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21 Jul 11 - 11:41 AM (#3192034) Subject: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: saulgoldie I would like to hear from other 'Catters ideas for good places to give charity money. I am specifically thinking of places that address hunger and poverty in children and women. Good charities; clean charities. Not ones that have high admin overhead and over-stuffed execs. Not religiously oriented orgs or orgs with some sort of "agenda." Just good, clean, unobstructed giving. Anyone? Thanks. Saul |
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21 Jul 11 - 12:02 PM (#3192043) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: John on the Sunset Coast I'm not sure what you have against "religiously oriented orgs or orgs with some sort of "agenda."" per se. The most important thing is that most of the money or goods collected by the charity goes where you expect it to go without a lot of overhead. If you Google 'most efficient charities" you will find many sites giving such information. I'm sure in your community there are local food and clothing banks which would be happy receive your charity. Kudos to for you to perform this 'mitzvah', good deed. |
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21 Jul 11 - 12:26 PM (#3192061) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Jack the Sailor The Salvation Army charity has a reputation for using the money well. Of course they are affiliated with a church of the same name. But if I wanted the money well spent on this continent that would be my choice. |
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21 Jul 11 - 12:30 PM (#3192064) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: olddude Salvation Army is exceptional. My favorite for autistic and developmental challaged kids is www.hannahandfriends.org Of course I am bias, that is the foundation i helped start and was on the board for many years. Dan Marino foundation also |
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21 Jul 11 - 01:16 PM (#3192081) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: gnu My only charities are our regional childrens' hospital and guys I see on the street that aren't pushy or that obviously look like they really need the money. |
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21 Jul 11 - 01:34 PM (#3192092) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Becca72 Me, personally, I donate a lot of goods to the local animal refuge league. |
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21 Jul 11 - 01:38 PM (#3192095) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Q (Frank Staplin) I always give to the Salvation Army. I give some to nature conservancy groups that buy sensitive parcels of land. I give to the local hospitals, all of which have professionally run lotteries. So far I haven't won one of the million-dollar houses. Several local charities. |
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21 Jul 11 - 01:38 PM (#3192096) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Joe Offer I've been very impressed with The Hunger Project. Their only agenda, seems to be putting an end to hunger in Third World countries. Oh, I suppose they're rather strong on supporting the dignity of women. Their slogan is "empowering women and men to end their own hunger." -Joe- |
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21 Jul 11 - 03:01 PM (#3192139) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,Eliza When I made my Will recently, the solicitor had an enormous book in which were listed all the major charities (in the UK) and a brief synopsis of their aims and work. I wonder if you might be able to view this at a solicitor's office or ask at your local library. In other countries, I expect a similar catalogue exists. The various organisations were grouped helpfully by type of need, eg children, specific illnesses, animals etc. |
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21 Jul 11 - 03:12 PM (#3192144) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Andy Jackson Although not in the news any more, the suffering still goes on in Japan. Yes I know it's a rich and developed modern country, but believe me a lot of ordinary people are suffering now and for years into the future. Go to Folk for Fukushima and read more before making a donation on line via paypal. As explained on the site all money goes directly to Japan with no expenses or other deductions. |
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21 Jul 11 - 04:53 PM (#3192206) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,Anniecat The Wheelchair Foundation. Someone told me about this charity when I was in America. They supply wheelchairs to disabled and needy people all around the world. Please look at their website to see if you would like to help them. It is totally non-profit making. www.wheelchairfoundation.org |
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21 Jul 11 - 06:55 PM (#3192264) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Jim Dixon Here's one I like and have given money to: Compatible Technology International:
We strive to select or create technologies that are safe, affordable, respect the environment, require little or no fuel and electricity, and are compatible with the culture of the users. Most of our technologies are sized for small villages, extended families, coops, or very small commercial users. |
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21 Jul 11 - 06:59 PM (#3192265) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: ranger1 I'm a big supporter of Heifer International. I also support a couple of local camps for children with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, and I give to the MDA (in memory of my friends Billy, Steve and Ben, three brothers, all with Muscular Dystrophy). I donate my unwanted stuff to Freeport Community Services, after my friend Sue who works there told me that the number of people using the food pantry there has quadrupled in the last couple of years. |
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21 Jul 11 - 10:09 PM (#3192361) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Janie Salvation Army is usually a good choice, but it pays to inquire about how the local operation targets their work and dollars to see if it is the most compatible with your aims. Although it is a religious organization, they are much more interested in serving than in "saving." Where I live, the best local bang for charity bucks in terms of my priorities are the local ecumenical organizations who function in much the same way as the Salvation Army does in many places. (Little, rural towns and counties don't usually have a Salvation Army.) The demand for help with food, utility cut-offs, eviction notices, homeless shelters, or emergency funds to fill a vital prescription medication usually far exceeds the resources available to these essential community organizations - and that has been even more true over the past 3 years. If women and children are your primary focus, consider donating to a domestic violence shelter or homeless shelter that serves women and children. In general, the more local the organization, the smaller the percentage of your donation that will go to administrative costs. FWIW, I think donating to one's local public radio station is a tremendous investment. Information is power, and public radio is the best, most objective source of information about local, national and international issues that we have. If your local station already has a good donor base, consider donating to a local station in another region to enable them to carry more news and information programming. I am a sustaining subscriber to my local public radio station and also am a sustaining subscriber to West Virginia Public Radio. My local station (out of Chapel Hill, NC,) has superb programming and strong donor base, and is one of several public radio stations in North Carolina. WV Public Radio, which covers the entire State, has a budget that is a fraction of the budget of WUNC. They do a good job with limited resources, but the reality is nearly all of their daytime programming is inexpensive classical music, which really limits their audience, which decreases the number of residents likely to tune in for the good and reasonably objective news and information programming they do offer. I'm not a fan of United Way, but you can look at the list of participating charities and organizations to identify where you would like to donate, and then make a direct donation to those that matter to you. I also like the idea (but have not researched the details) of various organizations that provide micro-loans to micro-businesses in third world countries. Kiva is one example. |
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22 Jul 11 - 01:56 AM (#3192444) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Georgiansilver Saulgoldie. I belong to a Christian Church and with my antiques knowledge I price antiques and collectables for them ... voluntarily.. in our charity shop... The Church pays for the rent of the shop and all the overheads (ie the congregation via tythes and collections pays). Everyone who works in the shop is a volunteer including the manager... most shops in the UK have a paid manager... The money collected from sales (every penny) is sent to either The Phillipines, Romania or Columbia.. to people who use and have to account for every penny sent them........ I can't say all.. but most organisations have pay outs to make which takes a large proportion of the money from the 'victims' for whom the money is intended..... Who would you rather give to??? |
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22 Jul 11 - 04:14 AM (#3192470) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,livelylass "I am specifically thinking of places that address hunger and poverty in children and women." The key to addressing all kinds of issues for children, is to empower women: offer a woman education and skills training and you educate her whole family, offer a woman a way of making money and keeping hold of it, and you feed and clothe her whole family. I'd do some research into charities which support women's co-operatives in poverty stricken areas. An example of West African Women's Cooperatives and the kinds of simple things they need in order to keep helping themselves is described here: http://eraofcollaboration.com/2010/09/14/global-help-for-womens-cooperatives-in-south-africa/ |
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22 Jul 11 - 04:19 AM (#3192471) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,livelylass PS, as for minimising 'overheads' then *targeted giving* is usually the way to go. Specific focused local projects overseen by a small team of dedicated volunteers, is less likely to uselessly absorb up a donation than a huge org. |
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22 Jul 11 - 06:28 PM (#3193083) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: McGrath of Harlow What country does saulgoldie live in? |
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23 Jul 11 - 12:03 AM (#3193264) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Janie Pretty sure he lives in the USA and not Canada. Definitely sure it is North America. |
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23 Jul 11 - 07:28 AM (#3193399) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: mauvepink Charities I donate to monthly are the NSPCC, MacMillan Nurses and Diabetes UK. I tend to give locally to any Hospice organisation or Air Ambulance charity. At least one of my monthly charities use too much money (in my eyes) on fancy adverts and wasted postal begging. I am currently reviewing that one as I want my money to have a more direct effect. Then again I work for a charity and know the background overheads are not always low when delivering a good service. Some overheads (buildings rents and repairs, utility bills, etc) have doubled in recent years. The recession has seen severe cutbacks in money being given to charities so whatever you decide I am sure it will do a lot more good than giving nothing at all. I know it is sometimes easy to go along with "charity begins at home" but it has to be a personal decision. I do not judge people who never give to charities. I have no idea of their circumstances or reasons. I would love to see a world where charity was not needed. Then again it is not just money charities need. Your skills and time as a volunteer can be very valuable indeed. Best wishes mauve |
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23 Jul 11 - 09:42 AM (#3193455) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST Check out the local food pantry in your area, they always could use help, also womens shelters, homeless shelters are needing help . I am co-director of afood pantry in our town and work with otherfood pantrys in the area, right, there is a great need for help, we have doubled the amount of families we've helped from last year and we get new families every week. Im talking to the other pantries they have too, only problem is ,is that donations are not increasing. We have food drives and different fund raising events through out the year but that is the only time alot of people even think about donating. Places like this need help 12 months ayear not just a few times, don't get me wrong we appreciate everything we get but I go in and do inventory every week and it just kills me to see what we are out of. When we first started the food pantry so many people here were so unimformed about things it was sad. Alot of people are under the impression that if you are poor you just automaticcly get food stamps, I had to explain that if you have no children,or are older or a man living on your own , you don't get hardly anything. Also had one lady tell me that we had to stop buying high price items, I was confused at what she meant so I asked her, SHAMPOO a .78 cent bottle of shampoo and deo and other personel items . I told her to go get a cheap bottle oe dish soap and for a week to use that to wash her hair, and her body, and to use it to wash her clothes and dishes . That seemto shut her up on that. But this is some of the things food pantrys have to deal with. Sorry for the rant :) We are also helping the homeless shelter in the town south of us by giving food and money when we can and we do the same for the womens shelter in the town north of us, so you see food pantries, and shelters alot of times work together. One more thing and then I'll hush , something that is always appreciated being donated is your time it takes alot of manhours to do this and any help is appreciated. most food pantries are staffed by volunteers I only know one that has a paid staff in our county and they do other things then the food pantry. |
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23 Jul 11 - 09:53 AM (#3193460) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: mmm1a The above post was from me , didn't realize I lost my cookies Better lost than tossed I guess. |
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23 Jul 11 - 09:18 PM (#3193991) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Dorothy Parshall Local women's shelters. Where you can know people and see how the money is spent. |
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23 Jul 11 - 10:26 PM (#3194014) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,.gargoyle
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24 Jul 11 - 10:44 PM (#3194689) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Crowhugger Saul, At least in Canada every corporation is required to have a very clear agenda, i.e. the purposes of the corporation as set out in its charter or letters patent; probably the same in most countries. Obviously you need to check that closely to see how it fits with your own values for this type of giving. |
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24 Jul 11 - 11:27 PM (#3194695) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Sandy Mc Lean Too many Canadian charities are using high paid fund-raisers, either by contract or as direct employees. Much of the the money raised goes to their pockets instead of those in need. A pity, but now most have to answer some specific questions before I open my wallet. The place on Earth most in need of help today is probably the horn of Africa and I hope to contribute, but I want it all to go to those starving kids, not to some charity executive or as a bribe to some corrupt warlord. I'm thinking UNICEF or Red Cross/Crescent but with recent negative publicity about executives drawing huge salaries I'm not certain who to trust! |
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25 Jul 11 - 10:49 AM (#3194933) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: GUEST,Patsy I would rather give direct donations to regional animal refuges, women's shelters, childrens homes, homes for the aged etc. There are other things you can do such as volunteering to decorate local hospices etc. It helps to have someone who knows how to organise a group of people but getting involved is rewarding. |
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25 Jul 11 - 12:35 PM (#3195027) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Musket I like to think a good charity is one with good governance, efficient management, the ability to react to situations in a timely manner and ensures results. That takes good management. Good management doesn't come cheap. If you rely on altruism, you are not setting out to be effective. Tough but true in my experience. If a charity is small enough to function on goodwill and eagerness, then fine. The larger you get, the more you have to consider the logistics. I did some work a few years ago for a charity that lends out expertise of engineers to third world projects. I was rather amused by their stance that their admin overhead was 100%. Here in The UK, charities were challenged by government back in the Th*tcher years to provide services in the health and social care sector. They soon learnt to have to run as a business, and for that to work, act like a business. Campaigning charities and provider charities are two different beasts, yet both need to be effective so both need good management. Sorry, but whilst there are plenty of real examples of overpaid low achievers, the answer is not to dumb down the sector. I would like to think every pound I give has a chance to do something. The higher the management calibre, the better the leadership, leads to a better achieving goal. Where do I give? Like many, a combination of local, national and third world. I take an active interest in fund raising for a local cancer self help organisation. I don't get put off by how they get there, rather how they perform. |
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25 Jul 11 - 06:45 PM (#3195334) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: John on the Sunset Coast Hey, saulgoldie, did any of the ideas help you reach a decision as to how to charitize (my neologism) your planned donations? |
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25 Jul 11 - 07:35 PM (#3195353) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Bert Help people that you know give to local organizations that you know give to the homeless If there's any left, Mudcat is always short of money |
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26 Jul 11 - 09:50 AM (#3195776) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Uncle_DaveO I'm not a fan of United Way, but you can look at the list of participating charities and organizations to identify where you would like to donate, and then make a direct donation to those that matter to you. I don't know to their CURRENT practices, but some number of years ago I got a very bad taste in my mouth about United Way because of their allocation policy. The governing body (local or national, I don't know) would decide what percentages of total intake went to this, that, and the other member charity. Some members of the public declared that they would follow the policy set out in the quoted sentence above. But then I learned that if independent donations were made to, say, the local Feed the Poor Kitchen, they were considered part of the predetermined allocation, and those donations did not result in an increase in the benefit to that organization. United Way would cut back their payment from the common pot by the amount of the independent donations. The net effect was that givers could not selectively benefit their favorite charity participating in United Way, nor avoid benefiting a disliked participating charity. From that time, I've not given by way of United Way's "common pot", and I've avoided giving to any charity which was part of that charity raising effort. As I say, I don't know for a fact that that objectionable policy remains unchanged. Dave Oesterreich |
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26 Jul 11 - 03:44 PM (#3196050) Subject: RE: BS: Giving to Charity...Where? From: Arthur_itus Well you could support http://www.yellowbellies.me.uk/ They do a wonderful job, here in the UK and I know, as I am suffereing with cancer and they are people I can go to to talk about it and they give great help and support. |