Donations reduce tax liability. They are donating your money in the name so yes, that’s exactly why they do this. Plus they get to say, “we donated xxxxxx to end give this year!”
Every time an employee asks me If I want to round up, I tell them no, their company can handle their own tax liability.
(I could be wrong but I don’t fucking know and they have enough to donate I don’t)
This is one of those things where even though the truth is important, the fact that people thought this is what was happening is a sign of a poor relationship. It’s like if a person thinks their partner cheated when they went to Las Vegas. Even if the partner did not cheat, the person believing that it was not only possible but likely is a sign that the relationship is toxic. The implication is that the partner is not in the relationship voluntarily or for the mutual benefit of both. Rather, the relationship has become antagonized and transactional. The partners are not helping each other grow. They are in a relationship in which taking advantage of the other is expected because it has happened multiple times already.
Assuming they’ve selected a good organization to donate to, that’s a shame - especially for local charities that really benefit from the money.
The whole point is that it’s a “rounding error” for the customer, but it adds up. If you round up 50 cents for 50 grocery trips a year, that’s only $25. If 2,000 other customers do it, that’s a $50,000 donation from just one store.
I don’t donate directly to anything, unfortunately, so if I see a good cause like St. Jude or a local charity at checkout, sure I’ll round up.
I think there’s a bit of a difference paying cash vs. card — with cash, rounding errors basically mean, “this money will go to a cause rather than get lost in my couch cushions.” With a card, the rounding errors add up — for the charity, yes, but also for the customer.
I think another point is, why isn’t the large corporation using their rounding errors instead of mine?
They do make their own donations, separately, often. Customers’ donations are just another way.
I guess think of it from the charity’s perspective. Checkout donations are steady fundraising for them that supplements their other more sporadic and difficult fundraising attempts. I imagine they solicit the stores to do this for them when they’re not organizing 5Ks and hosting dinners for rich people.
If it’s upsetting that stores get to promote themselves for doing it, then just donate directly. Same difference.
I don’t see why this is a bad thing? It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. The store gets brownie points and the charity gets their cause in front of more people.
If you donate through these buttons and keep your receipts, you can write it off on your own taxes.
I’ve never seen a $20 button - usually they round up to the nearest dollar or have $1-3 suggestions. Not worth the trouble to keep track for most normal taxpayers.
Donations reduce tax liability. They are donating your money in the name so yes, that’s exactly why they do this. Plus they get to say, “we donated xxxxxx to end give this year!”
Every time an employee asks me If I want to round up, I tell them no, their company can handle their own tax liability.
(I could be wrong but I don’t fucking know and they have enough to donate I don’t)
This isn’t true. The stores don’t get tax benefits from your donation.
Thank you for combating misinformation. I appreciate knowing the facts.
This is one of those things where even though the truth is important, the fact that people thought this is what was happening is a sign of a poor relationship. It’s like if a person thinks their partner cheated when they went to Las Vegas. Even if the partner did not cheat, the person believing that it was not only possible but likely is a sign that the relationship is toxic. The implication is that the partner is not in the relationship voluntarily or for the mutual benefit of both. Rather, the relationship has become antagonized and transactional. The partners are not helping each other grow. They are in a relationship in which taking advantage of the other is expected because it has happened multiple times already.
Having a reason for seeing everything in a negative light doesn’t make it a healthy way to view the world.
At least verify your assumptions before sharing them.
Good to know. Still not giving them my money when my “round up” is a rounding error for them I’m sure.
Assuming they’ve selected a good organization to donate to, that’s a shame - especially for local charities that really benefit from the money.
The whole point is that it’s a “rounding error” for the customer, but it adds up. If you round up 50 cents for 50 grocery trips a year, that’s only $25. If 2,000 other customers do it, that’s a $50,000 donation from just one store.
I don’t donate directly to anything, unfortunately, so if I see a good cause like St. Jude or a local charity at checkout, sure I’ll round up.
I think there’s a bit of a difference paying cash vs. card — with cash, rounding errors basically mean, “this money will go to a cause rather than get lost in my couch cushions.” With a card, the rounding errors add up — for the charity, yes, but also for the customer.
I think another point is, why isn’t the large corporation using their rounding errors instead of mine?
But to each their own of course.
They do make their own donations, separately, often. Customers’ donations are just another way.
I guess think of it from the charity’s perspective. Checkout donations are steady fundraising for them that supplements their other more sporadic and difficult fundraising attempts. I imagine they solicit the stores to do this for them when they’re not organizing 5Ks and hosting dinners for rich people.
If it’s upsetting that stores get to promote themselves for doing it, then just donate directly. Same difference.
I don’t see why this is a bad thing? It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. The store gets brownie points and the charity gets their cause in front of more people.
If you donate through these buttons and keep your receipts, you can write it off on your own taxes.
I’ve never seen a $20 button - usually they round up to the nearest dollar or have $1-3 suggestions. Not worth the trouble to keep track for most normal taxpayers.