Charities

“I had a discussion a while back where I mentioned a scam charity. I'd like to know, what charities do you support and why? Which will you not support, and why not. If you criticize a charity, please give the reasons why (Such as a multi million dollar paycheck to the head man or what ever).

I know that Make a wish got some flack a few years ago for providing an in ground pool for a terminal child. They normally give a trip to Disneyworld. Obviously, the parents had coached the kid into getting them a pool. They now have safeguards in place to prevent that sort of thing.

I support Habitat for Humanity. I like the old fashioned barn raising atmosphere. Also, I KNOW that all my donated time and energy WILL go to the persons intended.

Just curious.”

“I've boiled mine down to, Toy's for Tots, Coats for Kids and I like to do the, get the kids Christmas wish list off the Christmas tree at the local mall thing. I like the kid stuff, I wish my son would hurry up and marry someone and get me some grandkids.”

“I stopped giving to Habitat for Humanity because after I made a donation I started getting no less than 3 packets per week from them wanting more money. I requested info on how I could participate in the actual building of a house but they never sent that . They sent me a renewal notice for a donation. I don?t mind giving money to a charity but I like to choose when and how much. I always stop giving to a charity that starts sending a request for more money right after I make a donation. When they do this I find another charity to give to. After doing research on charities I found out that only a small portion actually goes to the cause, the majority goes for ?administrative cost? (yea right). I have found the best place to give is to the church. Most of them are good stewards with the money.”

“I've given $ to the Sierra Club, but like smaller grassroots orgs. better.
Friends of the Cedar River Watershed
Friends of the Crystal River
3 Lakes association
Also, highschool music programs.”

“My church because I know how the money is spent.

AAA Crisis pregnancy center cause they help mothers by providing counseling and infant needs (clothing,diapers,toys etc...)

Detroit rescue mission,they provide free meals in a Christian environment to anyone. No frills,no waste,a huge impact.”

“Ooops, forgot North Country Trail Association.

Ducks unlimited (in the past).

Michigan United Conservation Clubs (in the past).

The " Buy Hyperpacker new gear Organization".”

“The grassroots organizations like the local soup kitchen, rescue services, and animal shelters have many volunteers and less administration. A lot of churches do summer missions to poor areas of the U.S. to refurbish homes or build new small homes for the working poor. Often the recipients have to put up half of the materials cost of the project, or buy the land the new home will sit on. You can get involved in these grassroots charities and make sure they are tightly run before you donate.”

“I only give to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund. They're trying to find a cure for this miserable disease.”

“I don't ever give money to Charity.”

“I give to the NRA, if that counts.”

“We buy Christmas gifts for three people in our area every year. Kinda like the mall tree deal.”

“Oh, I'm a sucker sometimes for those infomercials about once a year, $10 monthly comes out of my paycheck for Red Cross just for my county, then I sometimes walk like next wknd for the American Cancer Society (all night long).

You know, I liked that idea someone had of backpacking for a charity. Oh, gosh, who was it that started the thread on a TT bp trip for all of us to meet next year? Was it baum66 or drinkingbear? Not sure.”

“were not me.”

“I think it was HikingBear/DrinkingBear/BuddhaBear that started it, hikerchic5/Sheila.
young&creaky/LyndyS”

“Rabbitman, I know exactly what you are saying about charities that have enough money to send out all those notices that your donation is due!I have donated at churches and SOME christian organizations before. I like them the best, but every now and then , one of them makes the news and gives them all a black eye.

Nowadays, if I don't know a whole bunch about an organization, I won't donate there. All too often, way too much goes for administrative costs.”

“I give to Childhaven, a shelter for abused/neglected children; American Red Cross, for all the disaster relief work they do; United Way; Washington Trails Association, who do volunteer trail work and environmental education; and Catholic Community Services, who provide counseling, foster care and shelters. They've all got to be under 12% administrative costs or they're off my list.”

“I've done the financial statements for charities. It is not hard to make your admin look like 12% or less. Salaries and overhead that can be directly connected to a project, like handing out information on finding low cost shelter, is not considered admin., even though you might not see it as being money or product directly into the hands of a needy person. I am not trying to bash charities; I am just trying to point out that your idea of a good use of your money is not always the same as the ideas of a Director of a charity. That is why volunteering and being on site occasionally is important in evaluating a charity.

The Red Cross, by the way, does seem to really do wonderful work for desperate people. I've never seen their books, but they are high profile.”

“Bill and I are hiking for the Thompson Cancer Survival center. were leaveing in October to hike 4400 miles for them. I have seen where the money is going. directly to research and to the remote area medical team for free Mamograms and prostate tests on people that have no insurance. If anyone wants to make a donation please contact me at whitebird6@yahoo.com you may donate either to them directly in the name of the Eastern Continental Hike or to us to support the actual hike. this will be on TV soon on NBC and in several newspapers across the country. I know some people are skeptical of fund raisers but for 25 .00 I will personally wear the name of your loved one who has died of cancer on my shirt as a memorial to them. our shirts are being donated after the hike to the Appalachian Trail Museum in Harpers Ferry WV with a bronze plaque with all the names written clearly on it. we need 900 names for the trip.”

“The United way is a bit of a misnomer in its' name. Sounds like it is a clearing house for all charities. And it does a little to most charities. However, it primarily supports 2 or 3 with the bulk of its' proceeds. All the others get a fraction of one percent according to one dosier I saw. Nothing wrong with that, just be aware of that.”

“I donate time and cooking (dis)ability to the local Ronald McDonald House. Have also given to a local domestic abuse shelter, that is a pretty sad place. And Church, because I believe it is important and have seen them help when its needed. Also, as a fed employee, I get a publication for the annual charity drive, where they have to reveal the admin ratio. I hope its truthful. And once in a great while when the planets align correctly, I can get out on a Volunteers Outdoors America project, which is fun but dang its hard to make the schedules match.”

“I never said that the admin ratios were not truthful, just that they may not include expenses that YOU may consider to be admin-type expenses. I was very surprised when I first started doing the financial statements. The important thing is that monies spent are very carefully and frugally spent, whether on admin or not. You have to remember that often charities rent buildings, rent phone systems, pay for phone lines, copier rent and paper, on and on. If everything is ancient but working reasonably well, that is a good sign. If everything is sparkling new, that should make you nervous.”

“I support my local United Way - high % goes to the organizations and not to overhead. I've done some research on the breakdown of what goes to admin vs. organizations. There's some great webistes out there with the info. Forget them now, did it few years back when I was a UW campaign chair. Wanted to know how UW compared to other groups. Also support the Nature Conservancy as I strongly believe in their mission and how they operate. Give to local groups as well. Will NOT support Audubon again - too many phone calls, literature, etc. Drove me nutS!”

“Shriner's Hospital for Children. They took--and are taking--very good care of my little sister. They gave her some afghans when she first got there that were made by patients' moms and donated...now my mom crochets afghans and gives them to Shriners. Full circle kind of thing.

But they're really incredible in the care and maintenance they give the kids. Good organization.

In the past, I've also given to CCF--of all charities they have one of the highest percentages of monies going directly to the recipients. Also one of the "Best Run Companies" in the Fortune 500.”

“I belong to a website were I disclose marketing advice and they don't pay me.”

“If you concerned about %s why not see a person in need or a family that is having a hard time and lay some dough sraight on the person themselves? That's one thing great about belonging to a church, you get to know people and can help them without wasting your hard earned cash.”

“Wolfsister, great idea, I've been on both ends of that deal.”

“i think that bacpac may have been making a point, but i may be wrong.”

“I was making a joke. I guess it wasn't funny.”

“Once I decide that I have the same ideals as a charity and choose to support them. The first thing I do is ask them for a set of Audited Financial Statements.
The ones that will not send one usually have something to hide. The good reputable ones will gladly send one.
If you don't have a financial background the Statements are still a good tool. First the fact they sent you one is a good sign. Then look for administrative expenses and fund raising expenses. They each should be less than 10%.
Next go to something called the Independent Auditor's Report. This is a one page report, but don't worry you don't have to read the whole thing. Just look for a paragraph that starts with the words "In our opinion" then look for the words "present fairly, in all material respects........"
This doesn't mean the Statements are good or bad, just that at least they followed the rules of Financial reporting.
Also some accounting firm had to be put their name on the report one more sign of at least some assurance the charity is not a bunch of crooks.”

“i thought that your point was that one aspect of being truly charitable is not telling others about how you helped someone.”

“Actually, Rad, I think that the example we set when we are public about our charitable donations is the most important. When people see that others are giving they are more likely to give to. It also helps morale to know that so many people around us support charities. Unless we are wealthy, the social influence we wield when we are public about our charitable donations is far more important than the actual money. Thats why I don't bother giving, but always tell people that I give lots and manage to feel far superior to those who give and don't boast..”

“Ped, you are a funny guy!”

“DO NOT give to charity!

The bureaucrats running charities will just waste the money on themselves. Or worse, give it to POOR PEOPLE who already drive welfare-funded Cadillacs. These so-called 'poor' bastards just won't help themselves! They are crack smoking, welfare stealing, shack-up sluts and are dragging the rest of us hard working Americans down to the gutter with them. Bastards!

Now go do the right thing. 1-800-DRLAURA”

“Religious Charities Get More Federal Money By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
50 minutes ago (off yahoo news)

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Thursday his administration is making steady progress in steering more federal taxpayer dollars to religious charities.

In the budget year that ended Sept. 30, religious charities received $2.15 billion in federal grants to administer a range of social service programs for the needy. That represented 10.9 percent of the total grants from the seven federal agencies such charities were eligible to apply to in fiscal 2005, according to a White House report.

"It used to be that groups were prohibited from receiving any federal funding whatsoever because they had a cross or a star or a crescent on the wall," Bush said. "And that's changed, for the better.

"It's changed for the better for those who hurt in our society," he said. "So now when the government's making social service grants, money is awarded to groups that get the best results regardless of whether they're a faith based program. That's all people want. They want to acess to grant money on an equal basis, on a competitive basis, so there's no discrimination one way or the other."

He spoke before dozens of religious leaders invited to the annual White House conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

The Housing and Urban Development Department awarded the highest percentage of its competitive, discretionary funding to religious charities — 24 percent — while the Health and Human Services Department had the lowest at 7.4 percent.

The 2005 amount is 7 percent higher than the year before, when $2 billion — or 10.3 percent of the total — was awarded to religious charities, the report said.

The president has been pushing the idea of helping religious charities get a share of federal money since he first took office in 2001. He says a government culture that is unfriendly to religious groups must be changed so they have equal footing with nonsectarian social service providers competing for federal contracts.

He argues the charities are effective with the needy because of the shared values and religious identity of their volunteers and employees.

After Congress balked at legislation, Bush began using executive orders and regulations to accomplish his goal.

Critics take issue with the president's insistence that religious charities that receive taxpayer dollars could retain the right to hire and fire based on religion. Critics also have said Bush's initiative is designed mostly as a political tool, since the plan is popular with religious leaders who are influential in the Republican Party and are a core base of support for Bush.”

“Imagine that, the Bush Administration helping out the Religious Right.

Who would have thunk it?”

“Who would have thunk it?
Me for one.
The Salvation Army gave me my first hot meal after the hurricane.
Best charity going, bar none.
They were first and stayed.”

“STOVIE....I would have offered you a place to stay at my lake house. When I lived in Savannah and even in Charleston we were TOLD to prepare for a minimum of three to five days WITHOUT assistance. Hell I still keep 5 days or so of "food" supplies and my camping gear where I can grab and go.

And for any of the looters....a couple hundred rounds of varying sizes of ammunition”

“It was three days before I could make my way back to my house. No way in he11 do I stay for hurricanes.
I started removing the flooded crap by myself right away and saved my house from the mold.
Damn hard work in 90 degree temps with no electricity.
Also needed to stay there to prevent looting.
I slept with my guns by my head.”

“Good testimonial , but good will says nothing to taxpayers money being directed by the fed. It's bad enough the subsidy on Schedule B. Guess that social manipulation is right down the rights rite.”

“The faith based charities shined brightly after the hurricane and are still working, while the Red Cross and FEMA have left after wasting so much money.

I have yet to see one penny from FEMA.”

“I have no problems with faith based charities. If a person wants to give to them fine. I just don't think the gov't needs to be giving money to them.”

“A college that I taught at back in the 70's closed and was bought by Salvation army as a pasture home .Some great people in that group.”

“The religious organizations are the ones who SHOULD be doing charity. As long as no one's pushing their beliefs in the proccess I'm all for faith based groups.”

““I have no problems with faith based charities. If a person wants to give to them fine. I just don't think the gov't needs to be giving money to them.”

Kind of how some people feel about certain types of stem cell research.”