To confess I don't donate to charity

[VAVAV00M]

Not because I'm evil, I just don't trust them.

The only 'charitable' things I do is donate to church, I'm brownie group leader, help out at the local stables and students who need very hard to get but needed work experience for my line if work.

Am I going to hell?

I've just been made to feel guilty by not donating to RND by peers.

I honestly won't donate until they have a list on the website showing every penny spent and where it ha gone.

[AdoraBell]

YANBU if it's because you don't trust them, have you explained that to these peers? It's no-one else's business of course, but sometimes it can help to have a reason handy.

[flyingspaghettimonster]

You donate to church... I am sure God is using every penny you give to make life better for those in need. Other charities can't possibly be as honest as the church... And of course they don't offer eternal salvation as a free gift in return.

[Bearandcub]

You donate time. Charity is about community support not just cash.

[Sirzy]

Donating time is as important (if not more) as donating money.

[wanderings]

Some of us would donate to charity, if we could afford it! It's not our fault that thanks to bankers and politicians, many of us are poorer than we were.

[livinginwonderland]

i'm the same.

[ArseAche]

It is your choice. I do donate, but only to certain charities which I know very well. Nothing wrong with not donating, especially as you give time. Just hope you never need to use the charity yourself, then you would feel guilty!

[manicinsomniac]

I was going to say YABU but you give to church so you are actually giving some money. You're also giving your time. So, although I do think most causes are very worthy, I think YANBU.

[RobinSparkles]

If you're going to hell then so am I. As I was taking the bins out last night there was an RSPCA charity guy walking up my drive (the ones that ask you to pay so much a month). After he had scared me half to death, he asked me how old I was (nosy so and so) as you have to be over 25. I told him that I didn't like animals which isn't true at all but it sent him on his way. I was just so annoyed that he had come into my space and a. Giving me a fright and b. asking for money. I know that he has to, it's his job, but if I could afford to be giving X a month then I would already be doing so! I give as much as I can to charity shops, clothes, toys and books etc.

I can't believe I told him I didn't like animals though!

[RobinSparkles]

I'm not saying that I don't donate to charity, btw. I'll give what I can but I was just feeling guilty .

[comfysofas]

I ask how much their chief executive earns and if it is over minimum wage I don't donate.

Hence I don't donate.

[littlecrocodile]

Entirely up to you if you want to donate or not. Worth mentioning though that most charities will publish their annual reports in full on their websites so you can see where the money is spent if you want to. Maybe not penny by penny, if that was done that'd divert plenty of that money, but most charities are pretty open and publish quite detailed information on finance and charitable spend.

[ConfusedPixie]

I don't donate for the same reason. Dp and I feel very strongly about it, especially as he worked as a charity phone man for a while. The first duc months were great, he's be calling to raise awareness of various big name charities, only calling those who had ' expressed an interest' in some form (checking boxes on forms and things to say that they wanted to know more). No money grabbing involved and he'd tell people who to call if they wanted to donate. But then they started getting contacts which involved coercing people out if their cash and he got in trouble for not sticking to the script when the person was obviously not in as position to donate more but were being guilt tripped into it.

That was when we became even more cynical and stopped donating to anything for the time being. When we have the cash we have decided to put money into kiva, and donate to a couple of local charities who don't use chuggers and who are very open as to where their money goes. I volunteer my time as a scout leader, have volunteered continuously since I was 16 for various charities and causes on a regular basis and to me, time is worth more than money.

[ArseAche]

comfysofas - that is an excellent point.

[Chandon]

I know wat you mean.

Always a bit shocked by what directors of charities earn.

Even by some of the local volunteers, in the charity shops, who openly grab the best bits for themselves to e-bay for a profit ( obvioisly most charity workers don't!)

[wigglesrock]

No, it's up to you what you do with your money. In saying that I'd sooner give to a charity like Comic Relief than church based ones. I'm not really one for evangelism.

[Shinyshoes1]

I don't donate either .

I struggle to make my money last the month.

In this case charity does begin at home

[CloudsAndTrees]

You should never feel guilty for not donating to comic relief. I donate loads in time and money to charity, but I can't stand comic relief.

I think if you never donate money when you could afford to, then that's a bit mean tbh, but if have thought that most people do donate somewhere, even if its just sponsoring friends, turning up at your schools PtA events or sticking a few coins in a collection box.

[financialwizard]

We don't either, well not money. We have donated clothes, books and toys to the Sally Army but I wholeheartedly support them.

[MrsKeithRichards]

Do people think directors of charities should work for free?

Do you grudge anyone drawing a wage out of a charity?

How then do you propose charities go about doing the work without employing people to do it?

[BrokenBritain]

Omg you think someone should take full responsibility for all the legal, financial, staffing responsibilities etc on national minimum wage?? When there are people who serve coffee who earn more than that?
I dread to think who would end up running the charities...unless you think only independently rich people should be employed to run charities?
I agree the wages shouldn't be obscene but they should be proportionate to the level of responsibility.

[BrokenBritain]

That was to confused and arse btw