Be generous God says

With my father's estate money coming in, I decided to be the generous giving person God asks us to be. So I determined I would send out $10k to various charities. Between Dec 15 and Jan 12 I sent out $8000 to 9 different organizations. To date, only 2 have acknowledged receiving it. Of the paper checks I sent out, only one has been cashed. Honestly, if that's the kind of reception generosity gets, I'm taking the rest to Vegas!

I know the frustration, Fellow Believer. I sent a donation to a christian organization and didn't get a thanks.
I did get dozens of other organizations soliciting mail and that, RickyZ made me mad!

Assuming they are bona fide orgs, they may either b back-logged or not up to date acctg sys. Neither reason seems very suitable so keep any eye out t make sure the right orgs cashes them. Good on you for being a cheerful giver and helping these places.

Hey RickyZ,

Kudos to you for wanting to help others with your blessing.

I have to admit that I get really annoyed by charities/ministries that actively solicit for donations, but then don't bother to acknowledge or respond to gifts--particularly when I have to be the one to later contact them again for a receipt! You'd think that would be the very least they could do, especially for the purpose of taxes and keeping records.

However, one thing I know God has convicted me of through this are all the times when HE does something for me, and I never acknowledge HIM or tell HIM thank-you--talk about hitting close to home!

I don't know if this will help any, but I've gotten to a point where I mostly give to charities that I have had close affiliations with (such as my old adoption agency), and know from experience that they they're good stewards of what they're given, so it doesn't matter to me if I never receive a thank-you. I also only donate to places that will at least automatically give some sort of receipt, and not make me have to hunt them down for one.

Also... Are you ever able to work with the same representative for your donations? I give some donations by phone/email and have continued to ask for the same person if possible. I know this might not work because volunteers change hands all the time, but I've been fortunate enough to develop relationships/rapport with a few regular staff members, and they've been really great at responding.

May God bless you for having a heart for those in need.

Thank you all. good to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. I don't expect fanfare, in fact I'm a firm believer in doing good deeds in secret so the reward may come from God and not men. But being a good steward, I believe, includes making sure the organization actually received it and it's not just floating around the mail room looking to be mis-delivered. Too, we hand delivered several of these, so they can't say it never reached them. And $2500 went to a Bible camp - a Bible camp mind you - they are the only ones to have cashed the check, yet again, other than the bank statement I have no confirmation from them that they received it. My rule used to be if I gave you $50, and over the next year I get $50 worth of junk mail from you, you don't get any more donations. I'm expanding that to, if you can't be bothered to acknowledge receipt, you don't get another donation.

Honestly, I'm thinking any checks not deposited by next Friday get cancelled.

U see why i don't give money unless God leads me to. Rather buy groceries or pay meals for people. Thats what I'd do. Or send bibles to churches where it's not allowed and people are persecuted .. there's so much u can do

Matthew 6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)


6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Blessings
Bill

I fully believe this. But I also think being a good steward doesn't include sending it off and not making sure it reached it's intended recipient.

Also remember December,January,and the first part of February are busy times for some charities. They have tax forms to mail out to all that have given in the past year . Then they also have all those last minute donations that folks send in at the last minute. Note that some charities are allowed to receive up till the end of January for the previous year. Just a heads up .
Blessings
Bill
PS some charities get nearly 50% of their monies received in December and January.