Can I donate to charities without constant mailings and requests for more money?
I’m looking for a way to donate to charities whose causes I support, while avoiding some problems I’ve had in the past.
1. I don’t want to drown in request for money from other charities. I would rather pick one or two charities that are active in an area I care about, and give my donations to them. I’ve had bad experience with this in the past — any little donation gets me on a “sucker list”. Just because I give to one charity doesn’t mean I want to give to all of them.
2. I don’t want constant requests for more money from the charity I donate to. I want to give a donation once or twice a year and that’s all. I ESPECIALLY don’t want phone requests for to deal with some “emergency” that really isn’t emerging — it’s been there all along, but is just a good emotional story. I gave to the Natural Resources Defense Council several years ago, and they were horrible about this.
I don’t mind legitimate communications from the charity. I just don’t want constant solicitations.
Filed under: Donations
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It is our individual responsibility to make sure of all things! why don’t you wait and when you see with your two eyes just how someone could really use your help, then give it from your heart! knowing exactly where your hard-earned money would be going! Poor people are everywhere! whereas so-called “charities” more often than not! only end up giving a tiny percentage of your money to where you want it to go! Keep your eyes and ears open and ask God’s spirit itself to guide you in your generosity! For instance would there be children going to school in your area without a good breakfast to start the day! James 1:27 could be an indication of how you could help others in a way pleasing to your Creator! who sees all and who won’t forget the good you did in His name! Hebrews 6:10
Yeah that’s a problem with the state police agency I was giving money to for a little while. It was non stop, sometime 3 times a week, calls from different charities under the umbrella of the state police and other local police agencies. Basically to end the problem I stopped giving to them and instead gave the donation directly to the organization instead cutting out the middle man and the calling list. What is even more appalling is the actual amount of money the telemarketers give to the charity, the state police fund was actually only getting about 30% of what was donated to the fund. In fact thats about the fastest way to get rid of a telamarketer, just ask them how much the fund actually gets and they have to tell you, if they don’t ask for a manager and have your name removed from the list.
If you have a job, ask if your office or company takes part in the United Way Charitable Campaign. It’s going on across the US and Canada right now. You can donate right through work and the money can go to ANY charity in your country, not just to the United Way. It’s great because you include your name for a tax receipt, but the UW just gives one huge cheque to each organization that’s being donated to within the campaign. So your name, address, etc, isn’t attached to it and they can’t send you requests or phone you.
I donate this way at work and it’s great. Also, the admin costs are much lower than when you donate directly because they didn’t have to pay for paper, stamps, phone costs, etc, to get your donation.
If you don’t have this at your work, it’s really easy to set it up if you contact your local UW.
First of all, God bless you for wanting to help others and not being put off by the unscrupulous dealings of a few people! There are, actually, several solutions to consider:
You could give anonymously or on the condition of anonymity, most reputable agencies will respect this.
You can give to United Way or Community Shres directly, you don’t have to start a workplace campaign, though that would be good, because other people would be encouraged to give as well.
You can give without giving all of your contact information, they don’t need your address or phone number to take your money.
Ask your friends or family about their experiences in giving and see if there are places they have given to that they had good expereinces with.
Give, but make sure that the agency understands that you don’t want your information given out and that you don’t want future communications.
Charities like shelters, foodbanks and churches don’t usually sell information. You can also look on the United Way web site to see which agencies are in your area. These agencies are usua;;y reputable and will respect your wishes for a no strings donation. You can contact them directly and even specify how you want the money used if you want to.
OK I have a solution for you… me
I am in the process of locating sponsors right now. I am Humanitarian in Romania right now teaching at a local mission school and also at the children’s hospital/orphanage. You can look at my previous posts and see the organizations I help out with.. You’ll never get a phone call asking for more money. Why? Because if I have money to spare the hospital needs diapers and the only way the children get them is if we buy them.. I am more than happy for accept anything you are willing to offer.. 10 a month.. for 1/2 a package of diapers, 10$ a year.. or if you don’t want to send money a small box of onesies or baby blankets would clothe and cover a few babies. If you don’t don’t have the money for this than the fact that you are in the US and can collect or ask people yourself is good enough. Maybe speaking to your Sunday School or just friends.. our communication would be only email and when I set up my website for this. I am not a group with hundreds of people calling all over looking for money..I am one person trying to make a difference. You can email me if you are interested… Bless you for doing something..
I donate…and when I do I remain anonymous. That way I can control my donations
Donate anonymously.
I know exactly what you are going through. Once you give,
it is like, you are never left alone, even with the phone calls.
It is horrible.
What I did, was send the letters back, address unknown to some. Some I called and told them, take me off your list.
Others I just put on file 13.
I also want to give what I can to whom I choose.
I have a totally handicapped brother and sister in law in a
Nursing home…..I support them……..alone……
Are there any charities that help them? no, I even buy their clothes, personal needs, etc.
So, you are right….we give to who we want.
I wonder if there could be made a law against it…. like
a Do NO CALL regristry, have a .Do Not Mail registry.
Think I am going to work on that….
Good question, you have given me ideas on how to stop it.