Mr Grumpy

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By Mr Grumpy - Wed 7th Nov 2012

 

What is going on in the world at the moment that has caused "Charities" to polarise into 2 totally different entities ?

One the one hand there seems to be the good old-fashioned local charity. Staffed, aided and largely funded by people who have been affected to one degree or another by something, and wishing to better or improve the lives of others. Even local schools and not-for profit organisations.

Although I don't give a massive amount to charity by any stretch I try to give to this category : the people who give up their time and effort for a good cause.

And then there are the "Charitable Organisations".

Although the concept behind the appeal often seems like a great idea, the practice makes by blood boil.

I am usually happy to give a few quid to the local School's bring and buy sale, or chuck a few coppers into the bucket at the end of the bar for the local cancer charity, and other "worthy causes". However, the larger, slick, professional and high-profile organisations annoy me intensely.

These "Charitable Organisations" - the likes of Oxfam - where the stores are funded out of the public's pocket and staffed by the generosity of old ladies who give up their own time - can afford full-page fund-raising appeals in the Guardian, and CEOs and fund-managers on six-figure salaries.

Giving a pound to a raffle to buy a local kid a wheelchair - where 100% of the donation will go to the worthy cause - holds a much bigger appeal to me than donating a Quid to an impersonal call to fund a cow shed in Africa, where more than 80 pence in the pound would be lost on "administration".

But sadly there are so many great causes that fall into this second category, and have ceased to become a “charity” and have now morphed into a professional business where turnover and profitability is king.

Given that Tumbit is nothing more than a distraction from my 'Day-Job', I have resisted most of the e mails from countless affiliate agencies for me to take a cut of the profits and cynically promote some product or service that I may or may not agree with, or may or not have any association with Spain.

But one such affiliate deal that came my way this morning was from the Royal British Legion.

Why on earth is such a worthy and worthwhile charity offering ME money to promote their cause ?

The Affiliate partner proudly informed me that by taking part in this year’s British Legion appeal, I could earn myself the following :

• Single Donations – 15%

Average conversion rate: 1.42%

How, when so many people devote their time to raise funds selling Poppies, can I in good conscience promote this service and take a profit from it ? Surely it would be better to urge people to buy an actual Poppy in person, than to display an affiliate-trackable link, and take a cut for myself ?

Another question is this : "How much does this affiliate management company themselves profit from such an arrangement ?"

So no, I'm not going to partake and promote this cause.

I would like to urge you to buy a poppy from the old guy stood outside the supermarket shaking his tin. He doesn’t take a cut of the profits, why should I ?

And you should be ashamed of yourself as well, Affiliate Future.