$$ Donations: I don't mind donating to worthwhile charities and causes. But - I don't like it when they state a minimum of $25 or $50. Assuming thousands of people nationwide are...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't mind donating to worthwhile charities and causes. But - I don't like it when they state a minimum of $25 or $50. Assuming thousands of people nationwide are donating, even a dollar would help. I can imagine people hesitating if the minimum donation is $25. The charity gets nothing instead of $10.

I'm posting this because I just received a link from a friend to donate to a hospital. The minimum is $25, but the suggested amount is $50. I realize that $25 isn't a lot of money, but I think it would hold some people back.

My son recently brought a jar of coins to the coin machine at the bank. It contained $285, and that was just from "loose change." It all adds up.

jinx

For some time now I have received requests from charities requesting $19.00. Why do they all request $19.00 as their minimum amount? Also would make this a monthly payment from you.
Give to one charity and you receive many requests from other charities. I do not need the stress of all this so I will no longer donate unless it is in cash at the red kettle.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

"Minimum" is $25?????
Under that they don't want it?????
I thought every little bit helped.
$15 from a bunch of people is better that $25 from none.

PBS stations do have "suggestions", and usually a spot for "Other $____".
They're hoping the suggestions work though.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

"Minimum" is $25?????
Under that they don't want it?????
I thought every little bit helped.
$15 from a bunch of people is better that $25 from none.

PBS stations do have "suggestions", and usually a spot for "Other $____".
They're hoping the suggestions work though.

One thing about my local PBS station is that they set a goal for their fund raising campange. And they won't stop until they meet their goal. They kept saying help them to meet their goal so that they can return to the regular programming (they implied if not you will have to continue to suffer from all this)

PhotoMono123 Loc: Houston, Texas

There are certain rules charities have to abide, and processing small donations often cost them money. If it costs, for example, $16.00 to process a donation, then having a $25.00 donation minimum is a reasonable — and practical — request. From your standpoint, it is just 3 or 4 lattes.

BebuLamar

PhotoMono123 wrote:

There are certain rules charities have to abide, and processing small donations often cost them money. If it costs, for example, $16.00 to process a donation, then having a $25.00 donation minimum is a reasonable — and practical — request. From your standpoint, it is just 3 or 4 lattes.

I guess that is why there is big money in the charity business. You make money by doing the processing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Longshadow wrote:

"Minimum" is $25?????
Under that they don't want it?????
I thought every little bit helped.
$15 from a bunch of people is better that $25 from none.

PBS stations do have "suggestions", and usually a spot for "Other $____".
They're hoping the suggestions work though.

Most sites have a suggested amount and then "Other."

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

I agree with you Jerry. And,as Jinx stated above, once you give to one you'll receive many others. It's the same thing with political organizations to which I give nothing.
I've simply chosen a few charities whom I believe do the best job with money collected, give them the minimum $25, and ignore the rest. In total its about the same a giving more of them less.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mr spock wrote:

I agree with you Jerry. And,as Jinx stated above, once you give to one you'll receive many others. It's the same thing with political organizations to which I give nothing.
I've simply chosen a few charities whom I believe do the best job with money collected, give them the minimum $25, and ignore the rest. In total its about the same a giving more of them less.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Charities ask for $19 a month for two reasons: human psychology and the IRS.

Psychologists who study why and how we buy have determined that using prices ending in the numbers 4, 7, and 9 are more likely to be successful than prices ending in 0 or 5.

Our brains perceive the 4, 7, and 9 prices to be cheaper and more affordable than other numbers. We see $19 as easier on our wallets than $20. As such, we’re more apt to be willing to give that amount each month.

The IRS requires charities and nonprofits to give donors receipts for annual donations totaling $250 or more. Asking for $19 monthly adds up to only $228 a year. This saves them from the cost and time needed to mail receipts to their many donors.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

jinx wrote:

For some time now I have received requests from charities requesting $19.00. Why do they all request $19.00 as their minimum amount? Also would make this a monthly payment from you.
Give to one charity and you receive many requests from other charities. I do not need the stress of all this so I will no longer donate unless it is in cash at the red kettle.

Because $19 sounds a lot less than $20. Why do you think store prices are $.99, $2.99, and gasoline prices end in $.9 ($3.199)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

PhotoMono123 wrote:

There are certain rules charities have to abide, and processing small donations often cost them money. If it costs, for example, $16.00 to process a donation, then having a $25.00 donation minimum is a reasonable — and practical — request. From your standpoint, it is just 3 or 4 lattes.

Plain coffee here, no designer drinks at all.
Never at a "coffee shop".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Longshadow wrote:

Plain coffee here, no designer drinks at all.
Never at a "coffee shop".

I use K-cup refills at about $0.07/cup. Driving into town, I see cars lined up at the drive-in coffee shop. They're idling their cars while waiting to pay $5.00(?) for a cup of coffee.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

I use K-cup refills at about $0.07/cup. Driving into town, I see cars lined up at the drive-in coffee shop. They're idling their cars while waiting to pay $5.00(?) for a cup of coffee.

Ditto on the K-cups.
We have the DUO, so we make a pot in the morning and use K-cups occasionally in the afternoon/evening.
We also use the refillable K-cups at times, but always have a choice of 5 K-cup coffee brands.
We don't go out locally just for coffee.

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

One time I got a telemarketer to tell me how much of the money I gave would actually go to the charity, in that case a support group for the families of police officers injured or killed in the line of duty.

First off he was not a policeman or anything, but a paid solicitor. And only 10% of any donations went to the charity. I said no thanks.