Would you give to charity?

eclectictrek · 25-04-2008 09:51PM

Kernel wrote: »

What charity were you collecting for OP?

We were collecting for Console suicide prevention and Cancer clinical research trust..Two charities which nearly everyone can relate to.

princess-sprkle · 25-04-2008 10:14PM

I do give to charity, quite regularly. However, i object to chuggers, they're getting paid ffs! plus i prefer to do it on my own time not being guilted into it

hopalong85 · 25-04-2008 10:19PM

princess-sprkle wrote: »

I do give to charity, quite regularly. However, i object to chuggers, they're getting paid ffs! plus i prefer to do it on my own time not being guilted into it

Why is it such a bad thing that these people get paid? Do you think that if they weren't they could approach their landlord and say 'hey I'm a charity worker free rent please?!', or maybe hit Tesco for some free shopping? At the end of the day they raise a lot of money for charity and it doesn't seem like the easiest job ever so they're entitled to be paid as far as I'm concerened.

Kooli · 25-04-2008 10:52PM

Isn't Console more about suicide bereavement than suicide prevention?

Not being picky, I'm sure if you were collecting for them you did your research....

CJay · 25-04-2008 11:10PM

I give monthly to 4 charities via direct debit....the lack of effort on my part makes me feel slightly guilty.

princess-sprkle · 25-04-2008 11:27PM

hopalong85 wrote: »

Why is it such a bad thing that these people get paid? Do you think that if they weren't they could approach their landlord and say 'hey I'm a charity worker free rent please?!', or maybe hit Tesco for some free shopping? At the end of the day they raise a lot of money for charity and it doesn't seem like the easiest job ever so they're entitled to be paid as far as I'm concerened.

an awful lot of people dedicate their time for free for charity collections. Those people also raise a lot of money for charity.

most people give to charity on their own terms, not being guilted into it by chuggers.

buckfast4me · 25-04-2008 11:37PM

Jaysus its expensive enough to live in this country without giving to charity. Find out how much the CEO of concern made last year and it might change your mind about donating.

MrJones · 25-04-2008 11:44PM

I dont think you can just say its expensive enough without having to give to charity...think what you have such as car, good job, food in front of you when you want, clean water!, warm house!,i think its only when you go to the poorer countries n see it for yourself that you realise you have nothing to complain about living in western society...

MrJones · 25-04-2008 11:48PM

hopalong85 wrote: »

Why is it such a bad thing that these people get paid? Do you think that if they weren't they could approach their landlord and say 'hey I'm a charity worker free rent please?!', or maybe hit Tesco for some free shopping? At the end of the day they raise a lot of money for charity and it doesn't seem like the easiest job ever so they're entitled to be paid as far as I'm concerened.

maybe the point is that if you work as a charity collector (which is fair enough everyone has to earn a living) then you cant go around saying you're actually making a difference coz only a fraction of the money you collect only go to charity anyways

buckfast4me · 25-04-2008 11:54PM

MrJones wrote: »

I dont think you can just say its expensive enough without having to give to charity...think what you have such as car, good job, food in front of you when you want, clean water!, warm house!,i think its only when you go to the poorer countries n see it for yourself that you realise you have nothing to complain about living in western society...

I think you have me confused with someone else.

ninty9er · 25-04-2008 11:54PM

As I type I'm preparing to write to my local superintendent to object to permits being given to chuggers. I have to go uptown during working hours, for work purposes about 12-15 time a week with these fu<king wankbags waving and gesticulating at me like I'm at a fucking circus. If I understand correctly, you must approach them, otherwise they are soliciting. Hopefully a reply from Henry Street Garda Station will confirm that so I can shove it those fucking backpacking pain in the holes' faces!

I give freely of my time as a member of the Order of Malta at race meeting, showjumping etcetera.....if we weren't there there'd be no event. I strongly object to these people being paid.
That is all

hopalong85 · 26-04-2008 01:58AM

princess-sprkle wrote: »

an awful lot of people dedicate their time for free for charity collections. Those people also raise a lot of money for charity.

most people give to charity on their own terms, not being guilted into it by chuggers.

"chuggers" dedicate about 40 hours a week or more to charity collections. Direct debit contributions are the most effective method of raising funds for a charity. That's why pretty much every major charity has these people on the street day in and day out. Obviously the method works otherwise charities wouldn't be employing it. At the end of the day they are just doing their job, it's hardly that much of an inconvenience to you for someone to say 'hi, have you got a minute?'. If it is then that says a lot more about you than the person fundraising tbh.

hopalong85 · 26-04-2008 02:00AM

MrJones wrote: »

maybe the point is that if you work as a charity collector (which is fair enough everyone has to earn a living) then you cant go around saying you're actually making a difference coz only a fraction of the money you collect only go to charity anyways

Have you got any sources to back up that statement? Or is it just an opinion?:)

phantom_lord · 26-04-2008 06:03AM

eclectictrek wrote: »

I am really annoyed about this one:mad:

Recently myself and 20 of my college friends have been collecting for two different charities.. We were going around campus and got permision to collect locally also.

What really got up our noses were the people(in their brand new cars mostly)who would look straight ahead and ignore you, heads up..anything to avoid eye contact just so they could avoid giving the few quid..The lecturers were as bad on campus when we asked for change!!! I know now not everyone has money or change on them but i nice or friendly ah sorry wouldn't go astray instead of the replies we got!!

Would you give the bitta spare change to charity or would you give the same response as we got??

eh, I'm annoyed that everyday I'm hassled by people trying to beg off me. Can I not walk down a street in peace? Going through town there was a different school every day collecting for something or other, **** them, I don't want to put up with that ****, probably at most 20% of the amount that i donate will go to the cause anyway. If you're so passionate about it why don't u go help them, or give your own cash, instead of hassling hard working individuals with bills to pay. bloody students.

ART6 · 26-04-2008 08:40AM

The problem I have is what constitutes a charity? At our local Tesco the checkouts are occupied on an almost daily basis by kids and adults with white plastic buckets, insisting on intercepting my shopping as it comes off the belt and stuffing it at random into my bags. Most of them are "charities" I have never heard of -- Ballykillbilly Football Boots for Girls Action Group etc etc -- and when they have rammed in my shopping with the squashables on the bottom I am expected to put my change into their bin. If I do that every time they are there, then I will be adding a significant amount to my shopping bill, and I don't have unlimited funds.

I will and do give to charities (a) when it suits me and (b) when they are ones I respect -- Meals on Wheels, RNLI etc. That's all.

Sam Vimes · 26-04-2008 08:59AM

Kooli wrote: »

It may seem like a case of 'ah come on, just give us a bit of change' to you as the one person holding the bucket, but for the rest of us going past, don't forget that it's you with the bucket, then it's the next person with the bucket, then it's the tw*t with the clipboard, then his mate with the clipboard, then the homeless guy with the paper cup, next person with the bucket, then the ladies with the roses, then the bloke with the Big Issue, all in the walk from college to Stephens Green. Now I know they are not all charities, but that's a lot of 'no sorry, I have no change', and perhaps people think it's easier to just walk by. It's nothing personal.

i wonder do chuggers get hassled by other chuggers while they're walking to their hassling point in the morning

jd83 · 26-04-2008 09:14AM

this really bugs me, you cant walk up grafton street or henry street without been pestered and i find if you actually make eye contact and say no thanks that they persist in asking you saying ah sure it will only take a minute. So the only way to get by them is be rude and just ignore them. I give to charity but to one i support and have heard of before, some of these collectors i see ive never heard off before. Im not stinchy or anything ( really im not) but it just bugs me.

Odysseus · 26-04-2008 09:34AM

I'm finding this an interesting thread as I run alot throughout the year but will only do one charity event a year. In the past few years I have tended to avoid Irish charities because of the above comments.

However, this year for personal reasons I have chosen an Irish one again and just hope that the money raised is used correctly, but I think admin cost are kept at a minimun. I have even added it a link to my sig.

However, I can fairly say it will cost me about 5,000e to complete in the event and that comes from my pocket, I'm not into these people looking for free holidays, because "its to help a charity". I know one girl who raise 5,000e and handed it to the charity upon her arrival, paid her own costs that what I see as charity work.

I don't give to guys on the streets and won't even acknowledge those looking for my bank details. However, as I do my work through sponsorship if someone comes to me with a sponsorship card I will always sign it.

jd83 · 26-04-2008 09:43AM

I wouldnt have a problem with sponsership, once your not out waving a clipboard in my face looking for my credit card number its fine. But a lot of these so called charities ive never heard of and would actually wonder what percentage of the money actually goes to the cause. Some of them the collectors are payed wages and not actually there to support the cause there collecting for. Ive give online to charity when i choose to and have the money to but out of principle i will never give a penny to anyone who annoys me on the street or calls to my house.

Pythia · 26-04-2008 09:50AM

People can't be bound to give to every charity that asks.
I give to charities I am interested in supporting, like illness charities and animal charities.

Marksie · 26-04-2008 10:20AM

I have direct debits to four charities. I leave it at that TBH, when i cannot afford to give a little of the excess i wont.

MrJones · 26-04-2008 12:25PM

hopalong85 wrote: »

Have you got any sources to back up that statement? Or is it just an opinion?:)

I dont have any sources in Ireland to back this up but its obvious that alot of the money collected goes on adminstration and running the charity.
For example, pay the charity collectors, pay adminstration and charity co admin fees, cost of advertising fees, pay salaries of irish people working in the 3rd world countries and the cost to support them out there. This is all before anything is done

rosarosa · 26-04-2008 12:50PM

MrJones wrote: »

I dont have any sources in Ireland to back this up but its obvious that alot of the money collected goes on adminstration and running the charity.
For example, pay the charity collectors, pay adminstration and charity co admin fees, cost of advertising fees, pay salaries of irish people working in the 3rd world countries and the cost to support them out there. This is all before anything is done

I know exactly what you mean Mr.Jones. Some years ago my mother worked for Care intl (zambia), but resigned after about 10 years due to "disgust" - her word. It would seem that the local staff were paid much, much lower than the intl. ones, which may seem fine on the surface, if you consider that everyone was paid according to their local salary, but they also had a house paid for by the organisation (and I'm not talking about some pokey 3 bed-semi, but 4-5 bed detached homes with pools, complete with gardener and maid), had all their utilities paid for, and I'm sure that some of their kids' school fees (in private schools) were subsidised.
That's a lot of money no matter how you look at it. but the main reason she would get so annoyed is that top management would always come from Europe or Canada (it was care Canada), totally overlooking the often more qualified locals, who had a better understanding of the issues they were dealing with, and who had a better knowledge of the cultural and economic mindset of the the people they were trying to help. When my mother left care about 5 years ago, her new boss (the country director!) was in her 30s, with a masters in Library administration - I never heard the end of that. Anyway, if you consider all the money that is spent on the wages and upkeep of the foreign staff in these countries, it makes you a bit disillusioned. I also know for a fact that Care got a lot of money from the Bill& Melinda Gates foundation, so I guess that's where they got the balance of their cash.

As for donating to charities, I've always felt it begins at home (wherever you're living, see above). I give whatever change I have to charities I pass on the street, especially the Wheelchair Ass,. but those chuggers, as you call them, are too much for me too! I also think that money is'nt always the best way to donate, and I'd rather give my time and energy than any cash. I volunteer with the SVP when I can and used to do a lot more with hospices about 6 years ago, but don't have as much time anymore. Actually, if anyone can give me some info on how to give some time to a hospice, I'd be grateful.

Miss Fluff · 26-04-2008 01:05PM

eclectictrek wrote: »

What really got up our noses were the people(in their brand new cars mostly)who would look straight ahead and ignore you, heads up..anything to avoid eye contact just so they could avoid giving the few quid..

So I take it then you are one of the chuggers who accosts people at traffic-lights? I'd never donate to these people, I don't like being harassed. I have a number of direct debits and donate regularly to the Red Cross emergency fund. I really don't appreciate having a bucket shaken in my face when at traffic lights and have found a number of them to have an "attitude" when you refuse. I think fund-raisers, a table-quiz for example, is a great way of collecting for charity. It's interactive and gets people to feel good about donating without feeling they are being rail-roaded into it.

eclectictrek · 26-04-2008 01:47PM

This is a once off for myself and friends who were collecting..It was at the college where we were collecting and we were in no way "accosting people at traffic lights" as said. They were already aware as to what we were collecting for and as i said originally, if someone has no change or don't want to give it, none of us were trying to make people feel "harrassed" or "being rail roaded" into it. I completely understand as to why people get annoyed at the likes of the people on grafton street as it happens to all of us. We don't know them or if the money they are looking for actually goes to the cause etc. We were annoyed at the people who knew we were doing it and the reaction they gave us while collecting. Out of interest i asked to see if people actually do give to charity, not the opinion as to how you feel about "chuggers". We also checked the administration costs of all charities and found these two the best to support and found others would too. We were assigned to sponsorship cards and people were finding it difficult to even get people to sponsor them with this so we decided to take to this instead..

Susannahmia · 26-04-2008 03:03PM

eclectictrek wrote: »

I am really annoyed about this one:mad:

Recently myself and 20 of my college friends have been collecting for two different charities.. We were going around campus and got permision to collect locally also.

What really got up our noses were the people(in their brand new cars mostly)who would look straight ahead and ignore you, heads up..anything to avoid eye contact just so they could avoid giving the few quid..The lecturers were as bad on campus when we asked for change!!! I know now not everyone has money or change on them but i nice or friendly ah sorry wouldn't go astray instead of the replies we got!!

Would you give the bitta spare change to charity or would you give the same response as we got??

I only give to charities that I trust my money will be used to actually help people, unfortunately one cannot take them at their word these days. Concern is an example of a charity I really do not trust for various reasons.

Also street chuggers really annoy me, especially the pushy ones that work in comission etc. If you interact at all they wont go away so its easier to just stare straight ahead.

Flukey · 27-04-2008 03:50PM

Having done it myself, I believe that everyone from the western world should go to the third world at least once in their life and see what it is like for themselves. We've all seen it on TV but it is different when you are there and it is all around you. It certainly opens your eyes. It is amazing to see how little they have compared to us in terms of the bare necessities, never mind all of our comforts. Having said that, where I was wasn't one of the worst places. They were poor, but they weren't famine-ridden, really malnourished or in a war zone or anything like that. So, strange as it may sound, although they had basically nothing, on the scale of things in the third world, they were amongst the lucky ones. Take a look at this photo I took:
Little kids.

It's only a photo, and as they in relation to many things: You really had to be there. So the next time you are considering getting away from things and going away for a couple of weeks in the sun, book somewhere in the third world.

The Queen · 27-04-2008 05:08PM

A chugger stopped me the last day. Told him I already had a direct debit with Sightsavers. (A lie) But then was like "oh, can't you afford just €3 a week?" I gave in. The next morning, they called my house number, going over all my details and asked if I wanted to give more. Said no and hung up. Going canceling the direct debit now. I don't like being harassed for money that early in the morning.

Mossy Monk · 27-04-2008 08:34PM

eclectictrek wrote: »

I am really annoyed about this one:mad:

Recently myself and 20 of my college friends have been collecting for two different charities.. We were going around campus and got permision to collect locally also.

What really got up our noses were the people(in their brand new cars mostly)who would look straight ahead and ignore you, heads up..anything to avoid eye contact just so they could avoid giving the few quid..The lecturers were as bad on campus when we asked for change!!! I know now not everyone has money or change on them but i nice or friendly ah sorry wouldn't go astray instead of the replies we got!!

Would you give the bitta spare change to charity or would you give the same response as we got??

I would have ignored you too. I like to give to charity when I want to give.

Kooli · 27-04-2008 09:48PM

Why does everyone have this knee-jerk reaction to any money going to administration costs in a charity? Why is that not OK? Why is it not OK for a charity to need to cover running costs, so that they can keep doing the valuable work they do? I don't think many people think this through - most charities don't dole out cash to the people they work to support, nor should they.
I worked for a charity that didn't provide any material support to the communities it supported - it was based mainly on education and empowerment to make it more sustainable, so MOST of the money would have gone into what people would call 'administration'.

That brings me to my next point, which I have raised on other threads - what do people have against people in charities earning good salaries? Charities deserve to recruit the best personnel in their field, and they need money to do that. And the reason they sometimes (not always) get paid higher wages than a third world life requires is because they are eventually going to move home again, so they need some sort of savings or else they are screwed.

Would you give to charity?

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