Join the Big Blue Bike Ride team - Prostate Cancer UK

I think it's fine to do a sponsored ride, it gives a focus to fundraising for a charity and perhaps nudges people to remember to donate when they might have been meaning to anyway… I certainly think it's impolite to ask people to their face, a round robin email with no pressure is best and it should contain a message explaining that you understand that some people will be giving their money to other charities or haven't got the money to spare. I certainly agree you should put your money where your mouth is, for each of the three big charity fundraisers I've done I've made a point of putting in the first £50 or £100 to show I don't just expect others to dip into their pockets.

Where I'm totally with you is in objecting to those rides where part of the sponsorship goes to the fundraisers having a once-in-a-lifetime experience – raise over £3000 of sponsorship and ride the Machu Picchu trail for free, that sort of thing. Would never do one and would never sponsor someone doing one.

You don't get something for nothing you know!

It's a continuum.  There are some out-and out scams.  There are some "aid projects" which are likely doing at least as much for the donor organisations in rich countries as the targets.  Then at the other end some people are just getting bled (often by themselves) for a cause.

I think (apart from martyrs and scammers) most charity is a bit like a (ground / air source) heat pump.  You can extract energy (money) but you need some to put in.

So donors get something.  Obviously "feeling good" but also having some extra motivation for having some experience.  Yes, perhaps they could do it by themselves - but it's easier this way, or maybe you just can't get to do the thing otherwise.  And for the charity things get organised / money gets concentrated in return for giving some people a career in charity fundraising / administration.

Can't recall the sketch show but am thinking about one with a guy going round an office getting sponsorship to travel some place and when asked "and what's the charity, what's this for?" looks at them oddly and says "it's just for me!"

chrisonatrike wrote:

You don't get something for nothing you know!

Ha ha - that's the very definition of charity.

Some charities are trooly-so - all those doing stuff via the charity do so for others and for no reward or return other than the pleasure (and perhaps kudos) of doing so. If you "help" someone for pay, you're just working .... in a business (HelpRus: £29 an hour; limited service; no guarantees).

Cugel wrote:

chrisonatrike wrote:

You don't get something for nothing you know!

Ha ha - that's the very definition of charity.

Some charities are trooly-so - all those doing stuff via the charity do so for others and for no reward or return other than the pleasure (and perhaps kudos) of doing so. If you "help" someone for pay, you're just working .... in a business (HelpRus: £29 an hour; limited service; no guarantees).

Well that was m'point - in that case for the "something" you're getting pleasure or kudos (or feeling it's your role, calling or maybe even identity...)

But I don't want to slice and dice (I'm just off out on the bike).

"Also, if you believe in the value of the charity involved, why not just bung them some dosh yourself, direct.  That's what me and t'ladywife do."

Lots of people don't though, either through inertia or just that they don't think of it. So, events where people take on some kind of challenge do tend to raise more money than just hoping people will randomly donate: it's why they're organised. 

I don't fundraise for rides/runs, partly through sheer embarrassment and partly because they're my hobby and it feels wrong. It's kind of bitten me on the arse now though, as I really want to do the London Marathon and could raise the required amount at a push, but my preferred charities have declined me presumably as I have no track record and lots of others do. My rational mind accepts this completely: it's how they raise money and they shouldn't risk a miserable loner like me not raising enough. My bitter side is annoyed that I won't get a shot at a good time, while others will essentially get to walk round because they're good at getting the sponsorship in. And I can't prove myself in another event because I can't ask people twice!

Charities will be registered with the Charities Commission and the Fundraising Regulator, and basically they're legit if they are and aren't if they're not. I don't see a problem with them being run as businesses: I'd rather have well-paid professionals raising and spending millions for beneficiaries than well-meaning amateurs getting out of their depths with the governance that is (rightly) required. 

Good luck to these guys: I'm away on the event date, but will certainly consider it for next year.