Should charities be pushing their donors to use their credit cards when they give?

The anonymous blogger who writes Don’t Tell the Donor answers that question with an emphatic no, especially in light of growing concerns of a spike in credit-card defaults.

The writer predicts fund raisers and others will soon have to rethink the recent practice of encouraging donations on plastic. She also says charity leaders really need to think about whether it is ethical to encourage such donations.

“Many people think a credit card default crisis is closer than we think,” she writes. “So, what should we do? Continue to ask donors to put their gift on credit cards… but only if they promise to be responsible and pay off the card balance every month?”

Are charities courting trouble if they accept donations on plastic — or are they simply offering donors a more convenient option for giving? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.