Registering for Charity Donations

I don't have any tips. One of my sisters asked her wedding guests to donate to her favorite animal rescue. I sent a check with a note about who I was donating for. The rescue sent me a thank you card but I don't think my sister did. Either way, it was a nice gesture on her part and made sense since she and her husband are animal rescuing fools.

Oh how sweet! I'll make a note on my wedding website about letting me know who you gave to. I wouldn't want anyone to fall through the cracks on thank you notes although I'm sure that'd be easy!

Why don't you not register and then donate anything you get.

@Emmy. I was just going to suggest the same thing!

Yeah I think you can just have that as your only "registry" and people can either give to it or not. I imagine if you have a traditional registry a majority of your gifts will wind up coming from there.

ETA: I wouldn't be offended either way.

Well, both organizations are overseas so if I were to get all $ that would be a possibility but neither organization really has a need for many of the items that would come in a wedding registry, as they need things like diapers, school supplies, jewelry supplies, cosmetology items, fabric for sewing (that's the job training part) and the postal service in both countries are VERY spotty with bribes often being required to even get anything off the tarmac. The majority of their needs are liquid assets to pay salaries for the ladies and staff, new buildings for school or housing, and damage with recent storms. That's a great idea but I think it might be more of a headache than a help for them.

Mal-Pal, what a fantastic idea! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! I love the idea of taking the initiative and asking the guests to let you know who they donated to.

Emmy means don't register or have a small registry and donate the cash gifts you receive.

The reason is people get offended by being told where to spend their charity donation money. I'm very picky, and, though this is an organization close to your heart, it may not be theirs. It mght be a great org, but it's not about that. So just take whatever monetary gifts you get and donate that and don't bring your guests into it.

That's a good point @Stephanie! Thank you! I think what we'll do to rectify that is tell them they can feel free to give to a charity of their choice and then tell me who they gave to in a card. I do that specifically because both organizations are faith based and if a person isn't interested in that then I don't want them to feel forced. I do know firsthand however that both organizations are very responsible with donations so thankfully that isn't an issue!

I really appreciate everyone's comments!

I agree with Emmy and Stephanie; I think it's a wonderful sentiment and a great idea, but I too am pretty picky about where my donations go.

I'd just make a very small registry, add a link to your charities, and then donate any money you get, at your discretion.

Thanks @Celia and everyone else! I think that's exactly what I'll do!

Also, I probably should have noted that one reason it was a concern for me is that I'll probably have over 300 guests there due to the fact that I grew up in a Southern town of 2000 people and the wedding will be held in the church I grew up in. Many of them are in households but that just seemed like a TON of gifts.