當指定捐款變成一場單向通知——我與某NGO的一日經歷

今天發生了一件事，讓我對於台灣NGO的捐款治理，有了全新的感受。

我是一位長期定期定額捐款人，每月固定捐助一個專門服務移工孩童的兒童安置計畫，至今已持續整整一年。這筆捐款是我的指定捐款，用途明確，對象具體。

第一封信：單方面通知轉用途

今天中午，我收到這個基金會寄來的一封信。信中告知，該計畫因「階段性任務調整」，將於今年八月底結束服務，並說明：我原本指定給該計畫的定期定額捐款，七月起將自動轉入基金會的「兒童醫療協助方案」。

信中沒有解釋：

所謂「階段性任務調整」究竟是什麼意思？
原本服務的移工孩童，後續將由誰接手照顧？
為何選擇「兒童醫療協助方案」作為承接項目？
這個新方案的服務對象與原計畫是否有任何關聯？

更關鍵的是：這是通知，不是徵詢同意。

指定捐款的本質，在於捐款人將信任與善意，交付給一個明確的用途。在未獲捐款人同意的情況下，逕行變更指定用途，在法律與倫理上，都是值得質疑的做法。

我的回信：提出疑問

收到信後，我隨即回覆，提出上述幾個問題，語氣平和，只是希望得到合理的說明。

一小時後：捐款被暫停

沒有任何人致電、沒有任何人回信、沒有任何人嘗試溝通。

約一小時後，我收到了金流平台的系統通知：我的定期定額捐款，已被暫停。

操作方，是基金會。

從頭到尾，沒有一通電話，沒有一封解釋，沒有任何人與我接觸。就這樣，一筆已執行一年、原設定為長期的指定捐款，在我提出疑問的當天，被單方面終止。

我想說的話

我無法確定這樣的處理方式是否違法，但我可以確定的是：

這樣的處理態度，不像一個以信任為基礎的慈善組織應有的樣子。

捐款人不是客戶，但也不是提款機。每一筆指定捐款的背後，都有一個人選擇相信這個組織、相信這個用途。當一個NGO面對捐款人的善意質疑，選擇的回應方式是沉默加上單方面停款——這傳達的訊息很清楚：

你的信任，不重要。你的疑問，不歡迎。

台灣的公益勸募環境需要更高的透明度與問責標準。我選擇將這件事公開，不是為了對立，而是希望每一位有心捐款的人，在交出善意之前，都能得到應有的尊重與說明。

來和我交流

如果你也有類似的經歷，或對於台灣NGO的捐款治理有看法，歡迎留言交流。

English version below

When Designated Donations Become One-Way Notifications: My Experience with a Taiwan NGO

Something happened today that has given me a whole new perspective on donation governance in Taiwanese NGOs.

I am a long-term donor who makes fixed monthly contributions to a children’s placement program that specifically serves migrant workers’ children. I have been donating consistently for exactly one year. This donation is a designated donation, with a clear purpose and specific target.

The First Letter: Unilateral Notice of Purpose Change

This afternoon, I received a letter from the foundation. It informed me that the program, due to “phase-based task adjustments,” would be ending its services by the end of August. The letter also stated that my monthly designated donation would automatically be redirected to the foundation’s “Child Medical Assistance Program” starting in July.

The letter provided no explanation for:

What exactly “phase-based task adjustments” means
Who will take over care for the migrant children previously served
Why the “Child Medical Assistance Program” was chosen as the successor program
Whether the new program’s target population has any connection to the original one

Most importantly: This was a notification, not a request for consent.

The essence of a designated donation lies in the donor’s entrusting their goodwill to a specific purpose. Unilaterally changing that purpose without donor consent is ethically and legally questionable.

My Reply: Raising Questions

After receiving the letter, I immediately replied, posing the questions above in a measured tone, simply hoping to receive a reasonable explanation.

One Hour Later: My Donation Was Suspended

No one called. No one replied. No one attempted to communicate.

About an hour later, I received a system notification from the payment platform: my monthly donation had been suspended.

The action was taken by the foundation.

From start to finish: no phone call, no explanation, no contact of any kind. Just like that, a donation I had been making for a year, originally set up as a long-term commitment to a specific purpose, was unilaterally terminated on the very day I asked for clarification.

What I Want to Say

I cannot determine whether this approach violates any law, but I can say with certainty:

This is not how a charitable organization built on trust should behave.

Donors are not customers, but neither are they ATM machines. Behind every designated donation is a person who has chosen to trust this organization and this purpose. When an NGO responds to a donor’s well-intentioned questions with silence and unilateral action to suspend funding—the message is crystal clear:

Your trust doesn’t matter. Your questions are unwelcome.

Taiwan’s charitable fundraising environment needs higher standards of transparency and accountability. I’m making this public not to create conflict, but to ensure that every person considering a donation can receive the respect and explanation they deserve before giving their goodwill.

Let’s Talk About This

If you’ve had a similar experience, or have thoughts about donation governance in Taiwanese NGOs, I welcome your comments.