charity

[Atticus]

Disclaimer: I'm a self-righteous miserable bastard.

I'm all for raising money for charities... but that doesn't mean I want to fund a personal jaunt up some mountain or other. I too, would love to walk the Himalayas and moreover, be sponsored to do such, yet would feel a little disingenuous asking others to pay for it in the name of charity. How about I sponsor someone to organise an activity in a local nursing home for a day? or, contribute towards a local football tournament involving disadvantaged kids. For me, charity has become a comfortable anaesthetic.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Do the Barry Barry Road Race. Get fit(ish), bit pished, leftover bevvy cash goes to MS Society.

[Atticus]

In, in and in

[Gidget]

I don't like funding people to do bugger all except walk around a park or do a midnight stroll if they are able bodied. If you are going to do something make it useful. Didn't know the Barry Road run was for MS. That is worthwhile.

[AbDabs]

I refuse to sponsor anyone to do anything simply because it always involves some of my cash being used to pay for the event/holiday itself (OK, so a kids' sponsored silence might get me to open my purse, as long as the orange squash and biscuits after are being given by the mums for free).

If you want a holiday then I hope you have a nice time but pay for it yourself.

The most efficient way of giving to charity is a monthly direct debit. Then they know what their funding will be and can budget work accordingly. If you gift aid it they get the tax back which is worth a lot. Money that comes in in dribs and drabs from small sponsored events actually costs quite a lot to administer so it's terribly wasteful.

[giggirl]

Seconded - what AbDabs said about the monthly standing orders. It's the best way to give.

I have 5 or 6 standing orders from my current account every month going straight to the charities with the charities claiming the tax back. Charities are SO GRATEFUL when you email them direct and tell them you want to set up a standing order. They get EVERY PENNY YOU GIVE. I don't understand why more people don't do it.

Don't get me started on chuggers! I won't engage with them on the street as I haven't yet once found one who was transparent about how much their service costs the charity. If you are sponsoring a charity through a chugger who signed you up on the street then cancel the standing order and email the charity direct - it makes sense!

I still do give to those asking for sponsorship but I'm a lot more picky now than I used to be. I only give when I know for a fact that the person I'm sponsoring has a commitment to the charity. For example, a close friend's husband died of motor neuron disease (sp?) and she ran the marathon for the MN charity as part of her grieving process (well that's my take on her motivation anyway). She was seriously unfit at the time so more kudos to her. I think it's churlish to turn a friend down when they are fundraising for something close to their heart. More and more often though I think people are fundraising for charities just to get to do something on their bucket list.

I also give when charities put on events. I guess I'm on various invitation lists so I get asked. Basically it's a night out but you pay for it and the charity makes a lot of money (if they do it right). This coming Monday is the annual Terrence Higgins auction at Christies. So I'll put a posh frock on, drink my own weight in champagne, buy something I don't want, and have a bacon sandwich and a full-fat coke for breakfast on Tuesday.