You read a story and it touches your heart. You want to help. You get out your checkbook and give what you can. Even though you can’t really afford it, you squeeze that extra bit out of your budget and you donate. You feel really good about yourself. You should. You helped.
You feel good until the emails start, and the letters and the phone calls. The charity to which you sent your check, in an effort to get a little more money for their deserving cause, sold your name and your address to other charities. Your name is now on a list of people who are willing to give and there are a lot of groups who are willing to pay to have that information. You are now a commodity.
The charity to which you gave isn’t done with you either. It doesn’t matter how much you sent them, it’s never enough and it’s never going to be enough. They need more. Even though they promised that every little bit helps, now that they know you share their concern for their cause, that little bit you scraped together isn’t going to cut it.
Suddenly you don’t feel so good anymore. Now you feel like the sacrifice you made in order to have enough extra to give to a cause didn’t really matter. Their need, everyone’s need, is so huge, so monumental that the charities which minister to their needs can’t afford to overlook any potential sources of income. Is it possible though, that they are shooting themselves in the foot by selling their donor lists? Is it possible that by constantly haranguing their current donors they lose more than they gain?
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a charitable person. I give to several charities regularly and I give randomly, when something catches my attention. I also volunteer my time. I give absolutely all that I have to give. Unfortunately, not a day goes by that I do not receive phone calls, letters and emails from organizations with their hand out. It’s starting to make me feel that my efforts are futile. I’m a nice person but now I’m hanging up on fundraisers, because reasoning with them doesn’t help. I’m starting to hesitate to give to causes in which I believe because I’m worrying about further solicitations.
I believe in giving. I believe that we all have to help each other. I believe that whatever we give we get back tenfold. I’m not going to stop giving but I am looking for answers. I’m going to start inquiring about whether or not the charities to which I give sell their lists. I’m going to prepare a letter to send out to charities to which I have contributed that weekly solicit additional monies from me. I’m going to let them know that they are making me feel insignificant.
I don’t know what else to do. Do you? Have you had any success continuing to give but stopping the tide of charitable solicitations? I’d love to know how you did it.
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4 comments:
That's the part I hate, too. I try to get around that (if possible) by ticking the 'one time only' donation box. I just got a WWF membership renewal in the mail, which I'm sorry to say, went straight into the recycling. I donated last year, but I didn't intend on being a member (worthy cause though it is).
It's frustrating. I understand why they do it, but like you, I can't figure out how to make them stop...
I don't have much to give, in terms of money. I used to, and gave generously when I believed the money would be put to good use. Unfortunately, that means the tide of solicitations has continued over the years, and despite saying "no, I'm sorry" repeatedly, they keep coming. I'm now inured to whatever the plea may be. Can't get blood from a stone, and all that.
There are nonetheless the occasional funds I still give to. Tiny amounts. But I hope my few dollars multiplied by thousands or tens of thousands of others will help. I find that giving time is equally difficult these days, for several reasons, but if I can, that's how I give now. Of my knowledge, when I'm able.
It's very frustrating. I wouldn't mind if they solicited me yearly but some organizations, like CARE send me something weekly. Seems to me the expense of all those mailings could be put to better use!
I think we should be able to say "this is all I can give", regardless of how much or how little that is, and be believed.
Thank you. I so resent that stuff that I hardly ever give to major charities. My workarounds include these strategies:
Give anonymously.
Hire people who really, really need work (immigrant lawn workers, for example) and pay generously, with bonuses, holiday gifts, and high-quality payment in kind. Always pay in cash.
Donate time and labor, not money.
Remember that charity begins at home: donate to my son's cause, not to a stranger's.
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