On 9/20/2015 4:59 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Don Y:
It only stands to reason: someone who *has* made a donation is
probably more likely to make ANOTHER donation than someone who
you'd have to contact "cold".

That was me years ago when I started giving to Amnesty International....
then the mailings from other fund raisers skyrocketed and then they set
the telephone solicitors on me.

I tried a few other reputable charities - telling them beforehand that I
did not want to be on their mailing list or any other list.

The organizations that I volunteer with (or *have* volunteered with)
typically don't even have my full name, address or phone number. I
try to keep it a one-sided transaction. If this doesn't suit their
"requirements", then I can shrug and take my labor elsewhere!

[One organization wanted me to become a member, pay *dues*, etc. JUST
to volunteer. WTF?? I have to PAY for the right to GIVE you my time??]

For awhile, it would hold, then the telephone solicitors would start in.

Now nobody gets a nickel and each got a letter telling them why they
would not be hearing from us again. ****ing in the ocean, I know...

I have a friend who is a "big giver" (5 and 6 digit checks) -- I'll withhold
judgement on her giving choices (that's *her* perogative!).

One day, at her house, talking... phone rang. She stopped and went to
check the CID. Then, looked back up at me with a look of disgust on
her face. "name of charity... they're looking for more money."
Her solution was obviously just to ignore their repeated contacts.

One has to wonder if these organizations ever think about what their
*donors* (underwriters!) must think when they are constantly calling
with their hands out?

[Ans: they probably DON'T think!]

I was putting in some time at a charity with which I was affiliated
some years ago. A "strange woman" (visitor of some sort) cornered
me in a hall and started peppering me with questions. Long story short,
she wanted me to ALSO volunteer with the organization *she* ran!
I smiled politely (despite the anger welling up inside me -- who the
hell are you to think you can *impose* on me that way?) and told her,
"I'm sorry, THIS is where I donate my hours..."

I think these sorts of people get so used to *asking* (for stuff)
that they are never embarassed by their actions! You or I would
probably be terribly reluctant to "ask" for something -- OF A STRANGER!
But, apparently, after forming that HABIT, it gets easier to ask
without any consideration for how tacky your actions appear!