Some charities have been rapped over the knuckles for trying to induce a ‘guilt factor’ by enclosing gifts when asking for money. Now, I am wondering if enclosing a stamped addressed envelope falls into that category. I am not thinking of a ‘business reply’ envelope – where the charity only pays if the envelope is posted back to it. No, Dartford Action Group for the elderly has enclosed an envelope with a postage stamp on it – for which, of course, it has paid. Perhaps it feels this will ‘tip the scales’ in its favour.
As I don’t wish to contribute, I could use the envelope to explain why, on this occasion, I cannot help the good cause. Or, I could use the envelope to send a donation in due course to a different charity – which has not provided me with any kind of return envelope. Or, I could use the stamped envelope for some flippant purpose of my own. A mini moral dilemma!
I admit to having a rather mercenary approach to these gifts: if it’s something I find useful, it may well induce me to make a donation – occasionally in addition to what I’m giving them already – but if it’s yet more greetings cards or address labels, of which I’ve had more than I can ever use, then probably not.
I assume that a process of ‘natural selection’ applies to sending these gifts. If charities find it pays to do so, fair enough. If it doesn’t, presumably they’ll stop, or think again about what they send; and I regard it as a general rule that unsolicited gifts do not impose any obligation on the recipient. So I don’t think anyone needs to feel ‘guilty’ for not being persuaded by them.