Donating??

[JohnPaul64]

I have a question about donating. I am a person who I don’t consider poor but I guess you’d say broke is a better term meaning I make enough to pay my bills and there is not a whole lot left, I don’t have alot of debt but there is not much left after bills are paid and after big brother takes his cut. I pick who I give money to carefully other than my church itself. I won’t mention the two charities I give to most because I don’t want to tarnish their names. Since I have given to these two my mail is now flooded with donation request from different places. I can handle that somewhat but now some of them are sending me gifts like I got a handmade rosary and another sent me personalized holiday cards. I threw the cards away because I figured I’m not donating to them so I won’t use them but I certainly won’t throw the rosary away. I feel bad I can’t give to these but I’m limited in money and I need to know them before I send money because I worry of scams. It makes me mad that my name is on a list being passed around now and I get these letters with poor children on the front asking me for $ 20.00 or more. I feel like my privacy was breached between me and the charities I give too. Does this happen to any of you? I especially hate the ones they send me a gift. I don’t want to quit giving but when I give I want my privacy to be kept. How can I stop this and who could I give to other than my church and feel my privacy will be kept.

 

[GEddie]

I have a question about donating. I am a person who I don’t consider poor but I guess you’d say broke is a better term meaning I make enough to pay my bills and there is not a whole lot left, I don’t have alot of debt but there is not much left after bills are paid and after big brother takes his cut. I pick who I give money to carefully other than my church itself. I won’t mention the two charities I give to most because I don’t want to tarnish their names. Since I have given to these two my mail is now flooded with donation request from different places. I can handle that somewhat but now some of them are sending me gifts like I got a handmade rosary and another sent me personalized holiday cards. I threw the cards away because I figured I’m not donating to them so I won’t use them but I certainly won’t throw the rosary away. I feel bad I can’t give to these but I’m limited in money and I need to know them before I send money because I worry of scams. It makes me mad that my name is on a list being passed around now and I get these letters with poor children on the front asking me for $ 20.00 or more. I feel like my privacy was breached between me and the charities I give too. Does this happen to any of you? I especially hate the ones they send me a gift. I don’t want to quit giving but when I give I want my privacy to be kept. How can I stop this and who could I give to other than my church and feel my privacy will be kept.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done about one organziation selling addresses to another. It’s legal and happens all the time, crummy as it may be.

In time, those you do not contribute to will cease mailing you. But in the meantime, your address may have been sold to others.

The best thing you can do is reply to each of the organizations, and explain that you are unable to give financially and to please remove your name from their list.

Then pray to the Holy Spirit as to whom you should give to.

ICXC NIKA

 

[JohnPaul64]

I know…I did pray about who to give too. It just seems like a breach of trust. I wrote one of the places I donate too asking if they did this. It almost makes you want to quit giving to organizations. I can handle getting the letters but the gifts bother me a little. It seems a little pushy.

 

[Liraco]

I’m sorry to hear about this problem. I’d suggest writing to those who you donated to ask if they are responsible for the flood of unwanted mail. You’re not obligated to give to any of them, though if you felt the need there’d be no problem in making a one time donation to a certain charity or two (especially if it can be anonymous to avoid this).

There’s many places you can give to, ones I’d suggest are the very site you’re using, Catholic Answers live. The ministry lives off our donations and the budget for next year to keep the forums, their campaigns, radio program, etc, will raise to a staggering 7 million dollars!

So if you can spare the money, why not make a small donation to them? They do not give your mail away to others, sometimes you get an email newsletter from them but you can unsubscribe quickly and not be bothered by those (if they do bother you).

There’s also other apostolates like EWTN, your local Catholic Radio station, and so on.

Don’t let this discourage you, but do try to get some answers as to why you’re receiving this flood of petitions.

 

[tbcrawford]

The parable of “the widow’s mite” comes to mind.
Our corporal works of mercy indicate we should help others who are not so able as ourselves.Eg homeless people,hungry,prisoners etc…
I gave up work almost 2 years ago to care for my sisters full time.I had already been looking after them and working but just couldn’t do it any more.My mother also came to live with us 4 months after that.So I have a huge caring role.I don’t have much money but I provide help to my children financially,I pay my half of the bills with dh etc.I sponsor a child in Uganda through a charity called PLAN.I have a Direct debit to CAFOD monthly.I give at every colllection.When I can I donate to collectors in the street for disabled/terminally ill people of other charities.
I think our obligation is to do all we can and not walk past someone hungry etc.
Im sorry you are pestered with other charitable organisations after your money.Do what you can and try not to worry if you can’t do more.I hope this helps!

 

[JRKH]

I have a question about donating. I am a person who I don’t consider poor but I guess you’d say broke is a better term meaning I make enough to pay my bills and there is not a whole lot left, I don’t have alot of debt but there is not much left after bills are paid and after big brother takes his cut. I pick who I give money to carefully other than my church itself. I won’t mention the two charities I give to most because I don’t want to tarnish their names. Since I have given to these two my mail is now flooded with donation request from different places. I can handle that somewhat but now some of them are sending me gifts like I got a handmade rosary and another sent me personalized holiday cards. I threw the cards away because I figured I’m not donating to them so I won’t use them but I certainly won’t throw the rosary away. I feel bad I can’t give to these but I’m limited in money and I need to know them before I send money because I worry of scams. It makes me mad that my name is on a list being passed around now and I get these letters with poor children on the front asking me for $ 20.00 or more. I feel like my privacy was breached between me and the charities I give too. Does this happen to any of you? I especially hate the ones they send me a gift. I don’t want to quit giving but when I give I want my privacy to be kept. How can I stop this and who could I give to other than my church and feel my privacy will be kept.

This happens all of the time to me both in religious and non-religious giving.
I have more return mail address labels than I can use in a lifetime

None of us can give to every worthy cause. God understands this and the Charities do too. They sell the names so that they can raise revenues for their work. I don’t want to fault them for that. One thing that DOES bug me is how some charities, after receiving a small donation, spends half of that donation over the next year in mailings to me trying to get more.

My advise is to not worry about it and just discard those who you do not wish to contribute to. As to those who send “gifts”, the fact is you did not request them so you need not feel bad about keeping and using the “gift”. Discard them if you wish, but don’t feel you must.

 

[JohnPaul64]

This happens all of the time to me both in religious and non-religious giving.
I have more return mail address labels than I can use in a lifetime

None of us can give to every worthy cause. God understands this and the Charities do too. They sell the names so that they can raise revenues for their work. I don’t want to fault them for that. One thing that DOES bug me is how some charities, after receiving a small donation, spends half of that donation over the next year in mailings to me trying to get more.

My advise is to not worry about it and just discard those who you do not wish to contribute to. As to those who send “gifts”, the fact is you did not request them so you need not feel bad about keeping and using the “gift”. Discard them if you wish, but don’t feel you must.

Yeah the I have a never ending supply of return address labels too I think I figured out which order is giving my name out. I went to ones website I give to and they said in a disclosure that by no means will they give your name or address out and I’m only giving to two. I’m not sure what I’ll do about it but maybe I’ll write them and tell them my displeasure. I think from now on I’ll see if any I give to have a privacy disclaimer. Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[jeanne71350]

I have a question about donating. I am a person who I don’t consider poor but I guess you’d say broke is a better term meaning I make enough to pay my bills and there is not a whole lot left, I don’t have alot of debt but there is not much left after bills are paid and after big brother takes his cut. I pick who I give money to carefully other than my church itself. I won’t mention the two charities I give to most because I don’t want to tarnish their names. Since I have given to these two my mail is now flooded with donation request from different places. I can handle that somewhat but now some of them are sending me gifts like I got a handmade rosary and another sent me personalized holiday cards. I threw the cards away because I figured I’m not donating to them so I won’t use them but I certainly won’t throw the rosary away. I feel bad I can’t give to these but I’m limited in money and I need to know them before I send money because I worry of scams. It makes me mad that my name is on a list being passed around now and I get these letters with poor children on the front asking me for $ 20.00 or more. I feel like my privacy was breached between me and the charities I give too. Does this happen to any of you? I especially hate the ones they send me a gift. I don’t want to quit giving but when I give I want my privacy to be kept. How can I stop this and who could I give to other than my church and feel my privacy will be kept.

I had a great aunt who used to send one dollar to every charity that asked her for money. She was broke, but she gave to everyone who asked her. She would write a letter saying she didn’t have a lot of money, but she was praying for them, and sent a dollar. The charities really appreciated that.

Just give what you can, even if it is your prayers.

-Jeanne

 

[JohnPaul64]

I had a great aunt who used to send one dollar to every charity that asked her for money. She was broke, but she gave to everyone who asked her. She would write a letter saying she didn’t have a lot of money, but she was praying for them, and sent a dollar. The charities really appreciated that.

Just give what you can, even if it is your prayers.

-Jeanne

That is a great idea

 

[puzzleannie]

as a general rule whenever you donate to any organization by mail or on-line there is a box to check that prevents them from sharing your contact information. contact these organizations directly to remove you from their mailing list, or simply throw everything they send you in the trash. Almost all such direct mail fundraisers are conducted by third parties who give only a fraction of any money received to the actual charity, and in fact, the purpose of the fundraiser is to obtain contacts, not funds.

you should also check the no-contact, no-email box whenever you order online or from a catalog, or whenever you register for a website

contact the direct marketing association by email or snail mail
www.dmaconsumers.org, go to consumer assistance
or DMA Mail Preference Service PO Box 643, Carmel NY 10512

you may have to do this once year to clear your mailbox

you can also stop receiving credit card offers by contacting 888-5OPT-OUT (888-567-8688, because if you order anything on credit you also get put on those contact lists.

best bet: donate to your parish and diocese, and to the national campaigns that have envelopes in your regular parish package. arrive at a weekly or monthly amount (whenever you receive your income) that represents a sacrifice but not a detriment to you or your family of some essential need. make your donation before you spend on anything other than fixed expenses and bills. a dollar for some people is a bigger sacrifice than $100 for another

 

[puzzleannie]

I had a great aunt who used to send one dollar to every charity that asked her for money. She was broke, but she gave to everyone who asked her. She would write a letter saying she didn’t have a lot of money, but she was praying for them, and sent a dollar. The charities really appreciated that.

Just give what you can, even if it is your prayers.

-Jeanne

your aunt sounds like a wonderful woman and my bet is her prayers availed the charity more than all the money they raised, but I doubt the actual people involved in the work of the charity knew about her letters, her donations, or her prayers.

the best thing to do with unsolicited mail from any charity, religious or otherwise, is to chuck it in the trash. even opening it takes time and effort away that could be spent on prayer and your own duties of life.

 

[jpk1313]

I have a question about donating. I am a person who I don’t consider poor but I guess you’d say broke is a better term meaning I make enough to pay my bills and there is not a whole lot left, I don’t have alot of debt but there is not much left after bills are paid and after big brother takes his cut. I pick who I give money to carefully other than my church itself. I won’t mention the two charities I give to most because I don’t want to tarnish their names. Since I have given to these two my mail is now flooded with donation request from different places. I can handle that somewhat but now some of them are sending me gifts like I got a handmade rosary and another sent me personalized holiday cards. I threw the cards away because I figured I’m not donating to them so I won’t use them but I certainly won’t throw the rosary away. I feel bad I can’t give to these but I’m limited in money and I need to know them before I send money because I worry of scams. It makes me mad that my name is on a list being passed around now and I get these letters with poor children on the front asking me for $ 20.00 or more. I feel like my privacy was breached between me and the charities I give too. Does this happen to any of you? I especially hate the ones they send me a gift. I don’t want to quit giving but when I give I want my privacy to be kept. How can I stop this and who could I give to other than my church and feel my privacy will be kept.

You could toss what ever change you could spare in the donation cans that sit on the counter of many convinece stores as to the unwanted solicataions just ignore them. it is not the amount that matters but the dispostion of your heart when giving. one thing I do is I will leave money and religous oblects lying around on the street or in the floor if public places and trust God will get it to who ever needs it the most.