Charity appeals

[Coldicote]

Perhaps I sound like an old 'meany', but I'm frustrated by the number of charity appeals coming through my letterbox at this time of year - seven very recently plus two clothing collection bags. Where do they get my name and address? I usually buy Christmas cards that collectively support several charities and also donate to one of my choice, but these specific onslaughts are becoming a bit much. How do other ABers cope with this and how many charities do you support?

[cherrybea]

I filled an Oxfam bag put it out and some tinkers took it!!

[Barmaid]

Having been involved with major charities for several years before my present job, I am absolutely appalled at the waste that goes on. I would encourage anyone to obtain a copy of their accounts from the Charity Commission just to see how much they spend on "admin and marketing" - ie look at the real cost of them raising every pound. Looking at the level of their reserves (ie if all the money stopped tomorrow, how many years could they continue their service provision at that level - some have 5 years' worth).

Consequently I don't give to major charities and only to the local ones.

Indeed when I recently lost my cat, a major national charity was more interested in getting my bank details than the welfare of my animal. Conversely, the local stray cat fund could not have been more helpful - their only concern being the cat. Any guesses which one got a donation with my grateful thanks?

[whiskeryron]

The one that gets me going (I cant remember who it is) is where you receive a charity appeal envelope containing money
(usually a few coppers),asking you to send it back plus more.That money goes in a collecting tin on the high street & the correspondence is re cycled, but the best yet is when my dear wife passed away. & I came to live with my daughter, I rang several charities to collect my reasonably good furniture,nobody was interested until I contacted a hospice who sent a van but even then they were very choosy as to what they would take& I ended up getting the local council to take a lot of it.

[DBurger]

I don't know if you're interested but there's an article about a guy who worked as a charity collector in Manchester here:

http://hivecentral.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cha rity-fundraising-in

It's interesting - he talks about how much they get paid!