Kickstarters/Fundraisers, etc.

Xstatic3333 · March 2014

It's been so quiet around here that I thought I'd throw out a semi-MM discussion topic. What do you all think of Kickstarters, GoFundMes, and other online fundraisers?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately because so many of my friends are doing them. In my circle, the biggest trend is charity races. Although I do usually donate to support my friends, sometimes I struggle with money going to a charity I wouldn't otherwise chose (generally because they spend so much on advertising).

Then there are "business fundraising" type projects. Here I donate where I can, but don't always find the budget. I support my friends starting businesses, but don't necessarily feel it's my goal to help pay for it. I also see a lot of teachers fund raising for things for their classrooms, which bothers me less but I just can't always help with.

What do you all think of these trends? I've felt a bit frustrated lately because I feel like most of my yearly giving budget goes to others' charities and causes instead of those I'd chose. Clearly there are some ridiculous ones, like student loan fundraisers, but those are the exception. Most people have their hearts in the right place, but I am feeling a bit fatigued with the whole thing lately. Am I being a Scrooge?

spalko · March 2014

I've just noticed this becoming a thing in my area. A couple a few years younger than me recently suffered a house fire and someone started a GoFundMe to help them get back on their feet. I am totally on board with this and plan on donating to them. A high school friend recently did a Kickstarter campaign because he wanted to create/produce a CD. I side-eyed this a bit more but didn't donate to it so it didn't matter. I know when he first asked if people would support it, a few people were quite vocal about if it is something you want to accomplish than you find a way to do, not go asking your friends. If the cause is something I am passionate about, I donate. If I had endless amounts of money I'd donate to all but I can't so I pick what matters to me most.

HoneyBee973 · March 2014

Don't think you are being a scrooge, and I know exactly what you mean. Seems like everyone is collecting for something. It has gotten to the point I simply ignore the links. I feel bad, but I can't keep donating every month, as you said to 'others charities.'

vlagrl29 · March 2014

I haven't donated very much to these things. I did give some money to my friend's adoption fundraiser. Towards the end of last year another friend was raising money for cycling 3000miles in 1 year and the money went to a women's shelter. I feel strongly about those shelters so I donated to that as well.

Xstatic3333 · March 2014

@spalko, I am okay with GoFundMes like that, good point. Those are an exception for me too. I just donated to one for a former HS teacher of mine who is fighting cancer.

formerlyGDaisy09 · March 2014

being a person that does 3-4 charity races a year (local Children's Hospital, local Cancer Center, local Adaptive Sports program, and a local progam that maintains the hinking trails in the area...sometimes a few others) I generally will donate $10-25 to other friends and family members charity races, rides, etc, if the money is staying at an organization that is local to them. I try to ignore solicitations for fundraisers that are for larger organizations where my small donation won't go as far.

That said, it totally sucks to train and get to race day and have to pay more to participate. Most of the races I do the registration fee is covering all the costs of the race (signage, water stops, race support, timers...) so donations are really going straight to the charity. A few times I've arrived at check-in and had to write another check to meet the fundraising minimum, which is frustrating, and why I usually try to throw friends a few bucks.

I have had people send me kickstarters or GoFundMe things to pay for their kids to go to camp, or private school, or things like that...that doesn't sit quite right with me, and I've never donated to those solicitations.

emily1004 · March 2014

I usually donate to my family with March of Dimes. My cousins baby was born too early and they almost lost her. I had a friend who participated in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics and I donated there.

BUT, I am still kicking myself for this one: We have a Facebook group for my college sorority chapter. They post things from time to time asking for money for one cause or another. This one particular post was about a sister, whom I didn't know, but still felt bad for her. She lost all of her belongings in a fire that destroyed the home she was renting. I donated $75 thinking it would go to her deductible. After I made the donation, I read the letter. It went on to say since they were renting they didn't have insurance. My first thought was WTF? Never heard of renters insurance? Then a few months later I found out she didn't vaccinate her kids, something I am passionately against. Why should I have to pay for her stupidity?

But the dumb one here was me= Stupid Tax $75. Lesson learned, read the fine print and don't donate to strangers.

JoanE2012 · March 2014

I am appalled at the people that ask for donations to fund trips, business ventures, etc. Whatever happened to saving up for things you want to do? Why do people feel that they should just be handed these things?

I don't mind a charity donation for someone to participate in an event, but I get annoyed when I see someone do this several times a year. Your friends and family are not money trees. Enough.

Xstatic3333 · March 2014

GDaisy, I'm with you-I'd rather the money stay local. My dearest friend on the planet, however does races to benefit a national cancer organization that, IMO, spends way too much on advertising. These are big races, and as her BFF I know going in that she needs to raise thousands of dollars, so I just suck it up to support her. I'd prefer to donate to local hospitals doing cancer research, but hopefully her organization does lots of good as well.

JoanE2012, I'm glad I'm not crazy about the business thing bugging me!

formerlyGDaisy09 · March 2014

As someone who does multiple charity races a year, I often feel bad asking people for donations multiple times a year (and always understand when people refuse). I have several people who would give $50 to the first race I do and then get annoyed when I ask again, instead I've started asking people to just throw a few bucks my way ($5-10/race) then I aim for a higher quantity of donations rather than 3-4 bigger donations.

As someone who enjoys these races I refuse to participate in races that don't benefit a charity in some way, some have fundraising minimums, others just build your donation into the registration fee, but I can't stand some of the races that are run by for-profit companies that expect $75-100+ from registrants.

JoanE2012 · March 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

As someone who does multiple charity races a year, I often feel bad asking people for donations multiple times a year (and always understand when people refuse). I have several people who would give $50 to the first race I do and then get annoyed when I ask again, instead I've started asking people to just throw a few bucks my way ($5-10/race) then I aim for a higher quantity of donations rather than 3-4 bigger donations.

As someone who enjoys these races I refuse to participate in races that don't benefit a charity in some way, some have fundraising minimums, others just build your donation into the registration fee, but I can't stand some of the races that are run by for-profit companies that expect $75-100+ from registrants.

I get it, and it's nice of you to want to participate in charity runs......but what about YOU just making the donation then doing the run. Or, just donate to the charity and run for fun (not in a race).

With family and friends I know, it becomes annoying when the same people come around soliciting for multiple races. Especially when I have many family members and friends that are struggling with finances unbeknownst to the charity runner, yet they feel bad to say no and often feel obligated to donate something. Even $10 is too much for them. I'll be honest, we roll our eyes every time the same circle of people asks for donations.

Not to mention, donating to a charity for a race you're doing takes away from our overall charity budget. DH and I feel strongly about certain charities and the work they do and where the money goes, and just because it's a charity race doesn't mean the money is well used (even if 100% goes to the charity!) or a charity we support.

Apologies, it's probably not what you want to hear. I know your intentions are probably good, but it's how most in my circle feel.

FWIW, I'm a runner as well. I've participated in many charity runs over the years, but I donate my own money and will never solicit from other people because I know that most people have their own financial issues and/or charities they donate to and I don't want to put anyone in an awkward situation.

vlagrl29 · March 2014

I just remembered my business donated 2 different gigs at a silent auction for a church last month, both of which were purchased. It was to help a church member with major medical bills from cancer issues she had with a LOT of out of pocket expense.

formerlyGDaisy09 · March 2014

JoanE2012 said:

Gdaisy09 said:

As someone who does multiple charity races a year, I often feel bad asking people for donations multiple times a year (and always understand when people refuse). I have several people who would give $50 to the first race I do and then get annoyed when I ask again, instead I've started asking people to just throw a few bucks my way ($5-10/race) then I aim for a higher quantity of donations rather than 3-4 bigger donations.

As someone who enjoys these races I refuse to participate in races that don't benefit a charity in some way, some have fundraising minimums, others just build your donation into the registration fee, but I can't stand some of the races that are run by for-profit companies that expect $75-100+ from registrants.

I get it, and it's nice of you to want to participate in charity runs......but what about YOU just making the donation then doing the run. Or, just donate to the charity and run for fun (not in a race).

With family and friends I know, it becomes annoying when the same people come around soliciting for multiple races. Especially when I have many family members and friends that are struggling with finances unbeknownst to the charity runner, yet they feel bad to say no and often feel obligated to donate something. Even $10 is too much for them. I'll be honest, we roll our eyes every time the same circle of people asks for donations.

Not to mention, donating to a charity for a race you're doing takes away from our overall charity budget. DH and I feel strongly about certain charities and the work they do and where the money goes, and just because it's a charity race doesn't mean the money is well used (even if 100% goes to the charity!) or a charity we support.

Apologies, it's probably not what you want to hear. I know your intentions are probably good, but it's how most in my circle feel.

FWIW, I'm a runner as well. I've participated in many charity runs over the years, but I donate my own money and will never solicit from other people because I know that most people have their own financial issues and/or charities they donate to and I don't want to put anyone in an awkward situation.

As a runner, cyclist, triathlete the thrill of the race is my motivation...so not doing the race is not an option, at least for me. That said, I completely understand people's aversion to constant solicitation for donations.

I try to plan out my season well in advance so when I am asking people for donations I can give them the full picture of my plans. I also mostly participate in races that are for charities that mean something to me and many in my circle.

This year I'm doing a centruy ride for an adaptive sports program that my special needs cousin participates in for skiing ($300 minimum, but most my family would give to that charity anyways), A century ride for the cancer center that treated my grandmother, my mom's aunt, and employs about a dozen of my friends ($750 minimum, again most people in my life plan on making a donation to this organization anyways). Half-marathon for the childrens hospital that saved the same special needs cousin's life ($150 minimum, family would have no problems being asked to give to this, but since this race is at the end of the season I'd be prepared to donate most of the $$ myself), Triathlon for a local organization that helps recovering addicts find housing and work (no minimum $100 registration), and a 30 mile fun ride with H that has no minimum for hiking trail maintanence, so we won't ask anyone for money there.

I definitely think that it is important for anyone participating in charity races to be realistic about how much they think they can raise over a year (and if their friends and family will care about the charities) before they go crazy registering for things where they're required to raise a good amount of money to participate. By selecting events that benefit charities that my family gives to anyways and planning my year out early I can usually let them know before they make their annual donation so that they can filter it through my race.

I agree with you that it is important to be thoughtful about how these races are approached. Generally the races that have less than a $200 minimum I'm prepared to make the whole donation to myself (I always donate to my own races anyways), that doesn't mean that I don't ask people to donate. In my area the entire community participates in the race for the cancer center, so people do get a little tired of people asking for donations, but most people budget for the race and participants are understanding when people tell them they've already donated what they were budgeting for.

bottom line, participate in races for charities that mean something to you and your friends and family, plan your year out so you're not out budgeting what you can raise, let friends and family know what your plan is, and be prepaired to make a good part of the fundraising minimum yourself.

hoffse · March 2014

I'm really not a fan. H and I only donate to charities that give away more than 90% of their income. You can find info on all of that online because the non-profits have to report it for tax purposes. For the most part, that means we usually stick with religious charities. Most of the organizations that host these races, etc. have a lot more overhead than 10%.

I do a lot of (billable) non-profit tax work for my job, so sometimes I donate my time doing legal work, rather than billing the non-profit for my work. Or else I'll actually volunteer. But I'm not a fan of donating cash to causes like this, especially when it's largely driven by social pressure.

Maybe it makes me a scrooge, but I'm also not a fan of just donating money because an acquaintance of mine is having a hard time affording things they need - at least when the expense could be reasonably anticipated (I'm not talking about a surprise deathly illness or anything). Most recently I saw a plea from somebody asking their facebook friends to help pay their medical deductible because they had a baby and apparently couldn't afford the deductible on their insurance policy. As part of this they showed all the really cute newborn photos of their kid, which were professionally done. I understand that people have different priorities in life, but a $500 newborn photo session was probably less important than making sure you could afford the deductible when you are GIVING BIRTH and you KNOW you are going to be billed for some portion of it.

Sheesh.

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