Your donation will be doubled

[Rye Miles #13621]

There are many organizations asking for donations, that’s fine most are legit but my question is, how does your donation’s impact DOUBLE? Many will say this, “ If you donate now your donation will have twice the impact, it will double its value but only for a short time please hurry!

Really? So how does it double ? Is there someone stepping in to match all the donations? If so why not say who they are? Hmmmmm………..🙄

Edited Monday at 09:42 PM by Rye Miles #13621

[Black Angus McPherson]

The same way some shoe companies can donate a free pair of shoes to some 3rd worlder when you buy a pair for yourself.  (They charge you twice the price)

 

Angus

[Dr. Zook]

Sometimes its corporation's looking for a last minute charitable tax deduction (look at timing of double bonus giving). Others it could be private citizens looking to do the same thing.  

The mass mailings and free "gifts" could be reduced/eliminated to ensure that more of the donations go where they are supposed to go or the charity who's board/director draws a salary w/bonuses based on achieving donation goals & the selling of donation mailing lists.  Lastly, the round up contribution when you buy something-you may get the tax credit if you save your receipt & file it but in reality who gets the deduction is the store/chain/corporation who "donates" the aggregate $ in their name.

 

[sorry about going off topic - just irritates that your hard earned money donation gets siphoned off that the majority of each $1 goes to running the show].

[Dr. Zook]

1 minute ago, Black Angus McPherson said:

The same way some shoe companies can donate a free pair of shoes to some 3rd worlder when you buy a pair for yourself.  (They charge you twice the price)

 

Angus

Have you seen the amount of US clothes that go to Africa that were either unsold or "donations".

The overloaded pickups and other vehicles going down I-10 or I-8 to Mexico with clothing and other items stacked 6' over the cab line.

[Black Angus McPherson]

7 minutes ago, Dr. Zook said:

Have you seen the amount of US clothes that go to Africa that were either unsold or "donations".

The overloaded pickups and other vehicles going down I-10 or I-8 to Mexico with clothing and other items stacked 6' over the cab line.

 

Like all the shirts and hats celebrating the recent Patriots Super Bowl Championship.  😆

 

Angus

[Rye Miles #13621]

If a company is willing to match donations for a little while my question is why not announce who they are? That would be great advertising! Bottom line is I DON’T BELIEVE ITS BEING DOUBLED, it’s just a way to get you donate!

Edited Monday at 11:51 PM by Rye Miles #13621

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

I think that you're all wrong. Since the vast majority of your donation goes to pay THEM, they're going to keep twice as much for themselves.

[Rip Snorter]

A very long time ago, I worked for a non profit. There was a clear, legal limit on what could be spent on fundrasing and staff.  The group I worked for was erhical and followed the rules.  My recollection, many years on, is that it was right around 30%.  It was frustrating that there were a few larger organizations that did some tricky accounting, made more, kept more and did less good.  I suspect there are still rules in place, but fraud is rampant.  I still trust the Salvation Army.

[sassnetguy50]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

If a company is willing to match donations for a little while my question is why not announce who they are? That would be great advertising! Bottom line is I DON’T BELIEVE ITS BEING DOUBLED, it’s just a way to get you donate!

It is common for business to business companies and billionaires not to disclose their name.  Business to consumer companies often display their name.  

 

As mentioned, a company plans to donate X amount and tells the nonprofit they'll match anything up to X amount by Y date.  Is there really a donation matcher? Yes.  Is there sometimes fraud?  Yes.  

 

@Rip Snorter Are you sure it was a 30% legal limit rather than the nonprofit trying to match the ratio they filled out on the transparency paperwork?  Nonprofits often follow a self imposed ratio since it has to be filed and is public record.   When I worked in non-profit fundraising there was no such federal maximum legal operating ratio.  Some states had additional laws.   

[Rye Miles #13621]

7 minutes ago, sassnetguy50 said:

It is common for business to business companies and billionaires not to disclose their name.  Business to consumer companies often display their name.  

 

As mentioned, a company plans to donate X amount and tells the nonprofit they'll match anything up to X amount by Y date.  Is there really a donation matcher? Yes.  Is there sometimes fraud?  Yes.  

 

@Rip Snorter Are you sure it was a 30% legal limit rather than the nonprofit trying to match the ratio they filled out on the transparency paperwork?  Nonprofits often follow a self imposed ratio since it has to be filed and is public record.   When I worked in non-profit fundraising there was no such federal maximum legal operating ratio.  Some states had additional laws.   

How do you know that it’s common for companies not to disclose their names? Why? It seems it would be in their favor , I don’t believe there’s anyone matching funds, I think it’s a big ploy by the non profit! 

[Rip Snorter]

1 minute ago, sassnetguy50 said:

It is common for business to business companies and billionaires not to disclose their name.  Business to consumer companies often display their name.  

 

As mentioned, a company plans to donate X amount and tells the nonprofit they'll match anything up to X amount by Y date.  Is there really a donation matcher? Yes.  Is there sometimes fraud?  Yes.  

 

@Rip Snorter Are you sure it was a 30% legal limit rather than the nonprofit trying to match the ratio they filled out on the transparency paperwork?  Nonprofits often follow a self imposed ratio since it has to be filed and is public record.   When I worked in non-profit fundraising there was no such federal maximum legal operating ratio.  Some states had additional laws.   

A lot of decades in a different industry between - what I recall is keeping it within guidelines we were advised were necessary and others, larger, "cheating". Was back in the early '70's.  A different world. 

[sassnetguy50]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

How do you know that it’s common for companies not to disclose their names? Why? It seems it would be in their favor , I don’t believe there’s anyone matching funds, I think it’s a big ploy by the non profit! 

Because I've worked on both sides of it professionally.  Believe what you want, we're just strangers on the internet.

Edited Tuesday at 03:15 AM by sassnetguy50

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, sassnetguy50 said:

Because I've worked on both sides of it professionally.  Believe what you want, we're just strangers on the internet.

That’s pretty vague but whatever you say stranger! 

[Rye Miles #13621]

What else makes me question the doubling of your donation is when they say “ for a limited time”. If I had any idea to give to a charity that would make me skeptical. Maybe it’s just me but there’s a lot of people out there that make me question their motives. 

[watab kid]

ive always felt that those that spend so much on advertising are delivering less to the folks intended to receive it , that may or may not be true , but it seems there are a lot of adds on TV asking and some ore long and well choreographed , hod to cost a great deal even if half was donated by the media , 

 

get a lot of mail requesting donations as well , lot of money spent on that too 

[Rip Snorter]

I stop sending donations to the charities that send me "free" junk.  Very expensive programs that reduce the quantity of dollars they can use for their cause.  One I supported for decades must have gotten a new Director.  I wrote him once asking that he keep the stuff, ignored.  Now they don't get my money.

[Rye Miles #13621]

4 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

I stop sending donations to the charities that send me "free" junk.  Very expensive programs that reduce the quantity of dollars they can use for their cause.  One I supported for decades must have gotten a new Director.  I wrote him once asking that he keep the stuff, ignored.  Now they don't get my money.

I send to one every few months and as soon as I send the money within a week I have more stuff from them, address labels, scratch pads, greeting cards. I stopped sending to them and suddenly the stuff stopped coming. I’ll donate to the Salvation Army and that’s it. I give some money to a couple local charities that I trust. 

[Rip Snorter]

Salvation Army was / is great.  I often partnered with them to get things done for people in my non profit days. There were some needs they could fund that I could not. Unfortunately I would have to send my donation to California which is a red flag.  Last few years local only.  Probably the best plan in any case. Ina rural area, word gets around if it is anything phony.

[WD Farren]

Years ago IBM had us donating to United Way until I found out that 93% of the donation went to “management” expenses.

 

I quit donating.

my don in law was an ardent supporter of the Wounded Warrior program until they were discovered fraudulent as well.

[Rip Snorter]

1 minute ago, WD Farren said:

Years ago IBM had us donating to United Way until I found out that 93% of the donation went to “management” expenses.

 

I quit donating.

my don in law was an ardent supporter of the Wounded Warrior program until they were discovered fraudulent as well.

They had some big numbers back in my day, but I have a hard time believing they could get away with 93% - they arent based in Minnesota.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, WD Farren said:

Years ago IBM had us donating to United Way until I found out that 93% of the donation went to “management” expenses.

 

I quit donating.

my don in law was an ardent supporter of the Wounded Warrior program until they were discovered fraudulent as well.

 

1 hour ago, Rip Snorter said:

They had some big numbers back in my day, but I have a hard time believing they could get away with 93% - they arent based in Minnesota.

I always heard that the A.S.P.C.A. is the same way. I guess that it costs a bunch to produce those commercials.

[Rye Miles #13621]

7 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

 

I always heard that the A.S.P.C.A. is the same way. I guess that it costs a bunch to produce those commercials.

I’ve heard that too and I’ll donate to the local shelter here in my town. They ask for blankets and food or money.  

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

On 3/2/2026 at 9:08 PM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

How do you know that it’s common for companies not to disclose their names? Why? It seems it would be in their favor , I don’t believe there’s anyone matching funds, I think it’s a big ploy by the non profit! 

I help a few local non-profits during their fund drives, answering phones and stuff like that.

 

When an entity wants to donate $X and X is a large number, they will often allow the non-profit to advertise the donation as “matching your donation for the next hour”.  It really does work to spur smaller donation amounts to get called in during that hour.  Of course, at the end of the hour any unmatched funds just get donated to the non-profit anyway.  It’s a win for everybody.

 

As for anonymity, here in Knoxville there are several family foundations that are generous with local organizations, but they want to do so quietly. I am grateful for their support and completely respect their wishes.

 

We also have local businesses who want to support but also want some recognition and hopefully new customers.  I appreciate their generosity also and make sure their names are broadcast loudly.