Dammit, I hate these choices.

[madbaker]

My company is offering to match Hurricane Katrina donations fairly generously. The catch, however, is that the matching only applies to two charities - and I have refused to donate to these two in the past, directing my money and time elsewhere. (One has had multiple criminal indictments, employee stealing, and spends a huge percentage of their donations on overhead. The other I don't like on religious and philosophical grounds.)

I feel it's important that I help in some way. We can donate to other charities as we like, but the matching will still go to one of these two. Period.

So, because I'm conflicted, a poll:
[Poll #565386]
Edited to add: The reason I'm conflicted is that I don't like the options:
1) The most bang for the buck involves donating to organizations that I don't support.
2) Donating to an organization I do support still gives money to ones that I don't.
3) Complaining to our HR (from indirect experience) doesn't accomplish anything, and gets one branded as a troublemaker.
4) Math isn't really that hard.

Comments

[loup_noir]

Kaiser used to do that. They picked charities I would never support.

So, which are these? Just nosy.

If you really can't get behind them, talk to HR and ask if those are the only two choices and, if they get shirty and want to know what's wrong with their pet charities, tell them.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

We'll call one "Evangelist Navy" and the other "Untied Way".

[mastersantiago.livejournal.com]

My answer actually falls between #2 and #3. Donate to a charity you feel good about, but make your feelings regarding the other two charities known.

[hyla-regilla.livejournal.com]

not between, but both.
Donate where you trust AND complain like hell about their choices.

[seamoose.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. Even if the overhead heavy one that I refuse to give any money to gets the matching donation, that's a little bit more for the relief effort than if you donated on your own somewhere else.

[finickynarcane.livejournal.com]

Have a chat with HR and explain your stance and ask, politely, if some other (and be ready with a suggestion) charity could please be included on the list.

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

I like this one :)

principles come first. besides, if you do the matching donation to the overhead heavy group chances are they'll only get as much as your actual donation anyway.

might as well give directly!

my co is doing matching too, and one of our approved orgs is habitat for humanity :). I'm very happy about that.

You are responsible for your mores and money;

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

the corporate body is responsibile for theirs. The Redemption Marines are often bad at the local level, but pretty good at specific things--but mainly, handicapped rehabilitation. And the Unknotted Measures are so umbrella...but these are not direct relief, nor rebuild, organizations. Not, in truth, good choices. But easy for an Exec to say "Give money to someone reputatble" and easy for an HR person to get documentation from, that's why the overhead is so high...

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Donate somewhere else, and don't tell the company.

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Oh. I'd write to the CEO (and copy your boss, so s/he won't be surprised) explaining why you are donating but not filling out the matching form. I've found that writing to someone other than HR is better.

Can't you request that UW give to a specific org?

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

I've always found it more effective to phrase my complaints as concerns and observations backed by "my understanding" of the facts. Then I just go do my own thing anyway.

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, saying "our incompetent HR Director has, once more, failed to do any useful or relevant research into this issue" isn't likely to get you anywhere. ;-)

Been in that movie

[callistotoni.livejournal.com]

When I worked at ESL/TRW, I had to suffer through the yearly shakedown for United Way. You had to fill out cards--like postcards, clearly readable--to your manager. They really did try to squeeze out dontations by intimidation. And every year I'd mark None and write why I was not donating on the card (in the margins, since they provided no place for comments).

And I agree with pretty much everyone else. Don't donate to groups you don't agree with, do donate to groups you like, and to hell with what work wants you to do.

Re: Been in that movie

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Hell yes. When I was "required and requested" as a "sr. Manager" to attend a UW "Leadership" breakfast, I sent a note to my VP saying that I wasn't going, despite the tone of the "invitation," and exactly why. I wouldn't work against the corporate campaign, but I wasn't going to lend my name to it. I got a wishy-washy letter back, but no more requests for my time, either.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I may be getting amoral in my old age, but I would lean more towards the practical in this. How likely (for real) is it that if you give money to one of the two named charities that the money will go to Katrina relief? If that percentage is high enough (for me, 51% would do), then hold your nose and give the money. I care less about the charities's politics and more about helping the thousands of homeless, jobless, city-less people. If the chance of the money actually getting to the people is low, give somewhere else.