Sadly, the latest offering from British Heart Foundation appears to be a cross between an appeal and a communication from Reader’s Digest and similar. That is, it informs me that I have made it through (no doubt with thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of others) to the final stages of their grand prize draw. Winning the £10,000 cash prize is of course dependent on sending a donation.

Are these methods of fundraising really appropriate or necessary? I think they are badly tarnished and should be resisted.

Not only do they make it clear if you have previously signed a Gift Aid declaration, but they include a checklist whereby one can indicate the frequency of how often one wishes to be communicated with…….saving their money and my time

I normally give any donation over about £25 under gift aid (otherwise I use a charity voucher similar to CAF)

Despite signing dozens of Gift Aid forms over the years I have no confidence that the charities concerned have a record of these, as most appeals concerned still ask me to sign one that would enable them to reclaim tax since 2001!

Very few, although there are recent small signs of improvement, seem able to indicate on their forms whether they have such a declaration in place. This is worrying as it also suggests the possibility of tax failing to be reclaimed.

It should not to be too difficult for charities to indicate, as some already do that a declaration is on record, either by stating the fact or incorporating an appropriate code into one’s supporter number.

Can I also support other bloggers in deploring the money wasted by charities acknowledging donations. I certainly do not require it (bank statements let me know if the cheque has reached the charity).

A simple box to tick, or not, as to whether one requires a receipt should be standard practise.

I was rather alamed by one of their recent postings, which came from the so-called “Sweepstakes Audit Committee” in the form of a “Prize Entry Acceptance Affidavit”. I have pointed out before how confusing this sort of document can be, particularly to the elderly.

I would point out at the same time that often where I am unhappy, or uncertain, with a particular approach I will carry out a simple check on the charity commission website www.charity-commission.gov.uk where one can easily check the bona fides ie (A) the exact objects of the charity (B) a record of how much is raised and spent each year (although not the expense ratio!) (C) the names of the Trustees and (D) quite importantly whether the returns are up to date

One of my bugbears is the inability of charities to recognise that one might donate just once a year (which is my practice) and therefore most of this post goes straight into the bin

What a waste of trees and money. Surely it should not be beyond the wit of charities to recognise the pattern of giving of established donors and target them accordingly.

I am sure the charities he refers to have not considered the effects on elderly people. From personal experience, my own elderly father would actually think that he had ”won ” a prize and would constantly be asking where it was. These things played on his mind for long periods of time and made it more difficult for those caring for him.

At the same time the charities that are continually sending small gifts with their appeals, eg umbrellas, gloves, are trying a sort of moral blackmail which I personally feel should not be encouraged. The Diabetes Research Wellness Foundation and Feed My People are notable offenders in this regard.