Charity Donations

I had one who walked all the way up my steep hill last week to ask for regular direct debit donations to a local hospice. I had to tell them I already do this for a different charity that is close to my heart as my son died from it. This soon shuts them up but I still feel awful not to give something which I would for a one off collection. Why don’t they have a donation tin with them so if you don’t want to pay regular amounts you could give something there and then? It would be some recompense for my steep 1 in 4 drive.

I've had a doorstep caller from Great Ormond Street, lixy and I would immediately mistrust them and think they were scammers.

Another young man stopped me in the street in Wells from Save The Children and kept walking with me, pressurising me to sign up for a monthly donation specifically to help children in Syria (he said). When I said I already donated to a smaller Syrian charity he poo-pooed that and was quite rude.

I'd rather give one-off donations if disasters happen although DH makes monthly donations to two charities.

On the street: I smile and shake my head knowingly as soon as they show signs of approaching
At my door: Politely say I never sign up for anything at the door

I tell them I'm a fundraiser and immune.

Didn't mean to quote your post midgey.

midgey

biglouis is it wise to say you are away from home?

I will make one-off donations via Just Giving which I know gets bad press but you shouldn't end up on the charity's database. I'm not so sure now because even when I click that I don't want to be contacted it still happens. Then I'm afraid they get short shrift from me.

biglouis is it wise to say you are away from home?

We have had people at our door asking us to sign up to a charity lottery. You pay once a month and there is a draw (like the regular lottery) with a percentage of the money collected going to the charity. They are usually local charities.

I prefer to give to local charities by one off donations rather than this method.

I wouldn't give to any of the big charities. It shocks me to see how much their CEO's et. are earning. There is a branch of a national charity near us and, hearing from staff who work there, it is shocking to see how much money is wasted.

I became aware through reading about Harry and Megan's foundation that they were only obliged to give 5% of their donations. I don't know if this is the same in the UK.

I only contribute direct to local charities.

If there is a major disaster and there is an appeal for donations then I will give a one off amount.

Haven't seen any for ages but they seem to be back in force this Summer. I have been approached twice in the High Street, a few times when I go through Brighton Station and just yesterday we have a door-to-door caller on behalf of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

I don't engage with any of them beyond a 'sorry, I have regular charities already' and just keep on walking.

I do feel sorry d=for them though - it's a tough way to make a living.

We had chuggers representing the Red Cross going round the town for several days recently. I know there used to be flag sellers doing house to house collections, but that stopped a long time ago and I find the idea of strangers coming to your door in a quest for you to sign up for a regular donation a bit more menacing.

They are chugging. They are not affiliated to the Charity but are self employed and will canvass for anyone. They get paid commission for every sign up so they will be pushy.

Better to sign up directly if you want to because then the Charity doesn’t have to pay commission out of your donation.

Charities can claim Gift Aid on Direct Debits but not on the casual cash donation which is one of the reasons they prefer them.

Having said thatCharities now are big business giving bonuses to management that reach donation targets. I volunteered for a National charity snd was very sad when they put a stop to coffee mornings and little individual events organised by volunteers because anything that brought in under £5000 “wasn’t worth it”.

We had one at the door last week from the RNIB. I didn't think they were allowed to do that. I already have a direct debit set up for them so told them that.

I had one call at my house once. Another great use for the ring doorbell. "Sorry Im away from home at present".

I believe there’s a law that prevents these Chuggers from approaching more than a few steps.
I agree that most charities want you to sign up to a regular commitment by Direct Debit.
However, I haven’t done this in the street, but via their online web pages and haven’t had any problems doing it. A tick box indicates that I don’t want further communications from them, so I’ve not had anything putting pressure on to increase my donations.
I haven’t seen street collections for a while, but a lot of shops have collection boxes beside the tills to put loose change in.