After years of solicitations from this organization I have discovered why they continue to barrage me with calls. This is indeed NOT the San Francisco Symphony. It is a for-profit organization that goes by the name SD&A Teleservices who also manages the San Francisco Opera fundraising drives. I was on the phone with a representative trying to solicit a donation for the Opera and I asked them similar questions as I did the Symphony fundraisers in the past but the telemarketer was much more up front with me than the Symphony telemarketers. I appreciate their honesty with me and it saddens me to say I will not be donating or attending either organization again.
I am unsure of the amount that actually goes towards either organization, but I will not be donating to either in the future as I want my entire donation to go towards the organization. The fact that these telemarketers take up to 90% of your donation before it even sees the hands of the organization (The San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Symphony in this case) deters me from donating to any causes in the future without proper investigation.
I am torn between being irritated by the sheer ignorance of this establishment and my love for Classical music. I have asked them repeatedly to take my number off their "call" list...even going as so far to lie and say this is not my number anymore. I have asked them to remove me from their call list at least 7 times. They don't call for a few months, and then the harassment starts again. Yes...that is what I'm calling it - harassment.
They will call and try and get you to sign up for their packages (see the symphony three times a year for a special low price). I go to the SF Symphony at least three times a year. I have done fine without having someone "sign me up" to do so.