charity walks

[AnotherFineMess]

We have recently had a number of mums and kids knocking on the door asking for donations for charity walks and requesting the money immediately saying they live far away. While I think this is a great way of raising money for charity, I am concerned that some of these walks cannot be found online or with the registered charity.

Does anyone know of any websites on which fundraising activities can be confirmed so that all donations reach their intended target?

[giggirl]

I think anyone who fundraises by knocking on doors needs to expect to be asked questions about where the money is going to. I think the questions you're asking on here are ones you should have been asking at your door (or maybe you did).

[LadyNorwood]

Did they have scruffy bits of paper with donations written down? Were they collecting for a nursery in (possibly) Sydenham? Had "all your neighbours ... already donated"? If so - it's a well-known scam.....

[AbDabs]

AnotherFineMess Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We have recently had a number of mums and kids

> knocking on the door asking for donations for

> charity walks and requesting the money immediately

> saying they live far away. While I think this is a

> great way of raising money for charity, I am

> concerned that some of these walks cannot be found

> online or with the registered charity.

> Does anyone know of any websites on which

> fundraising activities can be confirmed so that

> all donations reach their intended target?

I just ask which website they're using for donations and explain it's because I'll only give money if I can Gift Aid it (I absolutely hate handing cash to charity whilst still paying the taxman).

I've found it quite rate for a legitimate sponsored event etc not to use a 'giving' site nowadays.(Eg Justgiving - yes it is a private company but it's fees come from a relatively small proportion of the tax refund so the charities are much better off than if you just hand over money at the doorstep)

[nunheadmum]

For small charities like schools etc, Just Giving and the likes can still take a big chunk of your cash - Just Giving charges ?18 a month regardless of whether you are actively collecting in that month or not. So not all charities will use them.

If you're not sure if it's legit or not, ask them which school/nursery/group etc they're collecting for - then if it is a local one, let the school etc know that kids are coming around the doors. It may be well intentioned but I'm sure it isn't what schools would be expecting kids to do.