DEAR MISS MANNERS: Occasionally friends, on my birthday or Christmas, have given me a card announcing they've made a (financial) gift in my name to their favorite cause, which is not one I'm particularly a supporter of, although not one to which I'm opposed.
Since gifts among us are not expected, I always find this awkward. Is there a polite way of responding?
GENTLE READER: Ah yes, the Potemkin gift: one that is not a gift, but which you cannot fail to acknowledge without giving offense.
Miss Manners sympathizes, but still requires a thank-you note, perhaps one saying how good it is of them to support a cause that you know is special to them.
She would recommend that you also say how much you are looking forward to learning about this unfamiliar organization if she did not fear that your friend would miss the implication -- and instead bombard you with propaganda.