Public Shaming at the Register
Anyone who has checked out at the supermarket in recent years has no doubt been offered the option to donate to a local charity. Sometimes, the cashier verbally asks you if you want to round up your purchase with a donation. While most of us say “no,” it’s still an excellent way for nonprofits to gather much-needed donations.
There is an element of public shaming, though. Many of us feel awful when we say we don’t want to donate money to help sick kids. But we also kind of feel pressured to donate because we don’t want to be perceived as bad people. Sure, we can donate to the charity on our own, but will we ACTUALLY do it when we get home from the store? Donating at the register isn’t that bad. Despite public opinion, stores don’t get a tax break when soliciting customer donations.