Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside)

[AAP]

I've been feeling that lately.

As you know, I host several big fundraisers at my home each year to raise funds for my charity. (I raise/donate to the same one all the time)

In addition to that I try to attend charities for other organizations that I don't directly support or raise funds for. (Toys for Tots, Habitat For Humanity, AIDS walk, White Party, etc..) What I mean by "don't directly support or raise funds for" is that they are not the beneficiaries of my events that I host at my home (and occasionally other places.) But I still support them in the sense that I attend, write a check, find them sponsors, etc..

Lately, I have been getting too many damn requests to go to different events. I did one last Tuesday (that was a fucking bust even though I spent $175 there on several silent auction prizes that I won and will just turn around and give them away at my upcoming party), I did one Friday night for the Humane Society, I did a pool party one this past Sunday, then I did an award banquet Monday night. I was SUPPOSED to go to a Dining Out For Life event last night. But instead after I finished working, I ran some errands that I have been putting off for a week now, took a nap from 3 to 530, went to Target to shop for domestic supplies, and went to the gym at 930, came home, and farted around on the couch doing shit for our company trip next week.

I get a call this morning while I am out digging that grave (see other thread) and the message says that they noticed I was not there and just wanted to make sure if I had a real commitment to the community or if I was just going to pay lip service about it. (WTF?!?!?!?!??? I bought two $50 tickets and gave them away, so even though *I* wasn't there, the seats were filled.) Got the impression that finding substitute guests was not good enough, that I still should have bought another ticket and showed up myself.

Or maybe I just cranky. But that just rubbed me wrong. That is almost like a condescending street beggar attempting an emotional arm twist behind his little card board sign.

fuck bitches. never acknowledge the other shit I do, but the one time I don't show up in person (even though substitute warm bodies were supplied in my name) it is like I suddenly have a history of flaking out.

 

[lartinos]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

Maybe you should cut down on the number opf charieties and just focus on a few.

 

[AAP]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

Yeah, for real. Thing is, these that I go to on the side never support mine. They never attend or donate anything towards the raffle, silent auction, or prizes for winners.

 

[lartinos]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

There's your answer, pretty simple... fuck'em. It's unfortunate that douchy people have to mess up a good cause though, but you can only do what you can do. Maybe by focusing on just a few you can do even better things for them.

 

[rnch]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

i am guessing that as the economy tanks the charities are loosing their funding sources and are hitting harder on those (like AAP) who still have the means to support their causes?

 

[AAP]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

There's your answer, pretty simple... fuck'em. It's unfortunate that douchy people have to mess up a good cause though, but you can only do what you can do. Maybe by focusing on just a few you can do even better things for them.

Well I can understand somewhat why some of the sponsors don't attend mine. My parties are generally 50% gay (Easter Bonnet and 4th July and Xmas Party) or 100% gay (naked pool parties and Wildfyre parties - which straight people wouldn't be invited to anyway) so the gay sponsors that do attend and support expect me to donate the proceeds to "community" issues like HIV awareness, research, etc..

Which I both do and don't do. I fund raise for a HIV+ shelter for women and children in poverty (homeless or borderline homeless). The "community" doesn't like that because it excludes gay males. Which is exactly why I support this shelter in the first place.

Then the nongay community like Toys for Tots, Humanity For Habitat, etc.. they don't really attend or sponsor my parties because of the high percentage (or complete percentage) of gay attendees and gay sponsors. (yeah.. I know beggars can't be choosers but they have a "corporate" image to uphold and you know how fucked up bigots and narrowminded people can be if they find out) But really, can you imagine Toys For Tots attending a party where the major sponsors are Belveder Vodka, Swiss Army lube, and Jungle Juice poppers?

It is just a case of trying to satify all people all the time I guess.

Funny thing, the Humane Society doesn't care about any of that. They say their animals love everyone and don't have time to worry about silliness like that.

Which I agree.

 

[lartinos]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

Even the charities are selfish, lol. Makes sense, just fuggin' sad. Simlilar to how groups like naacp doesn't give a shit about womans/gays rights.

 

[puddlemonkey]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

Most charities are scams.

 

[Razorguns]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

Ask what % of the money isn't used up by overhead costs. If they bullshit, ask to see their balance sheet. 90% of them won't disclose their financials - there's a reason.

Charities are great for tax purposes too. Ever wonder why so many corporations have their own 'charities'

r

 

[Jocques Straap]

Re: Ever feel like you are being taken advantage of by charities? (a semi-rant inside

What the fuck is a Jungle Juice popper?

Do I want to know?