Yesterday was "Give to the Max Day", a designation cooked up by an organization called either GiveMN, or Razoo, depending on where you look. Apparently the way it works is, your non-profit organization registers with them and then you solicit online contributions from your email list. Then at pre-designated times throughout the day, your non-profit can benefit from an additional $1000 gift based upon a drawing, and by how many donations you have received.
From noon on Monday, until midnight last night, I received 200 emails asking me to send money electronically. After the first 20 or so, I simply deleted anything that said GiveMN, or Give to the Max in the subject line.
I work for a non-profit corporation that, in 2011, will be 40 years old. We do not rely a great deal on donations because we are a fee for service agency. But on the rare occasions we have solicited personal donations for a special project, we do so with a personal contact and an explanation of what we do, why we do it, and what we intend to use the money for. We don't do it often. But I am sympathetic to those organizations who do regularly have to raise money.
I actually did give money to one particular organization that I feel is worthy, and that I am familiar with. So the designation of Give to the Max Day was not totally wasted on me. And I would have given to them anyway. However, I don't think I am unique in saying that, after a while, I became desensitized to the pleas. It's like when I receive an annoying phone call to give to some organization while I'm in the middle of dinner. As often as not, I will simply hang up, or if I'm in a particularly bad move, I may just set the phone down when I hear that annoying silence while whomever is on the other line determines if it is really me, and not an answering machine. Then I'll eventually hang up the phone after I finish eating. Apparently enough of us have caller ID, and have taken similar action, that some marketing whiz had to come up with a computer generated and supported system to try to re-capture our attention.
I am sure that those who thought this up mean well. At least I hope they do and aren't just gathering information they can compile into a list to sell to others who send broadcast emails. And I know many of the organizations that participated, and know that they do good work. But I would caution those that particpate. You may have a cause that is truly worthy of support, but seek it online, in the manner described. Then you risk simply getting lost in the clutter.
