T
Denver,#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 15, 2002
I want to explain to you how any and all non-profits work and how to avoid having your name sold to others. First, ALL non-profit organizations sell their donors information and also buy list from others. This is one way non-profits make money, which unfortunatley most non-profit orgs lack with todays economy. I think stating you will never help them again is a little harsh because if organizations had to depend soley on donor contributions they would be obsolete. Second, most of the direct mailings you receive come from a direct mail house. Most of these fees are paid from by the mail house not the non-profit org (most pay the mail house a monthly fee regardless of how many you receive, that depends on the contract between them and the org) so your money is not being wasted like it may appear to so many people. Like I said previously the org still pays a monthly fee to the mail house however a non-profit org cannot get rid of mailing efforts and I'm sure if you sat back and thought about it you will come to understand the rational there. In the future when you donate money to an charity or organiziation all it takes is a note stating do not sell my info, no telemarketing and/or solicit me only once, twice a year...whatever. I'm not affiliated with Habitat in any way, but you shouldn't take it out on them 100% because they are doing the limited things non-profits can do to make money. I would also suggest thoroughly checking on any org. you want to donate money to, as much as we don't like thinking about it not all are legit :)