The gemara says that for those who pledge tzedaka publicly and don't give it, rain is withheld. Rashi indicates that the punishment is for violating the pledge and therefore it is also true if the pledge is done in private (just that normally when one pledges in private they carry through since there is no other motivation to make the pledge). But the maharsha argues that the punishment is for teasing the aniyim who are anticipating the money and don't receive it.
Perhaps a slight support to the maharsha can be from the gemara in megilla, that the matnos aniyim has to coincide with the megillah reading bec. the eyes of the poor are looking forward to megillah reading to receive their money. we see that chazal were clearly very sensitive about teasing the poor, so that can be the issue here as well.
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