Charity Fundraising 'Rip-off'?

[Tony Baloney]

Whilst the charity may receive money from these "holidays" I wouldn't say these are noble ventures by 90%* of participants. I'd say the charity is secondary to thoughts of a paid adventure.


*1 person was polled in this survey.

[Dougal Maguire]

I agree with you. I'm also pretty sure that the vast majority of people contributing to these 'charity' events aren't aware of where their money is going. In the normal course of events it is considered that any organisation should be running on, at the very least, 20% overheads against 80% programme activity, these events appear to run on the basis of  60/40 or even 50/50

[ardmhachaabu]

I had a fella round the door fundraising for Trocaire, he said 100% of what they raise goes to help the needy. Is that correct?

Only if the needy means Trocaire employees as well.  Trocaire take approx 13% out of each donation for admin/wages etc

[SDarbs]

Being someone who does a bit of work for a charity (non paid) in the North, I can understand how they irk some people.

To give you an idea of the figures involved if someone wanted to run say the Boston/NewYork Marathon they would need to raise circa £2.5k for the charity, if they raise that some the charity will 'contribute' £900 to the costs of the participants taking part. That £900 would cover flights, race entry and nout for hotels. Raise more money and a bigger contribution is made and they can in theory go for free (by covering hotel costs as well). However and this is the important point only some people request the money back, others say to the charity keep the cash... Depends on the individual really....  All of the above is run by a 3rd party company who cream off there cash as well.

For charities its invaluable, so whilst some will have a cynical view of it we couldnt get by with out it, and have started to think about ways of encouraging people to do events by offering free places into say the Belfast Marathon by us paying the entry fee and then the runner going on to raise say £400-£500.... Its money we wouldnt have got otherwise....

Id rather we get a donation than none at all, so dont be grudge that person - it reflects badly on you IMHO.

Speaking about it from the other side of the fence as a runner, I got involved with the charity by using my marathon place for Chicago marathon and paying for my own flights and hotel etc... I was met with a few sh*tty begruging comments, and almost felt the need to put people right on my motives... I ended up giving the charity a hand with admin etc afterwards as I knew they hadnt a pot to piss in.

Having seen both sides of it they're a good thing, but yeah there is a chance your funding a small part of someones holiday, in these times thats the shape of things though.

[johnneycool]

Whilst I'm a bit sceptical of some of these charitiy.holiday enterprises such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the likes, there are others where lads and lassies go out to help repair orphanages in Romania and the likes which could hardly be called a holiday.

I wonder if i decided to go see the great barrier reef for charity, would i get many backers?

(just throwing that in there)

[Maguire01]

I have to say that i'd be sceptical about these 'holiday' charity events... and the motivations of those taking part.