No because if I did it every time it would definitely add up and I don’t have the mental capacity to actively make that decision every time I shop. I can manage my own donations, thank you very much giant corporations.
As someone who did professional fundraising for the community, for extremely worthy causes, it’s a great way to raise funds - thousands of small dollar asks, minimal administrative costs, mostly easy, good visibility, etc.
As a consumer, it’s usually a pass for me unless I know the organization receiving the funds very well. Mostly from donor fatigue.
Post by chickadee77 on Nov 21, 2023 16:19:06 GMT -5
Pretty much no, because of reasons already stated.
Very occasionally I will if I'm paying cash and don't want to carry a bunch of change, or in a case like recently we went to an aquarium and they asked about it in the gift shop, for proceeds to go to a project being funded by the same aquarium.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Nov 21, 2023 16:58:03 GMT -5
I'll usually donate a dollar or something *once* during a campaign. If I'm popping I to the grocery store several times a week during the month they're fundraising, I'm not donating every time.
Today was a first for me. At the grocery check out they asked me if I wanted to purchase a turkey dinner for a local family. Not contribute a set dollar amount towards it (which I would have done if it had been an option), but spend $70 to purchase a Thanksgiving dinner for a family. I was so surprised they were asking for such a huge amount - I'm very curious who just says yes on the spur of the moment to adding almost $100 to their grocery bill at checkout.
No. Those companies take the donations and use it for a tax write off!!! They have plenty of money they can donate without my 27 cents or whatever.
ETA: I see the write-off thing may be debunked, but I still don’t think they need my money to donate.
Several years back my bank had a thing with the debit card where you could elect to round up your purchases and they put it directly into a savings account. I did that for a while and I really liked it! I’d definitely do that again if it were offered.
I think there is an investment company that does this, too. Takes those additional pennies/difference to round up and put it into an account for your stocks. I thought it was brilliant.
It depends on a number of things for me. I don't do it when it's just like "Round up to support kids' charities" and is pretty generic. I do it it's a local charity I would support like "Round up to support Children's Hospital Los Angeles". And I will do the "add $5 to buy a bag of groceries for [insert local food bank]" at the holidays.
I have been working in nonprofit development and management for over 20 years, and if they are specific, they should be showing the receipts of what they received and donated to the given charity as part of their annual audit. If it is generic, like the first example, there is less accountability.
my grocery store has $10, $20, $50 gift cards that you can add to your order this time of year and they bring the gift cards directly to our local shelters. I do that every week from now through the holidays.
Post by lolalolalola on Nov 22, 2023 11:21:29 GMT -5
Nope never. My company matches donations so I always donate through work. I think it’s self serving for companies like this to collect Donations unless they are also contributing.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Nov 22, 2023 12:05:26 GMT -5
I do the checkout bags at the grocery store to our local charity. They also started doing sanitation bags, so I often do those instead after a checkout person told me they hardly sell any of them but they are in high demand by the organization.
Post by definitelyO on Nov 22, 2023 12:50:19 GMT -5
sometimes - but I give a lot throughout the year to organizations that are dear to me. We sponsor families for Christmas and kids for back to school and give to other orgs.
but, I also like round numbers - so.... I'll do it for that
I never do because they use it as a company write off without guaranteed match or contribution from them. I prefer to do my own contributions to specific charities.
Years ago, I was at a store that was doing the $1 donation to St Jude’s thing. The lady in front of me was asked and went on this schpeal about how can someone say no, help the kids, do people actually say no to $1 for St Jude’s. She finished, they asked me, and I was all 🤷♀️ no thank you, I give on my own.
I never do because they use it as a company write off without guaranteed match or contribution from them. I prefer to do my own contributions to specific charities.
This is actually untrue about companies using it as a write off but I totally agree with choosing your own donation locations.
I feel like nonprofits underestimate how holding their fundraising drive right now hits peak donor fatigue.
In addition to the dozens of fundraising appeals, it's already a ridiculously expensive time of the year for many (All our family birthdays and events happen in the 40 days leading up to Christmas, and it's also when you need to pay for spring kid activities). If you ask me now, my answer is going to be "No." If I *really* believe in your cause you get a $20. The school always asks in early November. After years of saying "we give in April because this is a tricky time of year" and then being hounded for months, I threw $20 at them this year to make it stop. We usually give more like $3K (but in April) but I just can't have another year of being hassled.
I’m an outlier - I always do it. It’s mostly at CVS where I see it, and that’s the “rounding up” option. I figure why not, I can afford it and it’s not decreasing charitable donations I make otherwise. I mean, it’s usually under 50 cents. Say I do it every week even I’m out maybe $30 for the full year.
A few small businesses around me will do donations to our local food pantry etc. Then I do a real donation of $10 etc.
I feel like nonprofits underestimate how holding their fundraising drive right now hits peak donor fatigue.
In addition to the dozens of fundraising appeals, it's already a ridiculously expensive time of the year for many (All our family birthdays and events happen in the 40 days leading up to Christmas, and it's also when you need to pay for spring kid activities). If you ask me now, my answer is going to be "No." If I *really* believe in your cause you get a $20. The school always asks in early November. After years of saying "we give in April because this is a tricky time of year" and then being hounded for months, I threw $20 at them this year to make it stop. We usually give more like $3K (but in April) but I just can't have another year of being hassled.
it’s hard. I run the annual fund for my school’s PTO and we are ending our big donor push today. We know it’s a hard time, but September and October are challenging for other reasons and we have to be able to plan for spring and know what we can give for grants, if we needs to do another fundraiser in the spring etc etc. If we waited until spring and didn’t bring in as much as planned we would be in trouble . So we know it stinks but sometimes we need to do it