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EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

supporters.eff.org

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Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#3

Post by mdaniel »

I realize this might sound like a First World Problem, but I typically donate to my charities and organizations early in the year. Then things like this pop up and I have to weigh the opportunity cost of not donating while my power will be doubled against the feeling that I've already given a chunk of change.

I guess in the end, I'll probably cave and donate again because I think the EFF is very important, but I wonder what thoughts others have on this situation?

Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#4

Post by airlocksoftware »

Very cool of the people doing the matching donations. I'm always happy to do anything I can to help the EFF. But now, more than ever, it feels like they might be our best chance to avoid dystopia.

But considering the size of the tech industry and the amount of money the internet / technology is making all of us, I'm sometimes surprised by how small the EFF is. Does anyone have any thoughts on why the EFF isn't larger and better funded like most other industry groups?

Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#5

Post by dublinben »

mdaniel wrote: post #3

I realize this might sound like a First World Problem, but I typically donate to my charities and organizations early in the year. Then things like this pop up and I have to weigh the opportunity cost of not donating while my power will be doubled against the feeling that I've already given a chunk of change. I guess in the end, I'll probably cave and donate again because I think the EFF is very important, but I wond…

If it works with your budget, you should plan on donating at the end of the year. Most non-profits have their most important fundraising drives during December, where schemes like this are often seen.

Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#7

Post by glimcat »

mdaniel wrote: post #3

I realize this might sound like a First World Problem, but I typically donate to my charities and organizations early in the year. Then things like this pop up and I have to weigh the opportunity cost of not donating while my power will be doubled against the feeling that I've already given a chunk of change. I guess in the end, I'll probably cave and donate again because I think the EFF is very important, but I wond…

This situation is a result of two things:

* Businesses want to get spending in before the end of the year for tax & budget reasons.

* Customs surrounding holiday giving and charity, with disposable income from holiday bonuses.

So this is the best time of year for donation drives & matching programs.

Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#8

Post by tofof »

This is not 2x matching. This is just plain and simple matching. You donate 50, they get a total of 100 - 50 from you, and 50 from the donor.

Yes, the total amount they receive is 2x, but the matched amount is 1x.

I sound pedantic but it's because this is in stark contrast to the Internet Archive's "3x matching" through the end of the month, in which if you donate 50 they receive a total of 200, because the matching amount is triple - 3x - what you donate.

Re: EFF has 2x matching donations until Dec 17th

#9

Post by furyofantares »

mdaniel wrote: post #3

I realize this might sound like a First World Problem, but I typically donate to my charities and organizations early in the year. Then things like this pop up and I have to weigh the opportunity cost of not donating while my power will be doubled against the feeling that I've already given a chunk of change. I guess in the end, I'll probably cave and donate again because I think the EFF is very important, but I wond…

givewell has an article on how lots of donation matching is actually closer to a restructuring of a large donation from another donor http://blog.givewell.org/2011/12/15/why-you-shouldnt-let-don...

This looks like it fits that category -- donations are matched up to $118,569 which really just means someone is donating $118,569 and using that donation to attract more donations. If you think it's going to hit that cap without you, you haven't given anything up. And if you don't, you still might not have given anything up, since the donor still might give the $118,569 they were willing to give anyway.

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