Dear Miss Manners: I have a good friend who is the polar opposite of me on politics, religion and almost every other subject. We are cognizant of these differences, and refrain from debate or argument on these subjects. Amazingly, we still have things to talk about!

While I support a number of charities ... , I choose them carefully. If I do not send money to her organization, how do I politely explain why not?

However, she sent me a letter in which she requested that I support a nonprofit organization that she actually started and is running -- which I admire, but do not support. What I mean is: I admire that she had the initiative to start the group,

I have a good friend who is the polar opposite of me on politics, religion and almost every other subject. We are cognizant of these differences, and refrain from debate or argument on these subjects.

If I do not send money to her organization, how do I politely explain why not? I wish she had not asked her friends to donate money for this venture; she should know that if I did support it, I could do so on my own.