In case anybody thinks I am talking through my ass about grants from foundations, there is a search site for foundations. I searched on Virginia and found at least 1875 charitable foundations. They let you see their 990 tax returns and how much they contributed to what. After a random viewing of three, I found this:

ALLOY FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC.
Form 990 -PF(2005) C/O STANLEY MARTIN COMPANIES, INC. 20-31427 87 Page 10 Part XV Supplementary Information (continued)
3 Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment
Recipient If recipient is an individual,
show any relationship to Foundation Purpose of grant or
Name and address (home or business) any foundation manager status of contribution Amount or substantial contributor recipient Paid dunng the year

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PUBLIC GREATER WASHINGTON, 8555 CHARITY 16TH ST., SILVER SPRING, MD 20 /A GENERAL 25,000.

SHELTER HOUSE, PO BOX PUBLIC 4081, FALLS CHURCH, VA CHARITY 22044 /A GENERAL 1,000.

http://lnp.foundationcenter.org/finder.html

I paid for one of my wife's formewr students tuition to clown college once and deducted it from my taxes. She had every intention of paying it back But I told her the only thing she owed me was her sucess. When you donate to a general charity, a lot of the money is eaten in over head, telemarketers, abvertizing, salaries etc. but when you give direct, more of the money gets to the destination.

I guess a lot of people do not trust the government or even a charity to spend their money in the places they would want it spent so they would rather have some control. Like Harry Reid wanting $20 million in pork to eradicate Mormon crickets.