fundraising letters

[solon]

You know those fundraising letters you get in the mail? We get them from political parties, charitable organizations, ministries, etc. They all follow a similar format: multiple pages, impassioned plea for funds, you're a noble crusader if you contribute, you feel low if you don't contribute.

[Political party] is destroying this country... we have to fight back!
Children are starving. For only $2/day you can help!
[Orphans/veterans/disabled charity] is making big inroads. We're almost there!

What are your strategies for combatting these? I can request to be removed from mailing lists, but I can't request other people be removed from them. How do you talk to someone who is susceptible to these requests?

[YttriumNitrate]

My strategy for fundraising letters sent to me is to collect them along with other junk mail and occasionally use them to start a campfire.

For others, well, unless people actually want your help it's usually best to just let them be.

[twinstudy]

I have a bin right next to my letterbox filled with papers that get recycled.

[GilesMM]

Just sign them up here  https://www.dmachoice.org/register.php

[FireLane]

Are you trying to talk people you know out of giving to these campaigns?

One good thing to do is to point out that junk-mail solicitations and spam calls usually aren't coming from the charity itself, but from a telemarketing firm. Those firms give some of the proceeds to charity, but they keep a large portion for themselves. Often as much as half - sometimes more:

https://www.npr.org/2012/09/12/160997044/when-telemarketers-pocket-money-meant-for-charity

It's especially bad for charities that target feel-good, heartstring-tugging causes like children's cancer or veterans. Those scammy telemarketers keep almost 90% of the money they raise:

https://www.marketplace.org/2023/10/16/when-telemarketers-keep-90-of-donations/

When you give to these campaigns, you're not really doing a good deed. Your dollars are just lining a telemarketer's pocket.

That's why I never respond to unsolicited letters. I decide in advance which causes I want to support and give to those charities through my donor-advised fund.

[iris lily]

I dont even open them, although I do enjoy the annual appeal from National Review, it is witty.

My charitable giving is pretty much set at the beginning of the year to organizations I know well. . The only political party I gave to this year was a Democratic candidate for President (not Biden.)