Charitable/gullible

“At the risk of sounding unpatriotic and drawing the ire of some, I'd like to post a topic for discussion. With the recent travesty in New York, we have all felt the need to reach out and do what we can. Many, if not all have done so.

I offer no criticism towards the givers of charity, or the recipients of charity. I may have some for the collectors of charity.

We have all probably seen the internet note passed around, asking where the money is and has gone. Many charities have asked for money due to the recent attack, but have diverted the money to other venues. Research, rainyday accounts, salaries, etc... It is only in light of recent criticisms that some charities are getting the money to families of victums. The are also some laws in place that have made it difficult to get the money to the families, which the charities are only so happy to point out-after they have collected the money. ("Please give us money for the families, even though we already know that we are prevented by law from dispersing the money").

While all charities point out the good things they are doing with their money, advertising all over TV (pretty expensive) how they do so, I am aware of some short comings.

#1 The United way. Sounds like it takes money and spreads it to all the charities in a united effort. It does not. It basically supports a few charities with the bulk of the dispersements and gives token amounts to many others, and thus is able to list them as benefeciaries. Nothing wrong with that, as long as they are up front, and you know it when you give to them.

#2 The Red Cross. Let's face it, they are America's blood bank. And with out them, many would die, not only on 9-11, but elsewhere also. But be aware that the scientists and many workers there make top dollar. Think about it, they went to college, earned a degree and could get top dollar elsewhere. Then there would be no one left qualified to take care of the blood. It is a neccassary evil, but when I think of a charity, I think of shoe string operations with employees getting paid a pitance. Actually many are. By their solictation of donations, you would think they were insolvent.

#3 One of the children of the columbine massacre had a charity set up in honor of him/her. Anews report I watched on TV showed that they had taken in less than 100k over a couple years and that was paid out as salaries to the two employees of that charity. Guess who! That's right, the parents....

The salaries of many of the executives of these businesses are astronomical. They are are businesses, and the prime responsibility of a business is to earn a profit, either for the company or the upper brass. I have seen all too many "non-profit" organizations tout themselves as such, yet I look in the parking lot and see cars I could never hope to own.

I guess what I would like to know is do you give indiscriminately or do you actually know where you money is really going. There are going to be "administrative costs" in all charities. How much are they? Are they excessive? If you gave a dollar towards a family and found out only 18 cents actually reached that family, how would you feel? Here's a challenge, what if you gave that money directly to pay the funeral bill for a victum. You wouldn't get the tax deduction... But you would truly, actually ease the financial burden of the family. That's true charity.

Your thoughts please.”

“I gave some money to the red cross and I also give money to the firefighters fund and police fund.I see what you are saying about them making money.I guess there are two sides to every coin.The only way to me to give is to put it right in there hand if you can. by cutting out the middle man and giving it right to the people that need the help.That is the only way you or anyone else can give money to help people and know that 100% of the money is going to them.”

“I actually researched this a few years back. It seems of the "top ten" on my list the higest percentage actually going to help the needy was 14. I then looked around and found better alternatives, the orphanage in this state for one. They use a much higher percentage of volunteer workers and ask that you donate new items for the children...diapers, creepers, clothing, food, linens and such. That's where my money goes. Same with the local food bank and Haven of hope, a local charity for pregnant teens. They accept items instead of cash. Just another option to consider. If you can manage how about donating time???

Oops, I'll step down now.”

“I agree bpbaby, I have found that the most efficient use of resources is by those organizations that request items and time. And so, that's what I prefer to donate. All charities have overhead, though, so a certain amount of maintenance money is in order. I just don't like to see it misdirected and misused. It's a shame you can't earmark it when you donate it.”

“Just so everyone knows . Our hike for the American Cancer Society has been earmarked for Breast Cancer research. the money raised from this hike in the form of pledges will all be mailed in with the name TECMH(the eastern continental memorial hike) all the money sent in with this written on the check will go directly to the research fund that goes directly to new upcomming DRs working on new and unfunded possibilities. these Drs getting this money do not get funding from other places so that is why we chose to hike for the ACS. you may call 1-800-ACS-2345 to find out any more details and as any questions that you need.”

“That's SUPER cool!”

“I donate my time not my money.

My money is easily misappropriated (IMHO) away from the things I want to make a difference in. My time I can easily see the difference it makes and I can control exactly where that goes.

I donate most of my time to the Boy Scouts. I don't mean most of the time I donate I mean MOST of my time period. And no I don't have any kids of my own so no-one start with the "You're not donating anything, your spending time with your own kid" crap. In addition to that we as a troop conduct several service projects a year to other charitable groups. (habitat, the local womens shelter, soup kitchens and special olympics to name a few) We don't help them raise money either we donate our time. Hopefully these boys will continue to donate time when they leave scouting.

1 United way- A fine organization but I think I can better direct my donations. Much less makes it where you think it is going that you might think and they can not tell you how your donation specifically will be administered.

2 Red Cross- I will ONLY donate blood to them, nothing else. Had a bad experience that soured me forever.

3 Frankly I think that is at worst fraud and at best digustingly goulish gross opprotunism.

18 cents on the dollars? Well, that's why I donate time. As to the funeral idea I think that is true charity. I would empty my pockets for that.

Charity is a selfless act to ease the suffering and hardships of others. If you expect reward or recognition then it is not charity and is you merely trying to make yourself feel good and to me that is more akin to recreation. To that point I will never declare monetary donations in my taxes. Knowing I made a difference is enough for me. That is merely a personal conviction and not a judgement of others who do declare.

Good thread Uphill.”

“www.charitywatch.org

rates various charities and monitors percent admin costs.”

“Unfortunately there's always scum that will profit from other people's tragedy.

A few years ago, it was revealed that many "Charity Funds or organizations" in Canada or Quebec kept every cent they collected; for salaries, expenses etc. We're talking millions of dollars here. Most of them went to their families and friends for extravagant dinners, parties, trips, cars, houses etc. Makes one sick.”

“I am aware of a couple charities that proclaim proudly that they give .98% of all their funds directly to their cause. Did you catch that? .98% equals ninety eight one hundreths of one percent!!! That is less than one percent!!!!

I had a fellow at work, a country singer, who knew I was a charitable sort of guy and asked for my assistance. I asked him about the charity and he told all the good things they do and all that. I had recently read of that charity in Consumer's Report, I believe, and it mentioned several charities that give .98%. Wanna guess which charity he was supporting? That's right! I asked him for a brochure and took it home and read it. The next day, he came to me really excited, sure I would jump on the band wagon with him. Well, I let him down as gently as I could and showed him what I knew. Needless to say, the poor fellow was dissappointed. Then later, he felt like a fool for falling into this stuff, then he was outraged.

It is exactly this kind of thing that kills the charitable leanings of good folk. I guess this is why I bring up this topic. It's bad enough to get ripped off. Even worse to willingly and unknowingly hand it over to a crook.”

“I just checked out the ratings of charities in www.charitywatch.org. The speak highly of the Red Cross, yet I was unable to see their listing in amongst the others???? I find it pecular that all the charities rated had ratings no less than a B-. Their mission statement and guidelines indicate that charitable reporting and accounting are often vague, incorrect, or just not available.

I think what they have is a good start, but I'd love to see it go further and list all the charities. If they have no info on a certain charity, then list the name and state no info available. I am sure they could access some records by the freedom of information act to procure the name of every charitable organization in the USA.

Something else also occurs to me. They do not show any charities with a poor rating. Is it that they would be subject to litigation were they to publicly state that a charity does a poor job of helping their cause??? Think about it; if you knew the charity you support fed it's fat cats while poorly helping their cause, I'll bet you would not donate to them. The poorly rated charity would then be able to bring a suit that states their ability to solicit donations has been greatly hindered by a poor report from www.charitywatch.org .
And they would be right! It would be greatly hindered, now if they could only prove just a little bit of malice....

As I said, I would like to see www.charitywatch.org
expand it's rating to become all inclusive.”

“HPM points out a great view. Money is great. It holds great power to change lives, but I think our time is much more life changing and powerful than money. Our time is worth much more than money. I feel the mantra of the recycling community is a great way to do charitable acts, “Think globally, act locally.”. Find one charity that will effect and improve the world (Red Cross for me) and then find one in your community that will directly improve and effect your local community (local soup kitchen or food bank).”

“Great suggestions Nigal. I really enjoy working with Habitat for Humanity. I give my time and my experience. My experience is the most valuable thing I own, it's what I can best earn a living at.

As far as money goes, I personally am hard pressed to give to an organization. I used to give to many, now very few. Too much corruption, too many fat cat administrators. I suspect that if I can add them to my list, it will probably be to a research charity. But I will know that they will use the money to pay top dollar to hire the very best researchers to find a cure. But for right now, it is volunteer work.”

“I think I like volunteering for Habitat for Humanity best. I can drive through town and point to that house and say that I helped build it. And I can run into the young single mom who owns it in the grocery store (it's a small town-you run into everyone sooner or later in the grocery store). I really like that. I actually know I did someone some good.”

““I really enjoy working with Habitat for Humanity.”

They are great! This is one of the charities I have thought about working with because I am very bad with tools and fixin’ stuff and thought I just might learn something while helping others. They are great because, as they will tell you, they give people a hand up, not out. They actually have to put the blood sweat and tears into their own house as well as into the next house built for someone else.


Another thing I like about HFH is, while they are a Christian based charity, they do not push it and they are not missionary in purpose. My wife’s church wanted to do charity stuff but at least 50% of all the things they want to do is missionary based (evangelical) and is aimed at promoting their church and religion. I don’t dig charity that demands subjection to dogma as a price for the charity.”

“I'm with you on your last statement
Nigal. That to me removes the act from the charity catagory and moves it into one of a service purchased through alliegence.

On to another aspect. How many of you work in places that activly push their employees to give money to an organization? Just last week where I work they had a big drive to collect money for a local shelter. That I alone I have no problem with BUT they were pushing so hard it was disgusting. I got emails in my inbox every hour on the hour. They sent someone around to our desks to shake us down three times a day. When they were told No they started giving us the "team player" crap. To top it all off they even made a bigger mockery of charitable giving by making a contest of it.

It felt more like extortion.

Any thoughts on that aspect? I hope where y'all work they don't behave in such a way.”

“Curious thought. For a society that shoves "diversity" right down our throat, right to the point where they will allow anything that offends you to go on, they sure want uniformity when it comes to charitable giving. How come they don't accept diversity in charitable giving?

They will allow any religious or anti religious items to be placed in employee's cubicles, no matter how offensive it is to you, but just try to push another charity at work as hard as they push theirs....”