Give For Life

[Hane]

[Dave A]

If the total admin cost including the MLM incentive came to under 30% I'd have no particular complaint. If that total admin cost was under 50% I'd be only mildly cynical. At 80% towards "costs" I confess my BS detectors are so inflamed it's extremely difficult to take seriously the claim that this is motivated by charity.

Give for life is endorsed by several celebrities namely:
· Victor Matfield
· Ryk Neethling
· Arnold Geerdts
· John-Laffnie de Jager
· Heinz & Alette Winckler
· Hykie Berg
· Bala Brothers
· Altus Theart
· Andrew Thompson
· Zetske van Pletzen

You wouldn't happen to have scanned copies of those letters of endorsement by any chance? And are these good folk aware that only 20% of the proceeds goes to charities?

Is there a tax angle here?

By my understanding of tax legislation, there is zero prospect of this being seen as a tax deductible donation to charity by the taxman. Also it can't be a registered charity because a minimum of 70% has to go to charity (from memory - could be out by a bit, but certainly not 50% out). Given the structure, you'd stand a better chance claiming your contribution as a business expense towards this MLM "charity fundraising" business.

I do give my time free Why do you think I joined a mlm that support charity and not just my own pocket?

Charity first, right? The problem with that is when you say...

Do you think that if I go around and asked everyone to donate R189 to an animal charity that lots of people would give? Tell them that they can make money out of it then more people are interested? Its sad but very true.

...you're arguing against yourself. Rationalisation is an amazing thing.

I'm amazed the Law Review Project gave this the thumbs up as not being a pyramid scheme (frankly I'm sceptical they've even looked at this aspect). For starters it fails the product test. This seems little more than a classic pyramid scheme with a very flimsy charity wrapper for camoflage.

If anyone goes for it, please admit at least to yourself it's not because you're all come over with feeling charitable - you're doing it for the money. If you were doing it for charity, you'd be giving the money straight to the Community Chest, Gift of the Givers, Red Cross etc.

Personally I think the best thing about this scheme is it demonstrates so wonderfully what "making a positive contribution to society" has descended to in South Africa nowadays.

[Hane]

You can have a look at their video presentation where all these celebs voice their opinions. http://www.hefty.co.za/fundraising

The reason behind if you tell people that they can make money out of it is that R2 is better then no Rand. They money that the charities receive is more then they would have so why not use peoples needs for extra income to help charities. I would donate a lot of the money that I make back to charity directly. It opens up my time to volunteer more while I can earn a living I can help charities.

The thing for me is that charities aren't getting donations so this opens up the door for more people to donate where they wouldn't have.

Peoples greed earns money for charity. Why should they spend the time that they would have on another mlm which would only benefit them and the organisation when they do the same and charities benefit. Don't tell me that people could go and donate money from their earning because they don't.

[Kevm]

The reason behind if you tell people that they can make money out of it is that R2 is better then no Rand. They money that the charities receive is more then they would have so why not use peoples needs for extra income to help charities.

Peoples greed earns money for charity. .

I could not resist!

Yes R2 is better than R0, isnt it so dandy that you can now earn money off other peoples "donations" to "charity".

And the fact that "Peoples greed earns money for charity" isnt this a bit of an oxymoron? Like "Creative Accounting", or "Deafening Silence".

I like to consider myself open minded, however a mlm based on charitable donations. Its just suger coating for money changing hands and based on how much passes by your hands you take some.
The worst is that charities that need money, are possibly getting there R2. But a few other people/organisations are taking a fat cut along the way.

[Hane]

I'm not going to try and make anyone see why I would join a mlm like this or why they should. I know why I did it! Not everyone is going to do it for the same reasons, not everyone is going to understand why I can see it as very beneficial to charities. Yes I would prefer that everyone that joins or have a problem with the concept go and donate but they wont. I dont see the money that gets spent on the expenses I only see what the charities get and that can be a lot, a lot that they DID NOT receive before.

[sterne.law@gmail.com]

Give for Life

I think this issue popped up about 2/3 weeks ago. The concept involves a monthly amount of which a percentage goes to charity. Charities endorsed by leading celebs. As you recruit people so your dividend increases.
I have not gone into it too much, but it seems like a straight pyramid scheme, only that some money goes to the charities. Have I missed something?

[BigRed]

....Charities endorsed by leading celebs.

to fund their dinners

As you recruit people so your dividend increases.

now this sounds a bit suspicious....

I am all for giving to a charity in lieu of sending off calender and pens at year end to our customers.

[Dave A]

I think this issue popped up about 2/3 weeks ago.

Both threads even had the same title
If you're wondering why your post is now on page 3, I took the liberty of merging the two threads.

[sterne.law@gmail.com]

Both threads even had the same title
If you're wondering why your post is now on page 3, I took the liberty of merging the two threads.

Great now, having read all, I am even more amazed at how this is not a pyramid scheme.
As to the celebrities - the celebrities are endorsing the charities. The give for life people in turn endorse the charities, this does not however mean that the celebs are endorsing the give for life concept.
Every person that supports this idea harps on about teh charity aspect and evades any questions on how it works. It takes a few tough questions and some cross-examination before people answer straight.
The jist is you give your money - 10 5 of that goes to charity and the rest goes into a fund. You recruit people and get paid a commision for that. you also earn comision for the people that your recruitees recruit. Now if that is not the very definition of a pyramid, what is?
Make no mistake, either some one is very clever and we are missing something, or tehy are so clever that by making it so obvious that it is a pyramid that we presume it cannot be.
Anyone know where the ponzi man is?

[AndyD]

Yeah, it does seem to fit the definition of pyramid scheme just with bright lights, smoke and mirrors.

[desA]

For me, the 'pyramid alert' screamed within the first 5 seconds of reading the OP.

I have seen good friend crash-&-burn over the years - all nice folks, who eventually poured their money & efforts into making the pyramid-builders rich. I hate pyramid schemes with a passion.

[Hane]

Pyramids doesn't have an end that's why people lose money. Network marketing must have a product or service that they sell and they must end so that everyone have equal opportunities to make money.

Now if you take that and apply it to Give For Life.
1. They sell the service of raising funds for charities
2. Its only 5 levels deep so you can only earn commission up to your 5th level.

Give For Life is a branch of The Giving Organisation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as its Patron. On the 11 Feb 2010 they have reached the R46 mil mark for charities. They hope to reach R100 mil by the end of this year with the help of Give For Life.

[desA]

The man is so slick... have to give him credit for trying.

The snake-oil showroom is down the road.

[Hane]

If this is a scheme then why will reputable charities link their names with it. If they didn't stand to benefit from this they wouldn't do it. You can take a look at the letter that links the charities to Give For Life here.

Sorry about the quality but I had to take it out of their full brochure as I didn't think you would download it to read the whole thing.

[Hane]

As to the celebrities - the celebrities are endorsing the charities. The give for life people in turn endorse the charities, this does not however mean that the celebs are endorsing the give for life concept.

If the celebs didn't endorse the Give For Life Concept then they would Victor Matfield - SA Rugby Player say in his video that he proudly supports Give For Life?

Go to www.giveforlife.hefty.co.za and listen to the celeb videos they all say that they Proudly support Give For Life.