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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder where my donated item went?

294 replies

LemonTreeSkies · 16/04/2023 04:11

There is a local charity that does great work. They had a fundraiser planned for today and we’re asking for raffle items. I sent the organiser a photo of a brand new items that was appropriate to their audience that I was willing to donate if they wanted it. It was worth about £200. He said yes, great, they’d appreciate it.
fundraiser event was today. Someone posted a video of a walk through of the raffle items and I didn’t see my item there.
I’ve just watched a replay of the live video of all the tickets being drawn and my donation wasn’t there. I’m not sure if IBU to be a bit peeved.
Im not sure if I should message asking what happened to the item I donated or just take the attitude I was willing to donate it so it shouldn’t matter what happened to it.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Seashor · 16/04/2023 10:02

Something similar happened to me once. My son gave a prize for an activity that he runs. The voucher was not on the raffle table and was not drawn. I enquired about it to be told it was ‘won’ by the organisers daughter!

My son refused to honour it with a brilliant Paddington stare when they showed up. Funnily enough they didn’t make a fuss!!

similarminimer · 16/04/2023 10:07

Did they have a silent auction as well - and used your prize for that?

AnuSTart · 16/04/2023 10:07

I think a massive strap on and a coffee machine are around the same size. I know mine are. It's the box that makes a difference.

Ask on FB OP, those chancers stole it! Either of the above (new!) will get all the bad sorts trying their luck!

poetryandwine · 16/04/2023 10:10

There are good possibilities and bad possibilities and they are all valid. You will only find out by asking.

I don’t think it is cynical to wonder about the bad possibilities. I am pretty sure the nicest item of clothing I ever donated to a particular local charity shop never made it to the display floor. Now my (rare) good donations go elsewhere.

Schnooze · 16/04/2023 10:14

I hope there is a good explanation.

DarkDarkNight · 16/04/2023 10:23

I would send a private message to say you noticed your item was not in the raffle and question whether it will be in another raffle at a later date.

If you have hidden it for that long could it be something that was out of date or not really useful anymore? Technology moves on so fast something could be obsolete. In that case they should have said but maybe they found it too awkward to say.

It depends on the item.

RandomSunday · 16/04/2023 10:23

There’s no harm in asking OP. I’d be miffed if I’d donated an expensive item for a raffle and it wasn’t used as intended.

There may be a reasonable explanation but unless you ask you’ll never know.

GetYourActTogether1 · 16/04/2023 10:26

I would definitely want to know and I would ask for it back as it wasn’t in the raffle.

Eggseggseverywhere · 16/04/2023 10:26

My guess is a Lovely Raquel...

viques · 16/04/2023 10:27

If the item was three years old it might not have been in the same desirable condition the OP thinks it was. It might be an item that has had more recent updates in spec or appearance. Or if the box was damaged or torn it would not look attractive , if it is something electrical it could have failed a Safety test. You would be surprised at the poor condition of things people bring to be sold in charity shops, some people unfortunately have a very rose coloured glasses view of the value and saleability of their items.

mainsfed · 16/04/2023 10:28

Checking in for the update.

curliegirlie · 16/04/2023 10:29

As PPs have said, if it was high value and the already had a good handful of high value items in the raffle they may have kept it for a separate auction, as it would pull in more funds that way than the number of extra raffle tickets it would have encouraged the sale of. But yes, do ask...

DRS1970 · 16/04/2023 10:31

I would contact them and say you saw your item wasn't used for the raffle, so would like it back seeing as it wasn't suitable. Given that you donated it specifically for that event, I feel you would be acting reasonably 8n doing this.

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 10:39

It may be as part of a different prize.

I would definitely ask and id be tempted to go to the event especially if it’s something you’d enjoy anyway.

StormzyinaTCup · 16/04/2023 10:41

I would certainly want to know.
I'd probably approach it in a casual way ie. Glad to see raffle went well and hope you raised a good amount for charity, however, I did notice from the footage that my donation wasn't there. I am assuming it was surplus to requirements so if you don't need it anymore I can collect it and donate it elsewhere rather than it sitting with you doing nothing for a later date.

I'd go with pp and guess it's a games console bought at a bargain price and OP has decided DH doesn't really need two games consoles (completely understandably😁) so has raffled it off.

FancyFran · 16/04/2023 10:47

I have worked in the charity shop sector. 5 out of 18 managers were asked to leave in one year. We had a £3k clock donated. That went to HQ and it disappeared. I resigned after that. Not all people are dishonest and plenty of volunteers reported one manager. When I think back she was a really bad egg. Sadly I couldn't catch her. I would ask how much the item made especially if you giftaided.

feelingrubbish2023 · 16/04/2023 10:48

I think I would email along the lines of

I watched your online raffle having donated an item as was obviously keen for it to find a good home and raise money for your charity, however having watched the video the item i donated wasn't included. I just wondered why?

Aylestone · 16/04/2023 10:48

I’d definitely have to chase this up. Hopefully it’s just been misplaced and forgotten about and they can use it in future raffles. But there is a chance that something underhand is going on and someone is siphoning off proceeds that should be going to charity. It’s not necessarily like they’re all in on it, they need to know if someone’s being dishonest.

BrokenWing · 16/04/2023 10:50

Was it one of the more valuable items in the raffle?

I have had that before and it was nothing sinister. They had decided they would keep aside and the donation could be used more effectively to raise money separately from the raffle vs adding to a long list of prizes already in the raffle.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 16/04/2023 10:51

Sounds dodgy. I would want to see proof that it was auctioned. A lot of charity stores, etc are notorious for this.

Didn't take long, did it. Always someone who knows for a fact that ALL charity volunteers steal "the good stuff".

Why did you quote somebody saying 'a lot' and then represent that as 'ALL' - as well as changing 'they are notorious for' to 'I know for a fact'?

People who work for charities are people - and some people are dishonest. Why do you think the Charities Commission has strict procedures to audit and check up that charities are being run properly and honestly, if there aren't some people/groups who take advantage for personal gain?

EasterBreak · 16/04/2023 10:53

It went home with them as it was obviously thought to be too good to raffle. My aunt works for a charity who accept donations and this does happen often. Perk of the job so to speak. It's obviously not right though.

TennisWithDeborah · 16/04/2023 10:54

Some unpleasant stories of theft on this thread. I really hope that the explanation the OP receives is a plausible one.

MILLYmo0se · 16/04/2023 10:55

EasterBreak · 16/04/2023 10:53

It went home with them as it was obviously thought to be too good to raffle. My aunt works for a charity who accept donations and this does happen often. Perk of the job so to speak. It's obviously not right though.

And does your aunt do anything about this?! Like report the staff/charity? Or does she profit from it too

EasterBreak · 16/04/2023 10:56

Not always straight up theft they may pay £10 for something worth a lot more so the charity does get money from it but not as much as it could make.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 16/04/2023 10:56

Maybe (of course, we don't know) they justified it to themselves that somebody was going to get themselves an item worth £200 for a fiver (one raffle ticket), so the charity would benefit four-fold if they donated £20 and took the item for themselves. Obviously entirely unacceptable and fraudulent, but some people would use 'logic' like this.