If you go to a fundraiser

[pbjam]

After having a conversation with a friend who was appalled at the idea of not keeping 50/50 winnings, I wondered what others thought.

[kbw12]

I voted yes but I think it's based on the fundraiser. We recently had a 50/50 for a guy at our work whose 3 year old has stomach cancer. Had I won it then I would have absolutely donated it back. If it was something like at a basketball game or something like that I keep it.

[lizblue]

I think it depends. I'm a board member of a library and if I won I would donate it back - looking at it as my $5 donation (or whatever) led to $XXX gift.

If I was attending something I wasn't as passionate about (like a car show or some thing) or didn't have a leadership role (or was not attending at the request of someone in a leadership role), I might keep it. If I really cared about the mission, I would donate.

[pbjam]

Feb 22, 2017 12:22:22 GMT -5 michyme123 said:

Oh, see I've never been for something like a child's cancer. Ok, I can see just giving that back. I've only ever done at sports games and such. Well now I feel like an ass for my answer.

I actually didn't even think of the sports ones. I was thinking exclusively of charity type events.

[ajm0711]

If it was a fundraiser for an individual person such as the children's cancer fundraiser, I would probably give it back. But anything else, I'm keeping it.

[tiffbot]

I would never expect the money to be donated back to us, as a fundraiser organizer.

As someone who never wins the 50/50, lol, we buy some every time and also spend money elsewhere so I'd be ok with taking it

I've helped out at local small town hockey games where it doesn't amount to a ton so whoever wins it will sometimes go buy a round for everyone in the lounge or whatever after, but again not expected to, but that's the only time I've really seen anyone give the money back right away.

ETA-charity I would consider giving some or all back, I was just thinking sporting events and local fundraisers. In that situation if there was a silent auction there I'd maybe keep the money and bid on some bigger items that we can't normally afford to bid on-we still get something and the money goes back to the fundraiser!

[14joa31]

pbjam - your avatar is the bees knees! I've had the meme taped to my cube door for over a year now. You know my life.

With regard to the 50/50, it would depend on the situation. When I was 12 years old I won the 50/50 at my school's Christmas bazaar so darn tootin' that I kept it! However, now that I'm older and wiser I'm more likely to give it back if it's a worthy charity.

[bearfootz]

I answered SS because in the past I've given half of my winnings back. That way I can celebrate with my winnings but still feel good about giving something back to the charitable cause. (assuming there is one and that's why I purchased a 50/50 ticket)

[claud]

Isn't the point of the 50-50 that the charity gets 50% of the money and the winner gets the other half? I mean, I can see why donating it would be nice, but it isn't like the charity is out money otherwise.

I'd probably keep it.

[joy]

Phil's game? MINE.

A close friend who's raising money for her neighbor's severely autistic son who needs a therapy dog? Take my monies back, please.

EDIT: Second example was an actual situation.

[EmMilAlly]

Most charities really want you to keep the money. Otherwise it sets a precedent that the winner is obligated to donate it, which is less fun so they sell less tickets. (Though I agree if it was a small fundraiser for a specific person, I'd give it back after the fact.)

[lucilleaustero]

For most events, I would keep it. But for animals or kids, I would take it for the moment, because it can put the charity in a weird position, but would jsut make a donation after the fact in the amount I won.

[michelleca]

It depends on the charity for me. Most of the time, I would keep it. **Trigger warning**

In my hometown, a child died (I'll spare the details), and people were selling tickets. Had I won, I would have given everything to the family.

[rocksforludo]

The only time I've seen a raffle prize given back is when a board/committee member or their spouse wins.

And then it's a little weird when their name gets picked anyway (like we all knew it wasn't rigged but still...a little awkward) so it seemed like a good move at the time.

[k3am]

If tickets are being sold as a 50/50, then it's a 50/50. The whole purpose is to drum up support they might not otherwise have. Everyone knows going into it that some of the money won't be going to the cause at hand.

If they're appalled at keeping the winnings, they should just make a straight donation.

[marygracerich]

At any event I have ever been to, we donate half back if we win.

[jessila]

I won the 50/50 raffle at a fundraiser for a classmate who had lukemia in 3rd grade. My dad made me give back half of it telling me that she needed it more than I did. I was less than thrilled. I tried to hand her the money backstage and someone saw the interaction. They forced us out on stage and our picture ended up on the front page of the town's paper. It made me look like a sweet and selfless kid. Thanks dad.

If I were in a situation like that again, I'd give it all back as an adult. He made a good call only having me give back part of it. There's no way I'd have given it all back. Also, I'm sure there are some laws preventing 8 year olds from gambling. He totally put my name on the tickets not the other way around.

[akraus2015]

For true fundraising events, I've always seen people give the money back.

Professional sporting events and such where there's no specific cause, keep the money.

I also had one of our board members for our school win a 50/50 at trivia night and he announced that if the crowd matched the amount won within 10 minutes, he'd give it all back, so we ended up doubling it a second time. (He would have given it back either way but it was a cool way to double the money.)

[cadien]

I've never seen a 50/50 for a needy person, just sports. Here they get businesses and people to donate things for either a silent auction or a raffle auction. Which removes the issue.