Georgia PIRG - worth a donation?

[klook]

Hey, guys -- these people from Georgia PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) came around to the door today asking for dough. I said no because I didn't know much about them and what they do. Anybody familiar with their work? Should I give them some $$?

Based on their website, they look pretty good. Just looking for some informed opinions from those more familiar with Georgia PIRG.

[racaulk]

1. If you donate, be prepared to receive LOTS of phone calls for future donations.

A man with Georgia PIRG came by my door a couple of years ago and talked to me about his organization and its mission (at the time, this was lobbying for better transportation alternatives in Atlanta and the surrounding area, but they have since added healthcare reform to their causes). Although I had never heard of this organization before, I gave him a donation because (1) mass transit is something that Atlanta desperately needs to invest in and (2) I'm usually sympathetic to those that are brave enough to canvass door-to-door for their cause (been there, done that, and I know it's tough). My donation got me a year's membership with Georgia PIRG.

I didn't hear anything else from them until about a year later when the phone calls started coming. I have a personal policy of not answering the phone when I don't recognize the phone number of the caller, and that was true in this case. So they would call, leave me a two-second blank voicemail, and hang up without ever leaving a message. They called me around 4:00pm to 6:00pm each time, about 3-5 times a week, for several weeks and the result was always the same -- hanging up on my voicemail without leaving a message.

After a few weeks of checking and deleting blank voicemails, I got tired of this and decided to answer, still not knowing who had been calling me. The lady on the phone told me that she was with Georgia PIRG and was calling to see if I would be interested in donating again. When I told her what I had been experiencing with the repeated phone calls, she explained to me that they use some sort of computerized dialing system to reach out to those whose phone numbers are in their system. I told her of my frustration with this process and that, while I was supportive of that group's mission, I did not wished to be called again. She promised to remove my phone number from their system.

A few months later the phone calls started coming again, presumably because their next quarter's fundraising drive was underway. Rinse and repeat, I once again asked to have my phone number removed from their system. I think it has been at least six months or so since I have heard from them, and I am still not convinced that they won't start calling me again at some point.

Georgia PIRG does seem to be a good organization that supports progressive causes. But if you decide to donate, I *highly* recommend that you not give them your phone number.

I hope this helps. :hi:

[klook]

2. Yes, thanks

That would be a good reason to give out a disposable virtual telephone number.

I had a similar problem with the Southern Poverty Law Center - good organization doing important work, but they sent me mountains of mail asking for donations. I finally had to send them about 5 requests to be removed from their mailing list, and have stopped donating just to keep them off my back.