To feel a bit shit that nobody sponsored me?

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

I signed up to do the 10,000 steps a day thing for Cancer Research. I put my fundraising page on FB, Twitter but not one person has sponsored me. I know money's tight for most of us at the moment, but to not raise even a penny makes me feel shit. AIBU to take it so personally?

I work in fundraising. One of our well known phrases is "people give to people". A face-to-face request works best. With a story, i.e. Why you've chosen the cause, why it's a challenge for you, and what you hope to achieve (target, what the donation will be used for). Popping the link on your social media isn't normally enough (unless you go viral like the ice bucket challenge or the no make up selfie)
It takes effort and patience to raise money. If you are still doing the challenge you could ask again.
Good luck.

Honestly all you people who do a million steps before breakfast where the fuck do you get off belittling what I'm doing? Seriously please stop now.

Honestly all you people who do a million steps before breakfast where the fuck do you get off belittling what I'm doing?

Look OP. People have said that for THEM TO sponsor somebody it would need to be a big challenge. To THEM 10000 steps isn't a challenge and falls into dry January type fundraising.

You have asked why people aren't sponsoring you.

People have told you why they wouldn't sponsor that type of thing.

You've shared things on Facebook asking for sponsorship. I have never sponsored somebody who shares things on Facebook. I happily pop a couple of quid in a jar at work, sign up to sponsor a close friend I see in person regularly doing something big or if there's some students doing a challenge.

Good on you for choosing to be more active, but often what people feel (as shown on this thread) is people are asking sponsorship for any old thing.

I feel you need the same advice as we give our students who lead fundraising: if you're wanting to raise reasonable amounts for charity you need to do a challenge, something unusual or something that meets a local need and donations go to the charity.

Nobody's belittling you, people are just stating the truth. 10000 steps a day is normal. Asking to be sponsored for it is like asking to be sponsored for brushing your teeth twice a day, feeding your kids three meals or wearing clothes that fit. Some people have a problem doing those things but they're not achievements.

Here's another way to think about it.

A few years ago I signed up to do the couch to 5k running programme. I didn't run before and it was a challenge for me. Theres been some health issues too. But I didn't ask people to sponsor me for making a healthy change to my lifestyle by saying 'sponsor me for doing my first park run'.

Your 10,000 steps, whilst a good decision for your own health and lifestyle, is simply not the sort of thing many people will donate for. Just like my first 5k.

HildaOg did you not read the numerous posts saying that 10k ISN'T normal for some? For someone to come on here and say 'oh I do twice that every day' is smug twattery at its finest, but you can always rely on MN for that.

MyGastIsFlabbered
I go back to my example
Running 5k isn't normal for most people.
It was tough for me.
It still doesn't mean that people would be receptive to sponsoring me for making a healthy change to my own lifestyle (and nor would I ask due to many of the reasons on this thread!)

Clearly, what you want to be told is that what you're doing is groundbreaking and anyone who doesn't give you money because you've shared a just giving page on Facebook is clearly a miserable and selfish individual who hates charity and can't see your personal philanthropic genius.

And where do you 'get off' expecting what you are doing to be so important to other people? If you want to do something then do it but don't expect applause or cash from other people.

And if you want to be charitable, that's great but by most people's definition it should be doing something useful for someone else or putting your hand in your own pocket. It's easy to be charitable with other people's money.

Did you not read my post where I said brushing your teeth or feeding your kids isn't normal for some but isn't an achievement? You asked a question and you're not listening to the replies. You keep repeating the same pity line, it's not going to change anyones mind.

To be honest hilda It's making me less sympathetic

Op- thing is you are taking this all so personally. People have said why they make the charitable giving decisions they take. You seem to think it is a personal slight, when actually MOST people do not tell all and sundry about any economic pressures they may or may not have.

I quite literally do not have a few pounds here or there to spare to every single person I know who is currently asking for dosh for whatever cause they think is worthy. People (like my SIL) might say ' oh it's only a few pounds', but if it is only a few pounds for every damned person who comes trying to put their hand in my pocket then I would be paying out well more than I can afford.

How many threads do you see on MN where people are worrying about how they can afford this or that? Loads. I can only repeat what others have said- it's really not about you.

Me too Maisy.

Oh fuck it, I'm hiding this thread. I feel like I'm being attacked for trying to do a good thing and I'm done. Thank you to the lovely posters who PM'd me and sponsored me, at least some good has come of this.

And someone said up thread that you seem to understand why people will not give to other causes, but you are taking umbrage at people not giving to YOU.

Trouble is these days EVERYONE and his dog is doing something sponsored and asking for money. My FB feed is full of people doing 5/10k runs, moonwalk, etc. etc. the list is endless!
Personally unless it is
a) someone I am very close to
b) a cause very near to my heart
c) someone doing something really outstanding
d) A child

Then I just scroll by I am afraid.

FWIW I don't do 10k steps a day, so not judging, but I don't really think it is something special enough that warrants sponsorship. Sorry!

Oh fuck it, I'm hiding this thread. I feel like I'm being attacked for trying to do a good thing and I'm done. Thank you to the lovely posters who PM'd me and sponsored me, at least some good has come of this.

For the love of God, you are not being attacked!

You've asked why people aren't giving.
People have said why they wouldn't give for it.
Instead of listening you've come back time after time to tell us why you understand that people won't give to OTHER PEOPLE but seem to think your cause is better and more noble than anyone else.

All that needed to happen is:
OP - I'm a bit hurt. Why aren't people giving!
MN - for all these reasons, it's a good choice for you but it's sort of like everyone's doing something like this at the moment.
OP- ah right. So it's not personal to me. I'll keep going with my challenge and maybe I'll be able to do something bigger in future that may get more sponsorship,

Yeah- everyone and his dog. Damned right.

I hate feeling like everyone sees me and everyone else around them as a cash cow. Just recently I was more or less blackmailed into it at work my line supervisor whose daughter was doing a sponsored hair cut for cancer. So I donated funds that actually I noticed when it was re-directed out of my monthly budget and in the end the damned woman did not even cut her hair off as she thought it would be too extreme. But that's okay, as at least the money went to charity.....

Seriously- if people want to do something or donate funds to a cause close to their heart, that is fine, really. Just have the good grace to realise that it may not be as simple as you think for the people around you.

OP don't get your knickers in a twist.

You asked why no one was sponsoring you, and people are giving you the answer that 10k steps a day is incredibly unimpressive unless you are physically disabled.

I only give sponsorship for people who are doing something for one of my chosen charities, or they are doing something truest exceptional - like swimming the channel.

Going for a little walk every day? Nope. Not drinking for a month? Nope. Growing a rash for one month? Nope. Running 5k? Nope.

Or what Maisy said with more grace than I did.

Ok so flouncing wasn't exactly crowning myself in glory. I do totally understand why people haven't sponsored me, I've never said I feel my cause is more worthy than any other cause. What I've taken personally and what has hurt my feelings is the numbers of people saying that 10k is unimpressive. To most people maybe isn't but to me it's a huge thing. I'm trying to defend myself because to me, this is my personal Kilimanjaro if you like. It was said that 10k wasn't impressive, I got that, I didn't need the numbers of people wading in to tell me again and again that it wasn't impressive.

I said upthread I have MH problems, part of that is that I do take things far too personally and the tiniest slight hurts me deeply. I appreciate that that's my problem not anyone else on this thread's but hopefully it might explain why I reacted in the way I did.

But please, no more comments that 10k is not an achievement. It's my problem but I find it deeply upsetting to read.

If that's how it's come across then that's honestly not what I meant

That is exactly how you have come across, repeatedly judging your friends for not giving to a cause you have chosen to support (with their money).

MyGast I think what PP are trying to say is that if it is an achievement to you, that's fine and well done. But don't expect other people to congratulate on it or give money to charity in your name.

A couple of years ago, I did the 10 week Insanity programme. It was a huge achievement for me and it was a personal challenge, but I didn't even tell anyone about it (other than DP) let alone expect people to sponsor me. I did it for me.

It's great that you are trying, but that is the reason people won't sponsor you.

WonderLime
Another good example. Well said... and exactly what lots of us have repeatedly said (and have been ignored).

I did couch to 5k and ran a 5k at the end. It was a massive challenge for me, but I wouldn't go around asking for money for it.

Why are people belittling an effort the OP has made to raise money for charity?!

I'm not the kindest person in the world but I sure as hell wouldn't want to discourage someone from doing a good thing.

OP, don't let the bastards grind you down!

Why are people belittling an effort the OP has made to raise money for charity?!

Because its not something that will raise money for charity, You can tell because it didn't. And they aren't belittling her, they are simply explaining to her why people didn't sponsor her.