# What is the optimal way to donate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 16, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728 "2022-08-16T02:37:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/1 "2022-08-16T02:37:41Z")
A lump sum to Act Blue, small donations to each of the candidates I like, or just a couple of larger donations to candidates I like? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/2 "2022-08-16T02:43:23Z")
Find out which of your candidates need the money the most, and donate there. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/3 "2022-08-16T02:48:18Z")
Yeah, all 6 of them,dammit ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/4 "2022-08-16T03:00:09Z")
Then divide them into two categories- chance in hell, and no chance in hell, and donate to the former. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/5 "2022-08-16T03:03:30Z")
Damn. And Marcus Flowers got a slim to none chance to beat Madge ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/6 "2022-08-16T03:09:55Z")
If you have to choose between not quite helping all of the candidates and actually helping some of the candidates… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/7 "2022-08-16T03:18:29Z")
1. Find a candidate you are willing and able to donate $X to. 2. Find someone who supports their opponent and is planning to donate $X to said opponent. 3. Offer to keep your $X if they’ll keep theirs. 4. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/8 "2022-08-16T03:28:57Z")
1. Opponent lies and donates anonymously. 2. Loss! ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/9 "2022-08-16T03:39:14Z")
Cynical answer: it makes no difference at the dollar amounts that 99% of Americans can afford to give. Less cynical answer: what are your goals with your donation? ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/10 "2022-08-16T03:47:01Z")
Blue Senate ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/11 "2022-08-16T11:17:21Z")
John Fetterman (Yay!) has been doing very well financially with donations. He’s been placing ads on Facebook asking for specific amounts based on his followers. The other day he pointed out that if each of his followers sent $22.75 he’d be able to do so much campaign work. My gf and I each chipped in that amount, as did many others. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/12 "2022-08-16T13:02:48Z")
Personally, I might recommend the North Carolina Senate race, which seems oddly off the board of many handicappers’ lists of potential D pickups. Republican Tedd Budd has enjoyed a polling lead over Democrat Cheri Beasley since the primaries, but it’s tightened up considerably and is currently a dead heat. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/13 "2022-08-17T04:19:53Z")
Yup. Braddock may not be the Burgh, ma’ home town, but close enough and I may never forgive Jeopardy for Oz. + I freaking adore the way Fetterman’s running his campaign. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-optimal-way-to-donate/969728/14 "2022-08-18T05:20:14Z")
Looking at Walker/ Warnock. Too close to call?? Waste of $$$??