things

if you really dont want to just say no outright without a reason, make something up...say you have had an unexpected bill, or need a new item or something and have nothing to spare at the moment.... its kind of true really

or say you can only spare a fairly small amount say £2-3 or something, so its not a refusal... and if you do it often enough people will stop expecting larger amounts from you.

you could just be honest with them and say you cant afford it and need to set a limit amount for every one...i am sure if you explain they will undertsand

£15-20 is rather a lot to be dishing out all the time...at least it is to me...if i had more cash i daresay it wouldnt be so bad but it mounts up over time

i am starting to see it with my niece, she is 5 and starting to do sponsored this and that and i will always give something...but i am careful to start off by making it clear i havent much to spare but will give what i can... my sister knows this so doesnt expect a lot...its more the gesture and feeling for my niece thats important as much as raising a lot.

its important to start as you mean to go on... many people make a rod for their own backs by going in big at first, in lots of other ways too.

[tinkerbell23]

I just CANT afford to!

When i can i do..... I do feel bad but i do what i can when i can and if i was the one wanting sponsored id understand xxx

[DaisyNonna]

joko, the telephone beggars are the worst. They start off with asking for £20 a month and do not listen to any reply. I have even had them call from a charity I do support even though it may be only £2.00 a month.
I do not like to be rude but I now am compelled to switch off the phone whilst they are in full flow.

[nungate]

I simply tell them that being on a fixed income, I can only support a few charities which I feel have a relevance to me and I'm sorry that I am unable to give any support to anyone else, as much as I might want to and leave it at that. It seems to get my message across, though I'm not averse to making a contribution to a collecting tin if requested when I'm out and about

[trt]

I agree 100% numnum, where does it stop.

Donkeys in Greece, bears in Russia, adopt a leopard, Bengal tigers, children in need, sport thingy, red nose day, marathon runners, half marathon runners, street people, Great Ormand st hospital, RSPCA, leaflets and post through the door etc, etc!!!!