AIBU to dislike being asked to sponsor colleagues and friends?

I remember one guy doing a swim and saying he wouldn't get far, so I pledged so much a whatever the length was, of course he did 10 x more than he said. And cost more than I could reasonably afford, haven't sponsored any one since.

I am selective, depends on the person and the charity.

I like it - I would definitely afford to give more to charity, so I'm happy to be asked.

I currently live in a country that doesn't really do this.

But when I worked in the UK I would get someone that I often barely knew turning up at my desk at what felt like almost weekly asking for some sort of sponsorship. Too be honest I usually obliged, but it did feel awkward, particularly in the work context. Also most of the charities seemed fairly benign, but there is quite a lot of charity fraud, so it wasn't always 100% clear what I was donating to. It would be better if employers had a policy on this (also the collectors probably weren't doing this in their break time).

Yanbu

I rarely sponsor people anymore

Often its either a personal challenge that they pretty much want other people to enable them to do by sponsorship, or its not a challenge at all ( eg my fit and healthy sil wanted sponsoring to do a 5km walk. She is perfectly capable of walking that distance with very little effort)

I don't mind being asked in a non-pushy way, as long as I can just ignore the request. Its now often mass emails sent out at work or a social media post. I don't mind that as I just delete/ignore them, no awkwardness.

I would sponsor my dgc to do literally anything 😂

YANBU. I hate it and so I just don’t do it.

Oh God, I hear you. I won’t donate to voluntourism causes or skydiving for that same reason.

I’ve not voted as neither for me. I just don’t do it but carry on with my day without worrying.

At work, if they ask via email, and leave it to you to sponsor online or go find them and sign up - no problem.

But the ass who once went desk to desk shamelessly asking people to sponsor his 5-y-old to do a ten-yard "race".....

Outside of the office, I'd rather people didn't ask, regardless of whether they're kids or not - I'd prefer to choose my own charities, and research carefully where the money actually goes.

Typo edits

Nope. I run a lot. I have never asked anyone to sponsor me and I never will. It’s my hobby. I’m a member of a few sports clubs and it’s so tedious. There are so many go fund me links bandied around. Ridiculous.

I hate it. I manage a big team and they are constantly doing these things (all are great people with far more interesting activities than I have). It looks so mean if I don't do it, but it feels relentless.

I don’t do the ‘climb Kilimanjaro’ things - but everything else I sponsor. I pretty much sponsor everyone who asks - I put some money aside each month for my ‘sponsorship’ pot and whoever asks I go to the account, see what I have and donate from that.

On the flip side - I will let people know if I am doing something that encourages sponsorship but to be honest I never do anything that impressive (10k is my max distance) and I don’t mind whether people sponsor or not.

I don’t mind being asked but am also confident saying no. I also find children awkward- I give though often it’s not a charity I’d have chosen (not that I actively dislike but for example I tend not to give to animal charities)

I always just sponsor a fiver

I just don’t. So many donors are anonymous anyway on these sites, they don’t really know who anyone is so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m going to be honest, I hate it.

But also, I don’t understand it. What’s the difference between me paying Flossie £10 to run a marathon or just donating £10 to the charity. The running (or whatever) doesn’t add to it or mean the charity is able to do more.

I have blanket ruled not sponsoring anyone from work. The phrase “a cause close to our hearts” is so common in my inbox that if I donated to all of them I might as well stop taking my salary!

I don't sponsor people but also we usually get an email and I have never felt pressured in any way. I am yet to have someone ask me in person.

You are definitely not being unreasonable. I can afford it, but I resent it because often the person in question isn't raising money for a cause I'd choose to support. I already give a fair bit to charity but I carefully research where to donate to.

I actually resent kids just as much as adults - often children are fundraising for a naff "voluntourism" holiday, and I make a point of not supporting those financially.

I hate it. I'm one of the lower paid at my company and the Directors and Senior Management will put in £50 or £100 each. It is clear £10 is the minimum by what everyone else gives, and the 'normal' amount is £20.

It just feels like so much money. I put in the required £10 I'd rather have kept with a sigh, and know it's probably making me look tight fisted rather than generous so, its pretty lose-lose everytime.

I hate it too, especially when I feel like I’m paying for them to do something they want to do anyway. I feel like the charity will get their cut after they have paid for the activity itself! If I want to donate to a charity I just will, I don’t need to sponsor anyone to do anything.