the wombat

Burnt Out Digger

Charities have to raise funds somehow and the employment of professional fund raisers can help a lot. However, these people should be paid for their efforts as they put in a lot of time, and, at times, expense, in order to garner these funds. We do not object to the office staff, cleaners and other ancillary staff of charities being paid,therefore, why should one object to the people at the "coal face" also being reimbursed?

Dani

Well I'm a scouts leader and once a year for 4 weeks we go door knocking or to shopping centres asking for donations for the ADRA appeal. We do this to demonstrate to our youth the importance of giving and helping those less fortunate. I can completely understans the doubts people have over where the money goes but that's what the pamphlets are for, to inform and therefore aren't a waste of paper. In addition for our particular charity we get them printed off for free.
I sincerely believe that even for those who do struggle with low incomes, it's the thought that counts. Often people ask us, "how much do you want?" We just say that even 5 cents will help!
I guess it just depends on the charity, so it would be ideal to research before giving.

tRicci

I do not give!

stewy57

I agree with you, lately there seems to be thousands of charities all clamouring to take your hard earned away from you. Most of these charities are collecting for similar causes. Why cant these ones get together and save all that waste with doubling up on administration costs so that more money gets to where it is intended?

Sunnypng

I believe giving is a personal thing and guided by one's own conscience. There's no need to feel "bad' or 'embarrased" to just firmly say "no" if it's not something you want to give to.

It is very easy to research Charities to put one's mind to rest about how the money is being spent.

jillderon

I live in a rural area, we have one general store within say 50klm. Every time we go to the shop there is someone selling raffle tickets for charity. Everyone complained.
About 4 years ago we opened a cafe, run by volunteers(we didn't have one in our village). All the volunteers who work in the cafe can nominate which cause there time went to. At the end of each year, a cheque is handed out to where ever the people nominated. The cheques in some cases were quite unsubstantial.
Now there is hardly any one selling tickets outside the shop & everyone is happy.
This killed 2 birds with one stone, now people have somewhere to socialise & catch up with their friends & our comunity makes money.

Katt14

I agree about the pressure & guilt trips put on us, & the inability to acknowledge our requests to stop mail requests; I also agree that the huge amounts spent on postage & paper(especially by environmental groups!!) would be better put to real use; but, and I know I am going to get into trouble on this one, my biggest gripe is against the constant requests for us and our Government to make handouts to farmers. Before you get all incensed, please consider my reasons:- We live in the most arid & least arable country in the world, which is only getting drier due to global warming, and most of the land that was once good farming land is no longer viable & while I don't want to lay blame, farmers have been very slow to do anything to mitigate their actions. We keep hearing that we are in a long drought, but how many long droughts does it take before it is recognised as normal weather? And the floods, dont they seem rather cyclical? This is Australias NORMAL WEATHER PATTERNS. In the words of that oft quoted poem : "I love a sunburnt country,............. of droughts & flooding rains. When an industry is no longer viable, you don't keep asking for a handout, you change the industry, or move to another. I appreciate that this nation was built on the work of the farmers, but that is the past; the steam engine fuelled the industriallization of the world but we are not subsidising an unviable steam industry just because it worked before - things change & we shouldn't be expected to continue to fork out just because some people won't! Another much used 'reason' to help out the farmers is the old "this was my fathers farm & my fathers fathers farm ad infinitum. Anyone living in the city who uses the collateral in their great-grandfathers house to subsidise their business would be laughed at if they expected us to bail them out when things go bad, but for some reason if it's a farmer it's justified; where's the logic? My partner & I are in the construction industry but when we can't pay our mortgage because a larger company takes off without paying us, or because of the effect of an economic downturn on our industry, we don't expect govt subsidies or charity drives, we have to grin & bear it, lose the house, & start again with whatever we have by rationalizing our operations & moving into more lucrative areas:- we accept that as part of being in the industry.
Anyhow enough of the diatribe, I would just like a bit of logic applied to the "farm subsidies & 'disaster' relief" situation. If we keep allowing them to put out their hands every time they don't have a bumper year, & then go on to do exactly the same year after year with less & less chance of success we will wake up one day to an underclass of ex-farmers with no viable land to farm on, no other skills & no other industry for them to move into & an expectation that we will subsidise their complete lack of productivty until the cows come home! WAKE UP AUSTRALIA!!

carolinekate

I agree about the pressure & guilt trips put on us, & the inability to acknowledge our requests to stop mail requests; I also agree that the huge amounts spent on postage & paper(especially by...

Well said - I couldn't agree more. Farmers have to be willing to change & diversify when it is no longer feasible or viable for them to operate.

Anonymous

the world would not go round if it wasn't for charity if some people arnt gettting a hand out the would not now how to survive!!!

Jonesy

I agree with you all on ths topic. I regularly donate items and money to a number of charities but have to wonder sometimes if the money is going where it's intended to go. I donate to St. Vincent de Paul and volunteer for them I find it rewarding.

Ralphy

My main concern with charity these days is all the money we are sending overseas. I understand that there are people worse off than ourselves and it is the humane and decent thing to help where we can but I firmly believe that we should be looking in our own back yard first and foremost. We have that many homeless people, orphaned kids and the rest that it seems sad that we send so much money over seas when we should be helping our own first. The children hospital appeal used to be a big problem as a large percentage of donations went into admin fees; in other words it went to pay salaries etc for those already making mega bucks.... not sure if they have changed it since then...

gilgal1

I find street collectors can often be quite aggressive. Some of them don't seem to have much memory - because if you walk past them more than once, they will often approach you again.
I also wish that the junk mail legislation could be changed so that we can ask charities not to send begging letters. I'd rather they spent the money used to produce all that paper on their charitable works. This should apply to phone calls too... it doesn't matter how many times I tell callers (I can think of 2 non-profit organisations in particular) that I don't want their calls, they continue to harass us at home. I feel sorry for the people making the calls.

Ollie

I find street collectors can often be quite aggressive. Some of them don't seem to have much memory - because if you walk past them more than once, they will often approach you again.
I also...

Totally Agree Gilgal1! When I faithfully gave dollars to an animal charity, their continued mail went on and on every second month, despite my request to stop. I've since moved, wrote again to stop it, but it is probably still being delivered. The money I gave has been pilfered on harrassing myself...... so I refuse to ever give to them again. Much more careful with others too!

June

Yes, I agree. I give to several charities quite often and I am on a low income.I have asked them to limit their mail requests as I cannot give every time they send to me, but it doesn't seem to make any differences. I think sometimes the charities play with our emotions. It's the same with the phone calls for lots of different charities. One feels quite guilty when refusing.

margecd

Yes, I agree. I give to several charities quite often and I am on a low income.I have asked them to limit their mail requests as I cannot give every time they send to me, but it doesn't seem to...

phone call ones are annoying, it's always at meal time or when not suitable, just say thank you, and hang up!