if u have the time to ask for the donation...

Agreed.  I rarely ask for donations to raise money for rides but when I get a donation I either talk to them personally or send them a personalized email and thank them specifically. 

I work at a big company and we have a ton of people raising money for various fundraiser and I always give at least $5.  When I ask those guys that make their living out of doing these events weather it's a bowl a thon or heart walk, etc are nowhere to be found.  I remember them when they come back around.  Can't give $5 for Tour De Cure then no bowl a thon money for you and your team.  It's cruel but fair. 

Agree, a thank you goes miles in my mind.

Something to caution on though, is expecting a reciprocation donation. A few years back a friend donated to a charity I was fundraising for - awesome - I thanked her, etc. She was also fundraising for a different charity and when her time frame came and went she sent me a NASTYGRAM detailing how since she donated to my cause she expected me to donate to hers, was disappointed I didn't, etc. Really? I wasn't aware that's how voluntary donations worked. 

It rubbed me in such a wrong way that I haven't' spoken to her since.

Agreed, it is simply basic courtesy, something that seems lacking these days.

If the charity were worthwhile, I would continue to donate, but not via your "friend". Letting him know you did, or did not, is not necessary, since it is none of his concern.

A thank-you is really just good manners.  Unfortunately, we have to be taught good manners.  It doesn't just come naturally.  It might be worthwhile to sent a note to the fundraising organization suggesting that, in the future, they include in their guidance to their fundraisers to thank the donors after the event. Fundraisers probably just don't think of it themselves.

TW

wow, that's aggressive. I would love to get a reciprocation donation, but to expect it, and to NASTYGRAM you is a bit much.  I try never to look into how much someone gives, or if they give at all- no way of knowing what someone's economic situation is, or did they make a huge charitable donation or what...

on the other hand, I was helping out with a fundraiser and asked my old boss (in person) if he was in any position to help. He wrote a check for $5 grand and APOLOGIZED that it wasn't more.  He got quite a few thank you's. I'm not sure what type of reciprocity I could provide him if asked!

So you did get the chafing dish I sent? Hope ya'll liked it.

I feel - very strongly - that donations should come from an unselfish place. One that does not require something in return. It kind of defeats the intent if something is expected back, other than a 'thank you.'

Personally I don't feel it's appropriate to ever give with strings attached or expectations.  By doing so you will always be disappointed.

When I decide to give, I just give.  That's it.  If the person decides to go spend it at the casino then I feel sorry for them, but I don't think anything of it and just remember that the next time they want me to give.

The true reward for giving is the act of giving itself.

Agree - it would be nice but really - one never knows what's going on with someone else 1. Financially and 2. How your charity fits in with someone else's over giving and personal beliefs. 

We have a couple of big charity campaigns at work that I give to and it's just not possible to give for everything.  Plus, there are some organizations i just don't want to give to - it's great for someone else to be involved and active in something but if I don't really agree with it or feel uncomfortable with it - i am not going to give.  That's up to me and I don't need to have a big conversation about it.

+1

Here's a quote from one of my favorite books.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 

KSH - 2013-03-20 8:31 AM

mr2tony - 2013-03-19 5:44 PM I can honestly say I'm the worst at sending thank yous so I may be guilty of doing this in the past. SORRY to everybody I may have ever offended by not sending a thank you! No, really, I'm terrible at it. I've not sent thank-yous from our wedding. Which was in July.

I got our thank you for the November wedding!

That wasn't from Tony I would bet.

I sent a card in the actual postal mail, since I'm so old school, with pictures from the event I did last summer that I directly solicited donations for. A couple exceptions were BT folks or blog readers who donated and I couldn't get an address for them. I still felt like it was the very least I could do in the way of thanks, but you gotta make some sort of effort to show appreciation. It really isn't that hard. 

Every year I send my donors something like this in a frame (cheepo frame but framed)... Business owners love it as they can put in on their wall of sponsorship..

FYI I will be participating in the DFW TCD again this year....

Jonathon was our sponsored Junior Rider for 2011. He has been Type 1 Diabetic since age 9, he is a healthy 14 this year!

(TDC.JPG)

I agree a thank you is in order for every person who makes a donation.  I really don't like asking for money at all but I make the Tour de Cure an annual thing and do my best to raise money for it.  When I get a donation I try to do at least send a personal email, if not something more like a phone call.  I received a hand written letter from somone I donated to ( who had also donated to my cause) and I thought that was a very nice gesture.

That said, if ya'll are looking for a charity to donate to, I know of one...   I'll be sure to thank you, I promise!

update-- today, my cousin did send out an email blast to "everyone who donated to the ______ fund, thank you"...

I did a charity ride last year and sent out a letter of thanks which included a picture from the event. I also printed out the tax receipts and included that as well. (they would have gotten them by email but some arent really internet savvy)

I received a number of positive compliments from the letter.

I also do try to reciprocate where I can.