charity cards?

Question

i bought a charity card (the karen keating foundation) but the back of the card said only 7% of sales go to the charity,
it seems a bit of a con because the public beleive they are giving to charitys but most of it doesnt even go there, seems to b a bit of con really.

Answer 1

I think it is best to make your own card, no matter how amateurish they are (your reals friends will understand) and send the money you would have spent to a charity of your choice. I made all my own cards last year with photographs that I had taken myself. I felt they meant more to my friends than just buying them.

Answer 2

What might come as more of a shock is the percentage of money different charitable foundations are required to spend from their funds on the specific areas of research. Even the Red Cross is bogged down with administration costs.

As an example, if your cards cost $10, it means only 70 cents went to the charitable foundation. What part of that money went to research of a disease or supported a food program for the poor? Likely, the amount that actually did any 'good work' was about 25 cents... and that's an optimistic estimate. The doctors doing the research have to apply for grants from a foundation and the competition can be tough. "Non-profit" doesn't guarantee that an organization is efficient with their funds.

I'm not sure about the Karen Keating Foundation-- I've never heard of them.

Some of the best charity starts in your own backyard. Give your time, old clothing, usable toys, canned goods, etc. directly to a church or group that is working on the front lines with the needy. Research charities carefully.

Answer 3

I don't think that is a bad percentage. My shop sells Christmas cards all charity ones such as Oxfam, Save the Children, R.S.P.C.A. etc. (I don't sell cards for charities which fund research done on animals as I consider this both unethical and ineffective).

To put it simply a card selling at £1.00 would cost us 60p. This 60p has to pay for the design, manufacture, packaging, marketing and distribution of the card plus the charity contribution. The costs will be lower on larger print runs but the manufacturers have to make a guesstimate how well each card will sell. They may be able to sell some leftovers next year but generally it is new designs for each year.

Lest you think that the 40p we make is excessive remember a share of our overheads has to come out of this. These include general items such as rent, wages, electricity, advertising, cleaning, shopfitting, storage, shelf filling, waste disposal, toilets, computer and till systems and IT. Stock has to be ordered, chased, checked when it arrives, barcodes entered into system, displayed on the shelves and priced. Then you have to make the sale - with Christmas cards people usually choose themselves but there is always someone who wants a second opinion or just a chat or wants a large quantity of a design entailing stock check on the till and a visit to the stock room. Overall our actual profit is about 10%. Larger store selling cards by the thousands can lower their overheads but they have High Street rents to pay and people expect lower prices. I love being a retailer but I could make more money working these hours in a regular job.

Answer 4

I suppose that they have to pay for the production costs, but 7% seems a little mean to me! Try cards from Oxfam, R.N.L.I. Mind, there are lot's more, and the profit ALL goes to the charity

Answer 5

I never bother with charities much for that particular reason. I would rather help a neighbor knowing that they are getting everything I have to give rather than have most of the proceeds go into God know whose pockets.

Answer 6

Seems like they are ripping you off to me! Next time just put your money in a tin and get a sticker or baloon!!