A problem for many charities is to work out whether to ask for a specific sum and, if so, how much. Quite often, when the asked-for amount is forthcoming, they must question whether they should have asked for more.

From time to time, The Prostate Cancer Charity asks me for £1000 for its Research Action Fund. For this, I would become a Founder Member of the Fund. That sounds great, but there appear to be no material benefits (what about a nice lunch each year for Members, within the 5 per cent limit?!) But one has the inner satisfaction of being ‘at the forefront of the mnost promising and groundbreaking prostate cancer research’.

Although the ‘ask’ is for £1000, the charity does have the grace on the donation form to have a box not only for £1000, but also ‘other£….’ I wonder how often that second box has more than £1000 entered!

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