I suppose that making donations by standing order, or direct debit in one or two cases, such as the RNLI, where it is in effect a membership fee, helps both parties to plan ahead. But if charities are then going to send you requests for further donations, I think they need to exercise some restraint about it. Once or twice a year is OK, preferably with a newsletter about work in progress. For example, a little-known charity, the Anita Goulden Trust, looking after street children in South America, does this very well: you don’t feel pressurised by too-frequent appeals. World Villages for Children, which I also support, are a bit too persistent, with a postal appeal about once a month. However, they do send you a stamped envelope, and I admit to steaming the stamps off and using them sometimes.
Another thing I don’t much care for is being bombarded with freebies. From IFAW, for example, I’ve had umbrellas, cot blankets, slippers, T-shirts etc., even before sending them anything. For those to whom I can only make a small donation, I have just printed some slips saying “Sorry I can’t send more, but there are so many charity appeals these days”.
As for window envelopes, they are so often used, not just by charities, that I’ve got used to tearing the window out, if I have time, and putting the rest in the recycling box.

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