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I have always found the premise of “run for charity” or “jump for charity” weird. If I thought a cause was worthwhile, I would donate to it. Why does someone ru

I have always found the premise of “run for charity” or “jump for charity” weird. If I thought a cause was worthwhile, I would donate to it. Why does someone running or jumping have anything to do with me donating?

reaperducer 7y ago
Ditto for all the dozens or maybe even hundreds of new charities that are formed each week (at least in the United States). It seems like instead of having a hundred thousand micro-charities, it would be better if the money were just sent directly to a large charity that already operates at scale and can use the money more efficiently. Sending $100 to Doctors Without Borders is far more effective than giving $100 to The Dr. Steffy McStethoscope Memorial Fund For People Who Want To Make Themselves Feel Good. It's like "raising awareness." It doesn't help anyone but the people trying to make themselves feel better about themselves.
- raldi 7y ago
  > It seems like instead of having a hundred thousand micro-charities, it would be better if the money were just sent directly to a large charity that already operates at scale and can use the money more efficiently. We could call it "taxes".
  - OscarCunningham 7y ago
    People's charity preferences are very different from their tax preferences. In particular people prefer their tax money to be spent on their own country, while often giving money to foreigners.
  - reaperducer 7y ago
    Except that (again in the United States which I point out because the article is UK-focused), governments at all levels have been offloading their responsibilities for the common welfare onto private entities, often for-profit entities. And in many places simultaneously making it harder for charities to do their work.
- plmu 7y ago
  It would be even better if there were just and progressive taxes, so that the state can take its responsibility, and charity is not required.
lilyball 7y ago
It raises awareness and gets people to donate.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
usrusr 7y ago
Same here. The answer is, unsurprisingly, money. It's much easier to get sponsorship for the cost of a run or a jump when the event is also collecting money for charity. (assuming that the costs are not outright taken from the donations pool, then the reason is still money, but in a much more self-serving way bordering on fraud)

reaperducer 7y ago

Ditto for all the dozens or maybe even hundreds of new charities that are formed each week (at least in the United States). It seems like instead of having a hundred thousand micro-charities, it would be better if the money were just sent directly to a large charity that already operates at scale and can use the money more efficiently. Sending $100 to Doctors Without Borders is far more effective than giving $100 to The Dr. Steffy McStethoscope Memorial Fund For People Who Want To Make Themselves Feel Good. It's like "raising awareness." It doesn't help anyone but the people trying to make themselves feel better about themselves.

raldi 7y ago
> It seems like instead of having a hundred thousand micro-charities, it would be better if the money were just sent directly to a large charity that already operates at scale and can use the money more efficiently. We could call it "taxes".
- OscarCunningham 7y ago
  People's charity preferences are very different from their tax preferences. In particular people prefer their tax money to be spent on their own country, while often giving money to foreigners.
- reaperducer 7y ago
  Except that (again in the United States which I point out because the article is UK-focused), governments at all levels have been offloading their responsibilities for the common welfare onto private entities, often for-profit entities. And in many places simultaneously making it harder for charities to do their work.
plmu 7y ago
It would be even better if there were just and progressive taxes, so that the state can take its responsibility, and charity is not required.

lilyball 7y ago

It raises awareness and gets people to donate.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

usrusr 7y ago

Same here. The answer is, unsurprisingly, money. It's much easier to get sponsorship for the cost of a run or a jump when the event is also collecting money for charity. (assuming that the costs are not outright taken from the donations pool, then the reason is still money, but in a much more self-serving way bordering on fraud)