General Question

kelly's avatar

Would you donate to charity online, or only by phone call, or direct mail?

Asked by kelly (1918points) May 7th, 2008

Make the Difference Network launched this week as a “social-network” site where one can donate via the internet without any percentage kept by fundraiser. mtdn.com feels that today the way to give is via internet, do you agree?

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10 Answers

peedub's avatar

What’s the difference? Don’t most, or at least many, pay there bills online?

I guess the question is really how would one find out about something like this? Where is it advertised, sites like this?

peedub's avatar

sorry “their”

wildflower's avatar

yea….actually that’s a great idea!
I don’t normally entertain telemarketers of any kind – charity or others. Honestly I prefer the less pushy approaches. I don’t mind giving, but it shouldn’t be because someone’s talking me in to it, but because I see something worth giving to, so I think web-based is perfect!! – as long as you can verify their credentials, of course.

sccrowell's avatar

I donated my Infiniti Q45 to the “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation,” better known as “The ALS Foundation.” Gary, my boyfriend was diagnosed with this paralyzing and always fatal disease. I did this by going on line. It was quick and easy! But more importantly, I felt really good after doing so…

gorillapaws's avatar

One summer when I was home from college I worked US P.I.R.G. (US Public Interest Research Group) who was working under contract for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (A really excellent organization by the way). US P.I.R.G. is a great organization, but I was honestly a bit disenchanted when I learned that I would receive a massive percent commission (I think like 30–45% or something like that) of the money being donated by the people I was soliciting door-to-door. It was an awful job and I didn’t stay for more than maybe 6 weeks or so and ended up making less than minimum wage when I did the math. But I also realized of the money left over, my field manager would receive a commission, as well as the office/region coordinator, and I’m fairly certain that U.S. P.I.R.G. itself was getting something from it as well. This is a total guess, but I would think that about 25–30% of the money people donated to save the bay was actually going to save the bay.

I had a friend who worked for a telemarketing firm during college and he said his group got massive commissions on the money collected for a police-related charity. So from personal experience, and through inside knowledge gleaned from friends, I would have to say that the manner in which you give plays a significant role in how much of your funds actually go towards the charity you intend it to. I’m not sure about commission rates on internet contributions, but I give directly when I want to contribute to a charity.

skfinkel's avatar

And then how will the poor make money?

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