Giving money for fundraising for colleagues kids at work

[Catchuptv]

AIBU to be fed up of keep giving money for colleagues collections at work. Since the start of the year I must have given at least £30 in for raffle tickets for colleagues kids at work for stuff like raising money so they can go on trips blah de blah.
I would never expect my colleagues to contribute and I don't know how I can get out of it. Or am I just being out of order?

[Janedoe82]

It is good to give.

[EmpressLangClegInChair]

It is good to give.

To your chosen causes and within your means, yes. But it’s totally unreasonable to expect someone to just keep shelling out on request.

[IAmDudley]

@Janedoe82 can I have a tenner please?

[billy1966]

Decide an amount that you feel is reasonable....then practice your smile and "so sorry but my monthly donation has already been allocated". End of.

This is a bugbear of several of my friends. Colleagues children doing holidays to India being a big one and bungee jumps etc

[Chasingsquirrels]

I just say an outright no, with a smile.
And I never took that sort of stuff into work for my kids.

[Janedoe82]

For goodness sake- unless you are genuinely hard up, how difficult is it to give a couple of quid for a child’s activity to a colleague you work with everyday. Realistically how often does this happen? A couple of times a month? if that?

[echobench]

Agreed. Especially when an email arrives from someone you haven’t heard from in years, asking for sponsorship.

[lemontreebird]

Never take cash to work!

[Purpleartichoke]

I no longer give and I no longer ask. When the school tells me it’s fundraiser time, I give the school money from my own pocket, just like every other child expense.

[LorenzoStDubois]

Yep - keep as little money in your purse at work as possible.
Expecting people to fork out at work for charidee for Won't Someone Think of The Children is a bit CFish, I think.

[Babybel90]

I never take my purse to work, it means that:

a) I can’t buy crap from the vending machines and

b) I can’t donate to any fundraising/birthday/wedding/new baby bollocks that comes around

But I can use “a” as my excuse when really the reason I don’t bring my purse is “b”

[katy1213]

Just say you support your own charities; which don't include poverty tourism for other people's teenagers.

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

I long ago got beyond any sense of shame or guilt about saying "sorry, I am skint"
I refuse to give money I cannot spare to any cause at the expense of my family's needs.

[KC225]

When you say colleague's children going on a trip - are you talking about the gap year kids, padding out their CV by building an orphanage? If so, smiley politely, say 'no' and suggest they Google voluntourism.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

Janedoe82
These youngsters have parents of their own who can fund their fun activities!

We get a LOT of these at my work. Doing these excursions to Borneo etc. In my opinion, if a 16 year old wants to go on a 3 week holiday somewhere exotic (voluntourism my bum) they can get a part time job & fund it them selves. Funny how none of them are volunteering to help the homeless on their own doorstep or litterpick in their own towns!

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

It would be more productive for some of the communities visited by these voluntourists if they stayed at home and instead donated the flight and holiday money. It would also reduce the carbon emissions generated by flying teenagers around the globe on holiday.

[WWWV]

Be strong and say no.

No thank you.

Thank you for asking but no.

Sorry but no.

I’m not keen on sponsoring other people’s children, sorry.

I don’t do that, sorry.

[Oysterbabe]

Wow, I've never been asked for money for people's kids at work. I'm happy to give to collections for leavers, birthdays etc but would draw the line at that.

[PooWillyBumBum]

I’ve never been asked for money for people’s kids! Occasionally people post sponsorship links on our internal social network but won’t approach you at your desk.

I think cornering someone is out of order - you shouldn’t have to pay out to work!

[Celticdawn5]

I had this a lot when I worked in a large office. It was collection after collection or someone appearing at my desk with a sponsor form .I just started saying ‘no’ and it does get easier and guiltless even when someone once said to my face ‘it’s for charity’ ...yes.....I know .......and it’s still no.
You don’t have to provide an explanation . If pushed you can say they you have your own things to support but some of the PP’s ideas are just as good.
I can also remember someone not handing over the sponsorship money once collected in the office and this person had to be tackled publicly about it and then he had to provide a receipt .
The person collecting sponsorship should provide receipt or thank you letter of the total collected and pin a copy up in the tea room or something.

[Vulpine]

Yanbu. I hate being pestered for money

[foxy86]

I don’t like giving for sponsorship. My child swim school do it ever year. I don’t take the form to work as it feels like begging for me. I hardly ever have cash on me. I don’t mind giving for colleagues themselves though for leaving, having a baby etc. We stopped birthdays years ago.

[Harakeke]

YANBU

Yes it’s good to give. But to a charity of your choice - not to be guilted into helping little Timmy take a ski trip or volunteer at an orphanage.

[LorenzoStDubois]

It is begging.