Friends not sponsoring dh

I disagree. I care about the reputation of charities and the charity sector and I think it is really important that there is genuine transparency about whether donations are funding the actual charity or funding someone's holiday/ marathon entry fee/sky dive.
The blurring the lines is unethical and is deterring people from donating

It's very widespread, and I've had any number of conversations with people about it. And those conversations have been going on for a decade or two.

I will not sponsor people when almost half of what I give goes towards their flights and holiday (which includes the activity that we sponsor them to do).

No-one does a challenge that they wouldn't otherwise choose to do. And often it's to do something that they want to do, but can't afford. So they use sponsorship quite cynically in order to have the experience that they can't fund themselves.

I sponsor people for local runs etc, because all the money goes to the charity. And I'll sponsor kids for stuff that takes an effort.

I'm not saying nobody self funds. I am saying that while people don't know who is and who isn't self funding, they are going to take the safe route and not contribute.

If your industry made sure that everyone self funded, and made it clear to the public that was happening, that obstacle would be removed. You should be having this conversation within your industry as you should be able to see the damage it is doing to the credibility of fundraising.

If you actually try and articulate your opinion, you never know, you might realise it's wrong.

Sorry, I am not into subsidising people's hobbies.

This is my job and for each challenge I can see clearly whether people self fund and raise whatever they like or use a charity place with a minimum sponsorship level needed.

Far more people self fund than you seem to imagine. 'Large proportions' of the money raised are not going to finance these activities.

If they have a charity place, paid for by us, we monitor their fundraising and if its not enough, we don't let them do the event so the charity doesn't lose out.

We have a responsibility to ensure we raise as much as possible to carry out our aims and objectives.

And no one at any point is forced to donate anything. Believe it or not, many friends and family enjoy the opportunity to donate as it makes them feel good about themselves.

As some pp have stated I wouldn't contribute towards someone doing something that they want to actually do but what others to fund it, usually a marathon or a sky dive, you don't usually see people asking for sponsorship to do stuff that's boring/unfulfilling. If I wanted to contribute towards a Charity I'd do it directly. Saying that I don't do anything sponsored so I don't ask for contributions, if I did then id expect to do it when the roles are reversed.

I didn't say it didn't exist at all, but it's not widespread in my experience and sphere and this thread shouldn't put people off doing fundraisers and asking for support. 🙂

The cost of the trip is all included. The minimum amount you raise covers the coach, etc. I can't remember the ins and outs of it. If charities didn't think them worthwhile, they wouldn't run them. Like employing fundraisers.

It absolutely does exist outside of mumsnet.
I'm quite heavily involved in the charity sector and I have seen plenty of debate about the ethics and optics of it

Because I can't be arsed being interrogated by you. 🤣

I'm not arguing anything beyond that this attitude to sponsorship doesn't exist widely outside of Mumsnet.

You're making out that charity events are pleasant holidays in the sun and I'm pointing out they're not. Give to charity or don't, up to you, but many of us would be sunk without it.

Why not? I don't want to give money and find out it all went to pay for someone's holiday. I won't be able to understand why you don't care unless you explain.

But did you pay all the costs of the trip yourself? Or did you expect the "charity donations" to also cover the cost of flights, accommodation etc?

I’ve done a few sponsored events and have also been so impressed and also grateful for the generosity of friends and family. I wont do any more for a while because I do feel embarrassed to ask but thankfully when I was doing them I didn’t have the general consensus on here. In fact quite a few friends said they were grateful to me that I will do the events because they never will and they’re happy to donate to give their little bit. I’ve raised around £6000 . I would happily do more but appreciate the begging posts on social media get a bit much but I will always try and sponsor others now even if it’s just a few pounds because I appreciate behind the scenes the effort that goes on. I have spent a fortune paying for the event, equipment for the event, hotels and travel to events and annual leave that must be taken as well as the training that takes me away from family. Yes it might be something I wanted to do but trust me it’s been huge efforts and expense to do it so I do think the consensus on here is harsh. If you can’t afford to sponsor or if you already donate to your chosen charity then fair enough but these charities rely on the big fundraiser events ( I work for a charity so I know this has fact !) so sometimes when I see one come on my social media I will think to myself I’ll sacrifice something to donate a few pounds because every little does help in these hard times for charities.

Don't care.

Why should I care how hard it is? What difference does that make to whether I give money to a cause?

Same question to you. How do you feel about the objection most people who object have raised, that the proceeds of the fundraising are often used to effectively provide a nice holiday for the fundraiser?
You seem to be arguing that nobody should even try to find this out.

Cycle challenges are incredibly hard. I've done a couple and the last was the most difficult thing I've ever done. Yes it's an amazing experience but it is not a jaunt.

Are you unaware that lots of people use large proportions of the money they raise to finance enjoyable, expensive activities they want to do, or don't you care? I presume it is one or the other as you appear to be completely ignoring the fact that this is the most common objection raised.

Nobody with any sense actually does this, though.

Agreed.. I'm pleased to say I've never come across this attitude in my fundraising/donating life too!

This response is about JustGiving, rather than contributing to a sponsored run.

I doubt many of your points above apply to a single individual's efforts in the Great North Run.

If your point is the Centre should set up a JustGiving link, then yes, it probably should (and quite likely has). The bake sale would just be another chance to publicise that which could reach just as many people as an individual blathering on on Facebook about doing the Great North Run.

I think many have got fed up with the cheeky sods asking for 'sponsorship' to trek the Himalayas, climb mountains etc, ie go on amazing holidays which others pay for, with the named charity getting a small percentage of the total. Those things seem like a racket tbh.

I really dislike sponsored things. I would only donate for very close friends or family as its the easier option than saying no.
But generally, I donate to charities that I choose, why would i send money to a random cause because someone is doing something physically challenging or silly? If you really wanted to support a charity I suspect they'd benefit far more if you gave them your wages to the equivalent time you would spend on the challenge/training for it etc.

I would be far more likely to buy things someone has made, or pay them to do some kind of work if they are donating profits, go to a charity event they have organosed, that kind of thing. Going for a run or jumping in a pool of slime is not something that I feel the need to pay people to do.

All that said- if it is the SAME friends who ask for sponsorships that aren't reciprocating then it's fair to be annoyed! But maybe it is a child v adult thing