Title: Charity drives
Post by: jahdra on October 20, 2003, 07:45:47 pm
Something's been bugging me, and maybe it's just me, so I appreciate any and all comments!
We have been going through the fundraising ringer lately: walkathons, bowlathons, the United Way drive that just kicked off, and the food bank donations and toy drives will be next. And they keep coming to the admins and holding us responsible for the dollar amount raised. Well, I can see their point, we're in the office all the time, etc, but after a while, I wonder. We're continually extorting money (I'm sorry, but at this point, it feels like extortion) from people for every cause under the sun and I'm tired of it.
Now, they want to hold a holiday breakfast/fundraising event for the admins. I don't quite understand: they want to raise morale by having a breakfast, but they're going to charge admission for it? If they do a toy drive, the cost of the toy is going to exceed what they're spending for breakfast. I would rather a) buy my own breakfast and b) decide which charities to donate to around the holidays. If charity is so gosh darned important to them, why don't they just donate the money directly? It wouldn't feel quite so much like extortion that way.
Or am I just a real grinch?
We have been going through the fundraising ringer lately: walkathons, bowlathons, the United Way drive that just kicked off, and the food bank donations and toy drives will be next. And they keep coming to the admins and holding us responsible for the dollar amount raised. Well, I can see their point, we're in the office all the time, etc, but after a while, I wonder. We're continually extorting money (I'm sorry, but at this point, it feels like extortion) from people for every cause under the sun and I'm tired of it.
Now, they want to hold a holiday breakfast/fundraising event for the admins. I don't quite understand: they want to raise morale by having a breakfast, but they're going to charge admission for it? If they do a toy drive, the cost of the toy is going to exceed what they're spending for breakfast. I would rather a) buy my own breakfast and b) decide which charities to donate to around the holidays. If charity is so gosh darned important to them, why don't they just donate the money directly? It wouldn't feel quite so much like extortion that way.
Or am I just a real grinch?
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: Jackie G on October 20, 2003, 08:15:33 pm
Jahdra, charity's a difficult thing, but I think like me, you deem it a particularly personal thing. We all have our pet charities (if we have any at all), and I object being almost forced into having to donate to something simply because something's in my face that I can't avoid.
I actually lie now, and say I've already given, even if I haven't, if somebody shakes a tin in my face and I can't appear anything other than rude without donating. And I don't feel guilty about saying that.
So, no, you're not a grinch - either that, or we both are!
Personally, I would take a stand. Obviously you know how much that will affect your standing at work and how difficult (or not) it could make life for you if you refuse to join in. But if it's not in your job description, why should you have to? Time to stand up and give to the charities YOU WANT to, and not what someone else THINKS you should!
Doing charity drives at work is difficult. If you are the only admin person in your department who feels like this, you're in a tough place. However, it may be that you are not alone. If you're not, then it's time to band together and say something.
Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator
I actually lie now, and say I've already given, even if I haven't, if somebody shakes a tin in my face and I can't appear anything other than rude without donating. And I don't feel guilty about saying that.
So, no, you're not a grinch - either that, or we both are!
Personally, I would take a stand. Obviously you know how much that will affect your standing at work and how difficult (or not) it could make life for you if you refuse to join in. But if it's not in your job description, why should you have to? Time to stand up and give to the charities YOU WANT to, and not what someone else THINKS you should!
Doing charity drives at work is difficult. If you are the only admin person in your department who feels like this, you're in a tough place. However, it may be that you are not alone. If you're not, then it's time to band together and say something.
Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: mathwhizchick on October 20, 2003, 09:04:54 pm
No, you are most definitely NOT a grinch. I completely agree with you.
I run into the same problem with United Way and their corporate gestapo tactics. I know they mean well, but the translation leaves a lot to be desired.
I work for a very large corporation. In terms of the corporate UW drives, I will return my donation card (each area gets points for 100% cards returned), and I donate $1, so that gets counted toward the 100% participation. Beyond the participation aspect, they are NOT allowed to query you about how much you donated--only that you did participate.
The way I see it, I really like where I work, I'm respected for me and my knowledge, I REALLY like my boss and the other folks, the benefits are excellent and they pay me well. $1/year is a small contribution toward dealing with office politics on this one (some of my friends donate 50 cents *grin*). In the past, I have worked in companies where I did not donate anything, but circumstances are different.
If I get pushed to donate on some other drive or cause, I am usually polite but firm, initially. If they continue to push, well, I'm not a charter member of the b*tch club for nothing. Of course, I'm ALWAYS professional, even then. :)
It does help that our HR division is enormously twitchly about solicitation of ANY kind (corporate sponsored or otherwise), so there is always recourse if all else fails.
hope this helps.
:)
I run into the same problem with United Way and their corporate gestapo tactics. I know they mean well, but the translation leaves a lot to be desired.
I work for a very large corporation. In terms of the corporate UW drives, I will return my donation card (each area gets points for 100% cards returned), and I donate $1, so that gets counted toward the 100% participation. Beyond the participation aspect, they are NOT allowed to query you about how much you donated--only that you did participate.
The way I see it, I really like where I work, I'm respected for me and my knowledge, I REALLY like my boss and the other folks, the benefits are excellent and they pay me well. $1/year is a small contribution toward dealing with office politics on this one (some of my friends donate 50 cents *grin*). In the past, I have worked in companies where I did not donate anything, but circumstances are different.
If I get pushed to donate on some other drive or cause, I am usually polite but firm, initially. If they continue to push, well, I'm not a charter member of the b*tch club for nothing. Of course, I'm ALWAYS professional, even then. :)
It does help that our HR division is enormously twitchly about solicitation of ANY kind (corporate sponsored or otherwise), so there is always recourse if all else fails.
hope this helps.
:)
Edited by mathwhizchick on 20/10/03 09:05 PM.
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: newtofl on October 20, 2003, 10:08:26 pm
I've worked for large companies that always had drives, Christmas Toy Drive, United Way, etc. I always made a pact with myself at the beginning of drive season that I would only donate what I can and that is it, sometimes I felt that I needed the help from the companies that the drives are for so I definately would not donate then.
Sometimes, when I feel the need to give to a charity, I go to my local mall and donate a toy through their Christmas drive (my current company does not believe in donating to anyone).
Sometimes, when I feel the need to give to a charity, I go to my local mall and donate a toy through their Christmas drive (my current company does not believe in donating to anyone).
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: shirleyt on October 21, 2003, 01:32:07 pm
My company operates a give as you earn policy when you can nominate the charity of your choice and donate as much or as little as you like each month (out of your pay packet) to who you want to support. The did a failry big push to get people to sign up to it but if you choose not to that was not a problem.
Also the company gives and extra 10% and the government gives an extra 10% to top up your donation.
I am a UK based PA so I don't know if there is such a thing in the US but I feel that I can finally give without any pressure and if I feel like giving to someone else during the year I can.
Also the company gives and extra 10% and the government gives an extra 10% to top up your donation.
I am a UK based PA so I don't know if there is such a thing in the US but I feel that I can finally give without any pressure and if I feel like giving to someone else during the year I can.
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: twhfan on October 21, 2003, 03:39:38 pm
At our company, employees who choose to particpate in walk-a-thons, food drives, etc. are only allowed to post their information in the employee lunch room, so that there is no pressure put on anyone to contribute. This seems to set well with everyone.
Once a year I do a food drive for our local animal shelter, usually in the spring at the start of "kitten season". I put up my poster and leave a box and that's it. I never approach anyone for donations, but I always get an enourmous amount of pet food to donate in our company's name (we have oodles of pet lovers here).
I agree it's very uncomfortable to be approached constantly for donations, especially if it's not a charity you particularly like. I'm surprised a company would allow such solicitations, especially on company time.
Once a year I do a food drive for our local animal shelter, usually in the spring at the start of "kitten season". I put up my poster and leave a box and that's it. I never approach anyone for donations, but I always get an enourmous amount of pet food to donate in our company's name (we have oodles of pet lovers here).
I agree it's very uncomfortable to be approached constantly for donations, especially if it's not a charity you particularly like. I'm surprised a company would allow such solicitations, especially on company time.
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: jahdra on October 21, 2003, 06:40:55 pm
To clarify, it is the firm itself that is pushing for donations, not individuals. The firm "requests" (it's not really optional) that certain people (read: administrative staff) sign up as team captains and raise money to meet the firm's target. We have a set amount we are supposed to raise, per management. People give quite generously to other people's pet causes, it's the fact that the firm is REQUIRING a certain amount be raised that annoys me. I participated in a walkathon earlier this year, and while we at the walkathon, the HR director asked all the team captains to be team captains for the NEXT fundraiser, less than a month away! We protested that we had used up all our goodwill (we had, believe me, people were quite aggravated by the end of that particular round) but she was having none of it. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent!
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: Katie G on October 21, 2003, 09:35:49 pm
I'm with Jackie. Giving is a VERY personal decision and I don't think a company has the right to force people to participate. I know they don't "officially" force you, but there's enough "unofficial" pressure to make it feel like you're being coerced. If someone wants to put a plug on the employee bulletin board and leaves people alone, that's one thing. It's quite another to have people chasing you down the hall on the company's behalf. We had a Heart Association Walk recently. I was not able to participate due to a family conflict. I was pressured to "give $10 anyway so you can get a T-shirt." Sorry, DH was out of work for 9 months this year and we're still watching every penny while his new position gets going. Ten bucks is a goodly chunk of change to us and I heartily resented being put in the embarrassing position of having to decline.
Can you guys band together and decline this dubious "honor"?
Can you guys band together and decline this dubious "honor"?
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: spitfire78 on October 21, 2003, 10:04:28 pm
At my company, it's United Way. Might as well just call it "highway robbery". I absolutely refuse to be coerced into donating money to United Way just because the company wants to present a big front. One year, the big boss' secretary actually called everyone who didn't contribute to "see if they were having problems filling out the form". Yeah, right. It was a strong arm tactic. I very politely informed her that as far as I was concerned, this was harassment and they had no right to do it. She was very uncomfortable (I don't think I was the only one who reacted this way), and they have never done that again.
This year, however, they want you to return the envelope, even if you don't contribute. Sounds to us like they want to find out who is contributing and who isn't. Well, mine went in the trash, and if anybody asks me about it, I'll just say I hadn't heard they wanted it returned and pitched it!
This year, however, they want you to return the envelope, even if you don't contribute. Sounds to us like they want to find out who is contributing and who isn't. Well, mine went in the trash, and if anybody asks me about it, I'll just say I hadn't heard they wanted it returned and pitched it!
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: Jackie G on October 21, 2003, 10:17:57 pm
I don't want to be advertising for United Way, but can you just clarify what this is exactly? I know I've heard of it, but I'm not really clear who or what they are or do.
Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator
Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator
Title: Re: Charity drives
Post by: countrigal on October 22, 2003, 02:17:03 pm
I like the government's way of doing this. The Combine Federal Campaign (CFC) is running currently, and everyone is offered the opportunity to participate. Your CFC worker passes out what they call a Giving Guide, which is a list of all the different groups you could donate to and a contribution form that is processed through payroll so it comes directly out of your paycheck. You determine which, if any, groups (local, national, affiliated or not) you want to donate to and determine how much out of each paycheck for the year and it's all done. The CFC worker has you initial that you received the information, but that's the only "tracking" that is done. Everyone has to be given the materials, whether or not they donate is a personal decision and is not tracked, not even by Service or Department. And this is only done once a year so we don't get hassled by the individual groups when they're doing their fundraisers. Of course, individuals who are raising funds for specific groups can talk to their co-workers and friends to get donations at other times of the year, but that's not pushed by the company, so it's not a big deal.
CountriGal
Peer Moderator
CountriGal
Peer Moderator