To ask if you would donate online to a charity?

[cantbearsed1]

This is a result of a discussion with a friend who said she would never donate online to a charity, as "they all waste money". I disagreed.
So it made me wonder about other people's views.
So would you donate online to a charity?

I donate the old fashioned way - by cheque, posted in an envelope with none of my details included, so they only have my name but no easy way of contacting me. When I've donated online I've always had lots of follow-up requests for more cash that I don't want to respond to, and that seem like a waste of the money I've already sent.

But really, do it however it suits you.

Of course. Just this morning donated to a Canadian charity - easily done with the internet and to a British group.
I'd think that online donations are actually much better at cutting costs - no need for 'training' chuggers.

I do think there are some charities that waste money, just as there are some businesses that are badly run. But there are also some very well run charities. I also know that the type of charity it is will make a difference in the type of costs they have. So I would expect Samaritans to have high telephone bills for example, or Doctors Without Borders to have high travel costs.

ShatnersWig - true, though I have seen plenty of others, including global ones, though I am at work, so probably ought to stick vaguely to doing that rather than research!

I agree that people have a right to their opinions, but they don't have a right for their opinions to be correct aligned with their intentions (i.e. just because they think they're doing an objectively better thing, doesn't mean they ARE, and certainly doesn't mean that they can legitimately criticise those that do otherwise).

I think it is far, FAR more important to make reasonably certain that the charity you support is a) operating ethically and b) operating effectively - neither of which have much to do with £ spent on overheads. In fact, operating ethically and effectively often need a bit more.

MargoLovebutter, not to mention all the Charities that would come to the rescue if you are caught up in, natural disasters, or accidents to do with the Sea, when abroad.

OP, is your Friend the type that wades in on FB posts asking to "help the children in War Zones etc", with, "what about our homeless?". When they've never given a fuck about social issues?

I have a small monthly direct debit to the local cats/dogs place and send a couple of such sanctuaries some knitted pet blankets. I used to donate monthly to Abortion Network Support, they help Irish women with costs to come to UK for a termination. Since the law passed I stopped, but I've given them money for years.

Apart from online, there is no other way to give money. Also, I never give my bank details or any other personal data to chuggers on a street or even those who knock on the door (yep, they exist); what I mean by it is convincing me is pointless, I need to want to do it myself.

I have standing orders to half a dozen charities, none of them big, because I researched them & decided I wanted to help.

I might give a one-off donation to another charity if I thought they deserved it and I put cash in collecting tins if I want to and I have some.