DRJMK - what does Ralph Edwards want from you? And what can they GIVE in return?
IME (in my experience in internet lingo), folks who want you to "donate" offer nothing, zip, zilch in return...except their fleeting gratitude...and, perhaps, a grudging acknowledgement on their website or in a program, etc.
Funny thing...I was once bidding on an item on eBay (before BK alerted me to the glories of esnipe.com)...and one of the other bidders contacted me and asked me if I would refrain from bidding any further as he was gathering materials on this actor and wanted the photo for a "web" museum, and had limited funds. EBay was, apparently, his main venue for collecting the materials he wanted for his tribute
As it was, I had bid as much as I wanted, and I didn't bid more, but I also did not give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
I've had a couple of experiences wherein folks have contacted me after an auction and requested I "donate" or sell to them the item I'd just won -- at a lower price than I paid.
My guess is they may have thought I might be a dealer collecting items for resale....but, still...taking a loss isn't something folks usually want to do. I know I don't.