ThisIsTheDay Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Shortly before your birthday, Facebook will remind you that you can request birthday donations to a charity. I'm considering this for a favorite local charity. But how likely would you be to donate? Or do you get annoyed when you see these? Other thoughts about this, please? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SereneHome Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I don't get annoyed but I don't donate either. I know to what charities and when I want to donate, I don't need someone's bday to be a reason for my donations. Also, I find asking for donations (whether charity or otherwise) as presents is tacky tacky tacky. I know that this is very popular now-days, but I've yet to see a reasoning behind it that would make me change my opinion. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I’m not on Facebook, but I think it’s strange to ask for anything for one’s birthday, even a donation. Except for perhaps close family members, do adults really give each other birthday gifts? I wouldn’t be annoyed, but I also wouldn’t donate. The only time I donate because of someone else is in memory of someone who has passed or who struggled with a certain disease or condition. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I don't donate to any of them. Although the causes may be worthy, I still don't think people should be telling other people what to get them for their birthdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I've never done one of the birthday charities, but I did donate to my dd's old ballet performance group from a facebook charity thing (they're a non-profit), and I've donated to some family things--nephews' sports teams, my sister's breast cancer fundraiser, etc. I've done a few gofundmes too. But I don't usually recognize acquaintances' birthdays with cards or gifts, so I'm not likely to give to their charities on their birthdays. But I don't mind seeing what they support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I think it's kind of tacky. Donations to a worthy cause in lieu of flowers after a death? Fine and good. For a birthday--no. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 Thank you all very much. It is interesting to read the comments, because it's not "in lieu" of a birthday gift, obviously I would not be expecting a gift from any of my friends. But this is EXACTLY why I asked here, to get your thoughts on it! I will skip on the opportunity. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I’ve been wondering about this newer trend🧐I could never imagine asking people for a birthday gift or to donate to a cause I would pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I've donated to two family members' birthday requests. I know these charities have been close to their hearts for years. They aren't large donations. I see it as a way to send a little love to a family member and benefit society at the same time. I don't really see it as asking for a birthday present, rather it is utilizing one's birthday as an opportunity to help raise money for a charity that one supports regularly throughout the year. I am not put off when I see them from other people I know, but I don't donate either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I find them weird, if I dont' usually give you a gift why would I donate to a charity in lieu of that gift. I hate it, hate it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I don't think it really has anything to do with a birthday gift, it's just a way for people to generate donations for a cause. (Well, I imagine Facebook benefits in some way.) For some people, I'm sure it's a nice opportunity to put something they care about in front of people and say "hey, this is a good cause, want to donate to it?" The birthday thing maybe adds a dimension of guilt, maybe that's too strong a word, maybe just increases the chances people will donate. For some people, it's a form of virtue-signaling - "look at what good thing I'm doing." Same for the people who publicly donate to them. I've never done one (I don't have my birthday in Facebook anyway, I don't see the point of soliciting birthday wishes from people who wouldn't remember it if Facebook didn't remind them) and I have never donated to one. If I saw something I wanted to donate to I would do it privately on the organization's website. I don't really care if people do it; I just scroll on by. Well, sometimes I roll my eyes just a little bit on the way past. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I've hidden my birthday simply because it feels intrusive. Only very few people outside of my family will contact me to wish me a happy birthday, and i have no desire to broadcast it to FB. I agree with others about the tackiness of the charity birthday donations. I'm not offended either, but I don't donate either. Also, another person who doesn't write happy birthday on people's timelines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I don’t donate on FB and I don’t ask for donations on my birthday, but I like it when friends post about birthday donations. I don’t think of it as soliciting donations in place of a gift, and I like seeing what causes my friends are interested in. I don’t think it’s tacky at all. Even though I don’t donate, I’ve learned about many different organizations that are doing good things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I don't go through Facebook for anything that would lead to a financial transaction. That said, a significant percentage of my Friends are close friends/family and if they did want to buy something for my birthday, I'd rather a donation to one of my favorite causes--I just don't make it a FB event. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I haven't noticed those because I'm not on Facebook much. I generally don't donate to a random cause that I know nothing about. But, I don't mind when people ask for a donation in lieu of a gift for special events. Some people truly don't want anymore THINGs, and are way more interested in helping out others. So if the point of giving a gift (for a birthday or whatever) is to make the person happy, why not give what makes them happy? (Obviously I wouldn't give to a charity that I was uncomfortable about giving to.) Of course they're not saying you must give a gift either. But most people do tend to give gifts. I have had friends participate in causes like a long run or bike event in order to raise money for it, and who ask for donations on Facebook. I don't mind that. If they want to ride their bikes 500 miles and earn money to help a good cause, I certainly don't mind giving a little. (I also know I don't have to give either, and they wouldn't hold it against me.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pronghorn Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Sometimes, donating is a way to encourage someone who is feeling down. Raising a little money for a cause helps them feel like their lives are meaningful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guilfordlake Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I'm happy to make a $5 or $10 donation to a charity that someone cares about, but I'm old-fashioned enough to expect an acknowledgement of said donation from the person who wanted the donation made. Just a simple 2-word "thank you" post. I did it for a family member who posted about it. I was happy to do it. And this is a family member I'm not close to so I wouldn't normally have sent a card or gift. It's a cause that she is very, very passionate about. And while I'm not as passionate, I could get behind it. She never acknowledged that I made the donation. I'll never make another donation for her again. 😒 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 Count me among those who find it annoying and a bit self-important. I have participated in fundraisers through FB a couple of time, for people whose cause I really want to support, but asking on your birthday seems presumptuous to me. I have noticed FB will also prompt me that I can set up a donation when I make certain kinds of posts. That annoys me because I feel like, “What?! I was just telling people about the church rumage sale; I’m not trying to drum up donations!” 🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 I don't like it. It feels like subtle pressure to give someone a bday present by contributing to their favorite charity (which I may or may not be willing to support). I ignore them. I find it slightly tacky. Why not post your birthday present wish list while you are at it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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