If you're really rich, give to charity yourself, don't get sponsored by poorer people

[TurnOffTheHeating]

I'm sure this has been said before (probably done to death). But this properly boils my piss. Yet again, someone stinking rich (and senior) has asked the rest of the team at work to sponsor them to do something they probably want to do anyway (a half marathon) for charity. "Generously" starts off the online sponsorship form with 50 quid from themselves. "Dig deep", they ask, "It's for a good cause". Just before they disappear off to the Caribbean for an Easter break.

I'm not suggesting that poorer people don't or won't be wanting to give to charity. But in their boss's name, glorifying their exercise regime?

I mean, just f* off.

YANBU

I wouldn't sponsor them.

you kind of want to reply: "you don't pay me enough for me to do this."

@SausagePourHomme

you kind of want to reply: "you don't pay me enough for me to do this."

Or "how about you donate on behalf of all of us?"?

The day I realised that if you are forced agree to sell tickets for something or other, for charity, it is perfectly reasonable to buy some or all of them yourself and not bother anyone else, was a happy day indeed.

Completely agree. Some years back, a local paper had an article featuring a woman I knew. Her husband is obscenely wealthy, think Rich list level . She was seeking sponsorship , I think for some sort of sponsored trek.

It's no better when poor people do it tbh. If you want to donate to a charity, use your own money or volunteer your own time. Same if you want to do some fancy activity, pay for it yourself instead of jumping on a charity bandwagon and pressuring other people into paying for it for you.

Agreed. I never ever ask people to sponsor me. It just doesn't seen right and I cringe for well off friends who do. Some were asking for sponsorship and support of fundraising events for their dc to go on overseas trips.
My own dc went on a sports tour and we were supposed to get behind the fundraising events. I said I can't do this, I'll just contribute an amount equivalent to the fundraising.

Sometimes it’s impossible to get places in the more popular races without taking a charity place. Could this be the reason? That said, he could just meet the donation threshold out of his own pocket, although I’m not sure that’s allowed or not. I never do things which require charity fund raising as I find it embarrassing to ask others for donations. I donate a % of my salary though.

I guess you don't like this person.

IMO anyone raising money for charity is doing a good thing, not a bad thing.

I agree with the OP, but what about an ordinary (not rich) person who does a bog standard sponsored swim/walk? I've done these sometimes where the charity is one I want to support, and the event is a challenge for me. Obviously no one is obliged to give, and I'd only expect the odd fiver but it all mounts up. That seems like a win for everyone, no?

We walked some of the south west coast path and met a woman who was walking the whole thing for charity. We just thought, by the time she'd paid for all the b&bs and food and the journey down and back, she might as well have donated that money and not gone!

Even worse IMO is wealthy people wanting others to contribute to their kids expensive foreign trip by buying some poorly made crafts they have made for example.

And someone recently was trying to get people to crowdfund for a uni project their son was doing. She could easily have afforded to pay it all herself. Fair enough to encourage him to get a job to contribute, but expecting other people to pay?

One of my colleagues fund raises to "volunteer" at a school in Africa each year

Her airfare alone would have paid for a locally qualified teacher for a year. She earned £65k 14 years ago and so I imagine much more now

Yep. YA SO NBU!
The latest in my circle is a high achieving friend who has to turn everything she does into a bloody challenge to aid her continual self improvement. She's done one bike ride and is now asking for sponsorship to do a 100m challenge.
What books my piss is:

• She's a director on a six-figure salary and has just come back from 2 back to back luxury holidays.
• I've road cycled for years, but just quietly get on with it without the need for fanfare!

PAY FOR YOUR HOBBY YOUR BLOODY SELF!

I don't sponsor everything at work, I'm selective and it depends what they are raising for. One simply can't do everything.

@StillWeRise

I agree with the OP, but what about an ordinary (not rich) person who does a bog standard sponsored swim/walk? I've done these sometimes where the charity is one I want to support, and the event is a challenge for me. Obviously no one is obliged to give, and I'd only expect the odd fiver but it all mounts up. That seems like a win for everyone, no?

My DH often gets charity places in hard to get marathons He just pays the full amount himself (often pays more) He also sometimes does charity races and just donates a decent wedge himself and doesnt get any sponsors.

Years ago I went on a mountaineering skills/ 4000m summit holiday. Someone at work asked me if I was getting sponsored for it. Collecting sponsorship for going on holiday... FFS.

Likewise most people manage to compete in sports without treating it as a charity event. It seems only specific sports/events are worthy of this treatment.

Like you say, just donate, also they could donate there time to local, low profile, non Gucci charitable projects, but that doesn't attract so many likes on Instagram.

I ignore these emails.

Once, when sent a 'chaser' email, I replied politely that the cause didn't meet my criteria for charitable giving, but I wished them well with their venture. I wasn't bothered again.

Yeah. It started at school with the girls who were off abroad with Raleigh International and wanted us all to pay. I remember than a dawning sense of .

I was on a temporary contact and a Dept. Manager sent round a form for him trek up a mountain. He had to raise a few grand in sponsorship to get the free trek. I ignored it but passed it on, then the CF actually came to my desk and asked if I'd seen it? I said I had but I wasn't going to pay for someone's holiday when I was on a temporary contract with no sick or holiday pay. He said 'So you don't support charity then?' I told him I did support charity, and I even volunteered at one but if he wanted to climb Kilimanjaro he would have to pay for it himself. After the conversation swept round the office, a few others also knocked him. He blanked after that

I also feel the same about middle class kids age 18/19 never had a part time job but going to 'teach' or build 'orphanages' in Africa or Asia. So patronising.

I ignore all requests for sponsor events (everyone is after your money)

I donate to charity as and when I decide but will not just donate because someone is asking.

@MajorCarolDanvers

I guess you don't like this person.

IMO anyone raising money for charity is doing a good thing, not a bad thing.

This.

You'd hate me. I do lots of fundraising for running events which is my hobby that I love.

Maybe how I do it is acceptable to you as I pay my entry fees for events (so not taking a charity place) and don't chase people for money just put intermittent posts on social media so people who want to support me do and those who don't don't have to.

But frankly if you don't approve I don't care. It makes a difference to the charities I fundraise for and my friends are happy to support this so I'll keep going.

Tithing works well as the amount you donate is proportional to your income.

Oh, and I DO give to charity myself, both by supporting others in their fundraising and also to individual charities from time to time. Doing sponsored events doesn't mean you're not supporting charities yourself!

I do agree with you OP.
It’s the “sponsor me for something I really want to do” eg parachute jump, London marathon, walking the great wall of China people, who virtue signal all over social media but give nothing themselves that I find difficult.