It has become commonplace in so many places that it almost has become as mundane as the need for every place to thank us for coming in.
“Would you like to round up for charity today?”
-Every Cashier It Feels Like
And when you say no, their look makes you feel like a heartless soulless bastard. But I say “No” every single time. It is a principal thing.
What Happens When You Round-Up
When you round up, the company adds up all the donations it receives to support a particular cause. Those donations are then lumped into one big check that the company gives to the charity. All this sounds harmless enough, right?
But my issue is that we have allowed this company to get a tax break to offset earnings. Those donations are made to the company by us, but the company then turns those into a tax avoidance strategy. Since they make the donation to a 501c3 they get the tax break from making the donation to offset corporate cash.
What Do I Do Instead?
We have two charities that we support each year and make routine donations to them. We know the organizations well enough that we know the money is being spent wisely and in a way that we agree with.
In 2024 we supported
We support both organizations through monetary, in-kind, and time. We have been so impressed that I would be surprised if we don’t continue with these two plus another one in 2025.
The exciting part involves adding our eight-year-old daughter to the selection process. The third charity will be a family choice, but she’ll have a lot of sway in the decision.
A few of the organizations in the mix currently include …
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
- Delaware County Humane Society
- Great Lakes Boxer Rescue
- People in Need, Inc. of Delaware County
It is going to be so much fun watching her help raise money for this charity and build a strong character involving giving back.
Stay tuned, we’ll update more soon.
