Should I be rude to chuggers? All your big charity questions answered

http://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2014/nov/30/which-charities-should-i-support

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If the ice bucket challenge, the Disasters Emergency Committee Ebola appeal and Band Aid 30 have left you with compassion fatigue, prepare to finally be exhausted. Because 2 December has been declared Giving Tuesday by the Charities Aid Foundation.

With so many calls on our goodwill, this is the perfect time to stop and think about how we should give and to whom. Here are my opinionated answers to the big giving questions.

Should I grow a moustache or pour ice over my head?

A lot of fundraising these days revolves around a wacky stunt, such as going to work in pyjamas or running in your bra. This is very effective for raising awareness of an issue such as prostate or breast cancer, but we should not give pounds and pence as though they were votes in a gameshow for Britain’s Funniest Charity. So kudos to all those who accepted their nomination for the ice-bucket challenge but chose their own charity.

Should I sponsor someone to climb Kilimanjaro?

Charity “challenges” have really taken off, with people climbing Machu Picchu or cycling across Burma. This is deeply weird. I climbed Kilimanjaro (or most of it, since my climbing partner got altitude sickness) and paid for the privilege. Indeed, the attraction of these trips is that they are great experiences. So why should other people subsidise the adventure, which is what happens since up to 50% of the sponsorship money goes to cover costs? Youngsters might be justified in asking people to help them out, but everyone else should cover their own costs and make sure 100% of sponsorship goes to the good cause.

Should I be rude to chuggers?

Most of us cringe every time we’re accosted by a shiny, happy young person on the street asking us if we have two minutes to spare for orphans, sick animals or the planet. They may give charities a bad name, but they are only ubiquitous because most of us won’t regularly donate until we’re gently guilt-tripped into it. So here’s the deal. In the privacy of your own home, set up a direct debit to the charity of your choice for as much as you think you should give, then a bit more. Then tell the chuggers to go away. When enough of us have done that, they will.

Should I give because celebrities ask me to?

Children in Need, like Comic Relief, has done a lot of good. But for all the record-breaking triumphalism, it raised less than 50p for every person in the country this year. All that TV, all those red noses, all those buckets in supermarkets, for less than the cost of a Kit Kat. It seems big celebrity-led appeals tug our heart strings more than they do our purse strings.

Should I chose unfashionable causes?

Yes. Great Ormond Street hospital is a worthy cause but it has no problem attracting donations. Women’s education in the developing world, in contrast, is proven to lead to real quality of life improvements but struggles in comparison.

Should I chose the most efficient charities?

Websites such as givingwhatwecan.org and givewell.org tell you which charities deliver most bang for your buck, in terms of lives saved per £1 given. These are useful if saving lives is your main goal, but charity should not just be about that. The Ugandan Humanist Schools Trust, for example, recently wanted to fund a guide group’s trip to represent Uganda in the East African Jamboree in Rwanda. It couldn’t justify paying for this from core funds as it wasn’t essential, but fortunately some people recognised that giving these girls the trip of a lifetime was money well spent. Give so that people thrive and don’t merely survive.

Should I make more micro-donations?

Collection tins at shop tills have always been a good way of getting rid of annoying small change. Similarly, adding a little donation to your restaurant bill or at the cashpoint usually means giving money that adds up, which we would not otherwise have given, and which we won’t miss.

Should I give loans instead?

Lending through microfinancers like Grameen Bank and other small loan schemes such as Lend with Care is not without risk, but the evidence suggests it really can help people become more self-sufficient. Because you get the money back, you can keep lending, which means over time, by setting aside a £100, you can in effect lend thousands.

Should I give at all?

You may think it’s the government’s job, not yours, but until the revolution comes, it’s a job some will have to do voluntarily. If you’re really strapped for cash, then don’t let fundraising campaigns make you feel guilty. Anyone can offer charity in kind, but giving it in cash is only for those with the means to do so.