Sponsoring events where there is no lasting benefit

Probably you do too but I support 3 charities with a subscription. Every so often I get a call asking me to up my contribution or to support a particular campaign.
This always makes me a bit cross. It probably shouldn't but I think "hang on they are getting a regular income from me, albeit small, so why ask me for even more?"
I do agree with Maw about fundraising to highlight a cause.

ElderlyPerson I agree with you one hundred percent. Running achieves nothing and I am not going to pay anyone to do it. I may as well just give the money straight to charity. But I'd certainly sponsor people for litter picking, beach cleaning and so on as it actually achieves something. I could have written your post as I always say exactly what you have said. If all the effort put into marathons was put into something useful for society we could see the results.

My late father was very involved with a 3rd World charity. He was always a bit dubious about kids collecting money to fly out to developing countries to help dig Wells or whatever. He said they had no particularly useful skills and the money would be better spent training people in those countries so that they could become self supporting.

Obviously it is good for young people to develop their social conscience but this seems a rather costly way of doing it.

Like a lot of you, my contributions are variable.
An 8 year old in our village was upset that some of his school mates (nearby town) had used food banks, and did a 'mini-marathon' for the local one. Of course we sponsored him.
Likewise some local children who went round as 'superheroes' collecting to replace vandalised playground equipment.

Like many of you, we don't tend to sponsor 'I'm going trekking in Nepal / running to Macchu Picchu' etc.etc. But if I feel some 'obligation' then I might do a small contribution (usually in return for their parents having supported some cause of mine!)

I personally never do 'sponsored' anything. I mainly raise money by selling home-made things, and I put a notice out, asking folk to contact me, so they don't feel pressured into buying anything. Fortunately, I have learned what goes down well round here!

All due to TV hype. Good news stories required at the time.
Check out how much is charged by the companies that organise these big events. It's a big business making money out of well meaning people.

25Avalon

What about the late Sir Captain Tom then? What he did was of no real benefit apart from raising thousands of pounds and morale.

£££Millions

What about the late Sir Captain Tom then? What he did was of no real benefit apart from raising thousands of pounds and morale.

What about the late Sir Captain Tom then? What he did was of no real benefit apart from raising thousands of pounds and morale.

I do not think you should disregard the value of sponsored events in focusing attention on specific charities and channelling donations.
When my late husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, our three daughters joined me in doing the Race for Life.
I was sponsored for over £1000 and feel what I did was both worthwhile and a public gesture of support.
It is enormously helpful for one’s mental well being when a family member is diagnosed with a cancer or heart disease or any serious illness, or dies from it, to feel one is able to do something
As for the point about going on longer than is sensible this has very little to do with fund raising but about the determination to complete something you have set out to do.

Like your logic EP.

Fine for a low cost thing like a sponsored silence but eg imagine costs of a flight, accomodation, guides etc etc for the Machu Pichu 'charity' trips. All money best sent directly to the charity.

But surely these things do have a benefit because people sponsor them, money is given, charity gains

One of my grandchildren's schools ran a sponsored silence. They had to be quiet for an hour. Instead of assembly they just sat silently, then for the remaining half hour they did some reading.

Worked a treat and the teachers thought they'd gone deaf.

I resent being pressured into sponsoring people to do an activity they enjoy, particularly the trips to Machu Pichu and camping in the foothills of the Himalayas, although I believe you cannot run the London marathon unless you raise money for charity. As a teacher living locally I was always being asked and I eventually made small donations rather than sponsoring. The Head set an example by being very generous, we thought, until the secretary revealed that he claimed back every single penny he 'donated' from school fund for Headteacher's expenses.

I'm wary of things like the Machu Pichu trip as it's really just sponsoring a holiday. I know people must raise a certain amount but why not just give that money to the charity and not waste it on an unnecessary and expensive trip.
A bit like those expensive charity lunches. Just give the money and save the cost of the meal.
I'm happy to give direct to various charities which come to my attention over the course of the year as well as one regular one - just a small charity which never gets any publicity.

I think lots are transient.
Sponsored trips to Machu Picchu were very popular a few years ago for example.
Also skydiving, learning to ski (!!) Etc

But they do have lasting benefit as some have pointed out.

I think I agree mostly ElderlyPerson - I'm saying "think" as I'm sure some things I haven't thought of might pop-up!

MerylStreep

ElderlyPerson
Do I understand that your against the vegan society raising funds? I can’t see anything wrong in supporting something that’s a big part of your life.

No, I am not against The Vegan Society raising funds as such. What I dislike is the encouraging of people to seek sponsorship to do things that they enjoy and that does not have any lasting benefit.

I think it's pointless and virtue signalling. Why not just make a donation?

Well you don’t have to sponsor them.
You could just make a donation to a charity of your own choice.

I have only ever given money to causes I believe in. Why would you sponsor someone just for walking? I am confused.
I walked a marathon once - the Moon Walk.
walkthewalk.org/challenges/the-moonwalk-scotland
It was a lot of fun and the proceeds went to support breast cancer charities.
I did ask for online sponsorship and got given a huge amount.
I would never ask again. Come to think of it I wouldn't walk all that way again.

ElderlyPerson
Do I understand that your against the vegan society raising funds? I can’t see anything wrong in supporting something that’s a big part of your life.

I got fed up with the number of sponsored events my children were asked to do at school, often for worthy charities but with three children, it was too much. I would not let them pester neighbours or family but simply gave a small donation to each event so as not to upset my children.

I agree with the OP, I would not now sponsor someone if there was no information about what or who was going to benefit as I need to decide if I wish to support that charity. I am generous with disaster appeals and a few chosen charities and also contribute to many causes with my WI - I seem to be constantly baking!

I also prefer to donate if the person is carrying out a worthwhile activity for the sponsor money such as litter picking, gardening or carrying out an extreme sport which really challenges them rather than events such as sitting in a bath of beans or getting ice cold water thrown over them.

As a teacher, I had a policy of never sponsoring children I taught as otherwise I would have been paying out every week but I would give a donation if I thought the cause was a needy one. It’s hard to say no to a child though!

A sponsored litter pick would certainly get my support, as would anything for a reliable charity.

Yes, we've had kids knock on the door asking for sponsors - for swimming, bike riding etc.- but I always want to know their name and address, see the official form, know who's organising it - (so I can check) and I never pay before the event.

We became rather fed up a few years ago of complete strangers knocking on the door wanting to be sponsored for some fun event ( albeit for good causes, or so they said) that we decided to only sponsor people we actually knew, friends and neighbours and their children.
Due to the pandemic it seems to have vanished. I think raising money for local good causes is a laudable act however it’s done. I like the idea of the helping to do gardens for older people though.