Alot of News sources are talking now how regular donation based charities are taking a hit, like the food drive because of Hurricane Katrina and now Rita.

Is there such thing as being ask for money so much you get Burnt out?




Is it possible that there is just way to many charities playing the guilt trip on people to get them to pony up the dough?





How do you deal with the fact that you feel guilty if you cant afford to give anymore but you are still bombarded by people asking for donations.





What is a good limit of what ANYONE should be expected to donate over one year?!?!

What is a good limit of what ANYONE should be expected to donate over one year?!?!

Whatever they feel comfortable with is a good amount.

Once your own needs, bills and responsibilities are taken care of, and your family if you have one is provided for, your remaining assets are yours to do with as you please. Some follow the church teaching of tithing anywhere from 10% to 1/3 to the church; others have a specific charity they prefer to donate to, and some are more spontaneous and less selective.

I have a practice of each week when I grocery shop I get a bag for the food shelf as well (Cub prepackages these and has by the checkout counters), and in cases of national disasters if I write a check to the Red Cross, I look at what disposable cash is available rather than taking away from what I already do. Many take from what they already give, leaving a gap in those charities not getting as much suddenly due to a disaster.

I do think there is a burn out level with anything though, which is why I tend to stick with my own practices, and politely say no when asked for money. If I do decide to give to someone asking, it is never at the time or to the person askling, but instead anonymously if possible, so that I do not get put on a dozen mailing lists as a soft touch.

Due to the front page article on this topic yesterday in the St Paul Pioneer Press, I thought this could maybe use a bump.

Katrina and Rita in the Gulf, Stan in South America, and now the earthquakes in Pakistan. There is only so much charity available.

With the prime donation season coming up (end of October thru the end of December) groups like the Red Cross and Salvation Army are getting nervous, as their funds are being stressed by the continuing catastrophes and the concern that those who normally get their last minute donations in for the tax year have already tapped their charitable spirit to it's max.

An idea floated years ago at one of the futurist conferences involved setting up a global agency with set annual contributions made by individual countries based on income per capita, to be used much like a global insurer for disaster relief; one of the main areas of discussion was whether this was to be solely available to contributing countries or not.

After the past ten months, seeing the devastation suffered around the globe from the tsunami to hurricanes to earthquakes to flooding from the incessant rains, I am now wondering if there were not some good discussions taking place back at those conferences. A mandatory contribution much like an insurance premium may be easier to take than the constant calls asking for more.....

I am not sure it could ever be made workable today though.