Yes, I understand

[Sheldonrs]

Yes, I understand that you have lost your job and your father died and your finances have made a complete 180 turn and you are now living with your Mother.
And yes, i understand that you have donated substantially to us over the years. (He has been very generous).
But you must also understand that we cannot refund your donations from the last 7 years to help you out now.


This has been the gist of several e-mails from a donor since mid-November. It has now been escalated to our higher ups.

I actually wish we COULD help but that would violate our charter.

[Der Cute]

They want to UNDO their donations? What? You CAN undo a deposit to a bank - because it's YOUR money to yourself. But once you sign that money to another entity, how can you get it back? Possession. Accounting. Ownership. WTF.

It's also a gift, not a loan. You don't undo gifts.

These people have chutzpah for even THINKING this is possible. Weirdos.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I . . . What . . .

*brain BSOD*

I think my brain just and forgot to take my body with it. :

[mhkohne]

we cannot refund your donations from the last 7 years to help you out now.

What the heck is that guy thinking? That you just stuff the money under a matress? It's spent dude! You gave it to a charity and they did their job. WTF?

[emax4]

I hope this doesn't go into fratching, but perhaps the guy should look into being on the receiving (not giving) part of the charity now. He may be too proud to do so, but what else is there?

[notlovinit]

It wouldn't be so sucky if he had asked once. Okay, it would still be way sucky, because seriously WTF?, but the part that gets me is that from the sounds of it he has continued asking after being told no and has had this escalated to higher ups. Seriously, dude, the charity doesn't owe you anything. You can't get your money back from ANYTHING after 7 years (or over the course of 7 years), why would a CHARITY give your money back?

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

So...he wants the charity to give back the money that he gifted to said charity and which said charity has likely already spent on helping whatever they are chartered to help?

For the past seven years?

I agree DGoddessChardonnay...my brain just Kernel Panicked on me too.

[Peppergirl]

Wow. You guys are all alot nicer than me! I think it took unbelieveable balls to ask even once, let alone over-and-over.

Sorry - but I'd eat dogfood to survive before I'd ask for money back that I donated to a charity. Especially the one that Sheldon is with.

Disgusting.

[earl colby pottinger]

Last one

If it was very recent I could see having the last donation cancelled if it was not finished being processed.

But he does realize if he got all seven years back that he will now own taxes on all the income tax deductions he had done over the years, and knowing how the government works, they probably put interest over all those years on top!

[Peppergirl]

If it was very recent I could see having the last donation cancelled if it was not finished being processed.

Good point. I'd see no problem asking if a very recent one could be reversed.

[fireheart]

I hope this doesn't go into fratching, but perhaps the guy should look into being on the receiving (not giving) part of the charity now. He may be too proud to do so, but what else is there?

The charity that the OP works for specialises in children. (by the way I apologise to the mods for my earlier questionable post)

Your idea is probably on the right track though. OP, is it possible to get in contact with the guy and refer him to any local agencies which may provide him with some help to get back on his feet? My uni provided a list of food banks for the uni students (you had to be living in the area and show that you were on welfare) of which many of those were local churches or charities running their services through the local community centre. You wouldn't have to go that far though.

[taxguykarl]

But he does realize if he got all seven years back that he will now own taxes on all the income tax deductions he had done over the years, and knowing how the government works, they probably put interest over all those years on top!

and penalties as well. At the very least such a refund would, in all likelihood be taxable income for that very reason.

[Sheldonrs]

... OP, is it possible to get in contact with the guy and refer him to any local agencies which may provide him with some help to get back on his feet? ....

I did in my first e-mail reply. We get a lot of requests for financial help from people thinking that is part of our org. I always refer them to their local social services office, religeous orgs, etc.

[HappyFun Ball]

It's a charity.. Not a savings account.

[downforit2008]

Seriously??? You have people who have donated money over the years now asking for their money back???

I'd say, "Sorry about that. Your donation money has long ago been spent!"