Do you think charities advertising is overkill?

rubin16

So I get why charities need to advertise alittle bit, but some are really overdoing it.

For example in my town where the shops are there is a new charity standing outside the shops each week, they constantly approach you and try to get you to chat with them, standing infront of you and blocking your path to the shops. For someone with bad social anxiety it really affects me, especially when going to the shops is a big deal for me alone. I don't need the constant harrassment from charities each week when trying to do a simple shop. They will stay stuff like "before you go" or "can I just say" I just ignore them as best a possible but does make my anxiety level skyrocket.

another example is TV, when the adverts come on its like 90% charities asking for money all the time, doing really depressing adverts. Adverts today are either charities, gambling or more charities. I get they need to raise awareness and funds but surely all this advertising is just wasting money they could use to help people. I generally have a rule that if a charity advertises too much I won't support them as they are wasting money through advertising.

I'm thankful scope don't overkill with advertising which is why I chose to support them, but some charities go over the top with constant harrassment.

Whats everyones thoughts?

66Mustang

I can absolutely relate to having anxiety with the charity workers who ask you to donate or sign up to stuff. Luckily I have quite recently learnt to firmly but politely say "no" but I understand how that would be hard for someone, even someone without social anxiety!!

The accountants would say advertising works. If you spend £1m on advertising and get £2m in donations, you are still up my £1m so it's not a waste. Though even with that said, I am still not sure I'd feel comfortable with my donations being put into the first £1m pot that just gets paid to ITV or whoever?!

I feel more strongly about fancy board rooms/offices, executive meetings and corporate days out/hospitality. I would rather my donation went to victims/sufferers or whoever needed it, not biscuits for meetings

Just my view but personally I donate to smaller causes myself, even individuals, then I can see where the money goes. I only donate to a few "big" charities, Scope being one

rubin16

66Mustang said:

I can absolutely relate to having anxiety with the charity workers who ask you to donate or sign up to stuff. Luckily I have quite recently learnt to firmly but politely say "no" but I understand how that would be hard for someone, even someone without social anxiety!!

The accountants would say advertising works. If you spend £1m on advertising and get £2m in donations, you are still up my £1m so it's not a waste. Though even with that said, I am still not sure I'd feel comfortable with my donations being put into the first £1m pot that just gets paid to ITV or whoever?!

I feel more strongly about fancy board rooms/offices, executive meetings and corporate days out/hospitality. I would rather my donation went to victims/sufferers or whoever needed it, not biscuits for meetings

Just my view but personally I donate to smaller causes myself, even individuals, then I can see where the money goes. I only donate to a few "big" charities, Scope being one

Yeah I am more inclined to support smaller organisations and charities. I tend to do small donations to individuals to support them directly rather than companies to constantly harass people for money as you can't trust where your money goes especially with CEO's taking millions in bonuses, the advertising and other things.

I only support 2 big charities, WWF to sponsor elephants which I like as I get regular updates and news about elephants, and scope becuase this forum has helped me so much over the years and they don't harrass or constantly advertise for money. The rest I tend to help individuals with small donations who I know my money will make a difference and not line the pocket of a CEO.

OverlyAnxious

The TV ads seem to be shown during programs that more vulnerable people are more likely to be watching which doesn't sit well with me.  Really doesn't seem necessary in the middle of a classic, gentle comedy for example.

The other one I don't like is the paper mail that they keep sending after having made a donation.  Emails can be opted out easily, but paper mail seems to be much more difficult and and almost always an automatic signup when a donation is made.

All that said, I do think they need to keep making themselves 'seen', just not in such a forceful and targeted way.  It should still be up to each individual to decide which they'd like to donate to, rather than being pushed or guilt tripped into it.