Dear LPG,

I know that I have sent this letter to a charity that is most probably affected by this whole issue but it is a concern for me.

Do LPG website visitors agree with me when I show concern about how the way we give to charity has changed?  Organisations are no longer happy to receive the cash you can afford when you can afford to give it.  In fact the practise of having a representative standing on the street corner with a charity box is now called Charity Mugging.  (►►►)

Since the start of this century the charity street collector has made way for the online appeal where you are asked to give electronically, and the people that stand on the street corners expect you to give them your bank details rather than good old fashions money.

The advantage for the charities is that they not only know how much they have at their disposal, but they also know what they will have in the future.  They also have the names and contact details of people who have given money before which means they can continue to bother them by letter and email.  At my church they now hand out ladled envelopes for members to put their offering into so that what is offered is no longer an anonymous contribution.  You are even expected to include related details on your tax return.

I know that collectors can pocket cash, and have to be paid, but fund-raising is now big business, perhaps as big, or even bigger, business for our charitable organisations than the business of doing the charitable work that they set out to do in the first place? 

There are many advantages and disadvantages for both the organisations concerned and those people doing the giving.  I like to give anonymously and when I can which is getting harder and harder to do these days and I would rather just give the money I can afford without having to also give my personal details.  Does anyone agree with me?

DC, Crofon Park