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charities attitudes

(11 Posts)
madeleine45 Fri 17-Jul-26 20:04:18

I try to support charities, as and when I can, whether it is giving good things to their shops, money, or going to a coffee morning or whatever. On a limited budget, I chose to support 3 different charities constantly over time, and whatever else I could help with as and when.

I do understand why charities want to have regular donations, especially when they can claim back tax etc etc. However , it seems whenever you are able to give something, you get a letter back , more to ask you to commit to donating more every month , than grateful for what you have been able to do. So much so, that in a lot of cases I now choose to donate what I can manage into the tins, or give cash or goods into their shops, so that I am sure it is going where I want it to. I know they all need to be supported, but I wonder if they sometimes put people off by always asking for more.

Harris27 Fri 17-Jul-26 20:09:09

It’s annoying I always give what I can afford if they ask for more I tell them I pay enough.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 17-Jul-26 20:27:32

Just give what you are happy to give and ignore the begging letters. I am happy enough not to receive any thanks or any regular communication.

I am fed up with being accosted outside my supermarket to sign up to a monthly DD.

I now say "I will be wasting your time if I stop and talk" and walk past. I happily put money in a collecting tin...but they don't want that. So they get nothing from me.

I do have 2 direct debits in action for 2 good charities. And give as and when to others. Like the DEC for Venezuela or Crisis at Christmas and several more.

And donate clothes books to charity shops and buy clothes books etc from them.

foxie48 Fri 17-Jul-26 20:45:40

Charities ask for donations because if they don't, most people won't offer. I have several charities that I donate to on a monthly basis, if they ask on an annual basis for me to put up my donation to cover inflation, I'm always happy to do that. If they ask for a donation based on a particular need, I either say yes or I ignore. The DOGE cancellation of USAID has affected a lot of charities that do really important work and they are having to ask donors for more money, just say yes or ignore. My stock reply to anyone who chugs me is to say I already support several charities and don't have the extra cash to support any more, have a good day and I walk on with a smile.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 18-Jul-26 08:23:57

Yes, as with many others, I have the charities that I support regularly.
However, when accosted outside of a supermarket by a very good cause, I would feel able to donate by putting something into a tin. Sadly, I am often told that's not an option, it's a regular donation/ commitment to a lottery, or nothing.
I understand, but feel that they are missing an opportunity, here.

Quercus Sat 18-Jul-26 09:58:06

For anyone who doesn't know, if you sign up to make regular donations to a charity at one of their marketing stalls in a supermarket etc, then a proportion of your first year's donations will be paid as commission to the stallholder. I volunteered in the finance office of a local charity briefly a few years ago and was very surprised at how high the proportion was. I often look at the figures on the charity commission website before donating, and the amounts spent on fundraising can be very high. I also look at the number of high paid staff, another illuminating list. I have volunteered for a variety of charities over the years, but I have become rather cynical sadly.

Aveline Sat 18-Jul-26 10:04:30

I'm a trustee for a tiny but vital local charity. Fund raising takes up a huge amount of time. We're all volunteers and none of us has any experience of fund raising but we try and try. No direct debits or chugging. All money raised goes directly to supporting the services that our members rely on.

Fallingstar Sat 18-Jul-26 10:07:22

I have worked in charity shops and quite often in one high street charity shop when on the till would be asked to push customers to give more via some new incentive, I refused to do this as did other volunteers. It felt very uncomfortable.
Now I donate goods to charity shops, clothes, brica, books etc., and leave it at that.

JaneJudge Sat 18-Jul-26 10:15:01

I give to British Heart Foundation monthly and tend to take my charity shop donations to Barnados. No one has asked me for more money

Jaxjacky Sat 18-Jul-26 10:38:57

I have monthly payments set up for two local charities, I’ve not had any requests for further donations but I do get thank you emails occasionally.

eazybee Sat 18-Jul-26 10:49:16

Do the shops such as Tesco and Superdrug, for example, receive a proportion of the donation they ask for when you pay your Bill by card?