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A good place to give away money?

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Gayletmom

Gayletmom

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I recently read Black Jade''s description of how giving to specific charities, and often doing so anonymously, gives her such pleasure. I feel the same way when I share my good fortune but I don''t do so as often as I''d like due to a lack of info about specific charities that use their money wisely. I mean, we give regularly to the church and several other local organizations but other than that I am outside of my comfort zone. I want to give where I can do the most good and to be fairly confident that my money is going to be used wisely. I''ve heard of micro-lending, buying farm animals, women''s co-ops, etc. but I rarely have the time to research them.

Do you have a favorite that you think does really good work? Maybe some small organizations that could benefit from $100 here and there? I''d love to hear about Black Jade''s gift of an education and any others you feel passionate about.
 
what about just buying some food for the local food pantry or for the local human association?
 
IndyG in this thread
said

"Check out: http://www.charitynavigator.org/

They tell you how much is spent on what for various charities and rate each charity for its efficiency and things. They also tell you how much the CEO makes, in case you're concerned with pocket lining!"


I like Alexis's idea

great thread.
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What I want to know is how to give money *without* getting on the stupid mailer lists (or sending cash through the mail). I have even given 'anonymously' but with my credit card and then get 1000's of pounds of dunning letters in the mail afterwords... Great use of my modest donations (more paper and postage to beg me for more $$)!
 
I like to help animals.

If you go to http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 and click the big purple button it gives over half a bowl of food to animals in shelters. The sponsors of the site pay for the food, but you can also donate personally too. There are other causes too like rainforests, hunger, breast cancer, etc

I have made it my homepage so that when I get on the internet it click and go. I was told that it only counts from your computer once a day so don''t do it a bunch of times it won''t count.
 
Consider your local humane society or SPCA, or an animal rescue organization nearby. They are really being slammed with animals that people are needing to give up because of the economy, and every little bit helps towards finding another animal a home. If you want to do something specific, you could consider sponsoring the adoption fee for one or more of the animals in the organization, especially the ones who are a little older or "special" in some way and that it could help them find a forever home.
 
Great suggestions from all of you. Now that you mention it, Alexis, I did recently read about our local food pantry being swamped with requests. And thank you, Skippy, for the link. That looks like a good place to start.

RQ, what an easy way to donate to animal welfare. And AmberGretchen, I am certain that you are right about the local animal shelter. I will make some phone calls!

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Battered women''s shelters. They''re usually individually run, so not much chance of a mega-corp overhead wasting money. They''re almost always understaffed (I used to volunteer at one) and never have enough funds. If you''ve ever had a BF or spouse smack you around, you remember the fear. I have great empathy for women who need a safe place and love supporting them.
 
Ways to give in your community:

1) Habitat for Humanity can always use volunteers, or donations of goods for their stores.
2) Your local food bank can use $$ or donations of food.
3) Does your local school district accept school supply donations for needy children? Ours has such a program.
4) Shelters for battered women can always use donations of clothing, toiletries, toys, books, and furniture. Same goes for homeless shelters.
5) Is there a program in your area that collects business clothing for women who need to dress for success, but don''t have the funds? Good way to clean your closet.
6) Meals on Wheels.
7) Transporting seniors to doctor appointments/grocery/other.

Those are what come immediately to mind, probably because those programs are all alive and thriving in my own community.
 
If you want to donate Internationaly:

One of my relatives runs a charity for orphaned street kids in Tanzania Called Canadares (from Canada and Dar es Salaam)

Lynda (my relative) started out several years ago working on her social work degree and did a practicum for three months in Tanzania. She fell in love with the country and the people and was completely changed by the level of poverty and lack of basic necessities, especialy for children.

She returned to Tanzania as soon as posible and started a group home for street kids so that at least a few of them could have a stable home and some education.

It''s been running for a few years now and they have a kitchen, sleeping quarters, and they want to build a small clinic next.

It''s a very small scale charity - basicaly run by a group of commited little old ladies in Canada, and then Lynda in Tanzania.
They get so little funding that even $5 would make a difference.

It is a legitimate organization and will gladly supply tax reciepts.

Canadares (Their website is pretty terrible, and about a year out of date because it was made by volunteers)
 
we give to St Judes and Americares and cleftline.org (cleft palate foundation)
 
All of our local food banks are in desperate need of food because so many people are out of work right now. I think that would be a great place to start. Second to that, any organization that helps women and victims of domestic violence I''m sure could always use financial help.
 
Gayletmom,
Awesome sentiment. I would suggest to you and others who don''t want further solicitation after donations to check out www.donorschoose.org You can donate to specific classroom projects near or far from you. You will get a thank you letter from the kids who benefit, but no one will contact you again. Some of the things asked for are money for field trips, projects, or other activities, but some are household items that are needed for different experiments, art projects, etc. Have fun contributing!
 
Date: 7/29/2009 12:35:42 AM
Author: HollyS
Ways to give in your community:

1) Habitat for Humanity can always use volunteers, or donations of goods for their stores.
2) Your local food bank can use $$ or donations of food.
3) Does your local school district accept school supply donations for needy children? Ours has such a program.
4) Shelters for battered women can always use donations of clothing, toiletries, toys, books, and furniture. Same goes for homeless shelters.
5) Is there a program in your area that collects business clothing for women who need to dress for success, but don''t have the funds? Good way to clean your closet.
6) Meals on Wheels.
7) Transporting seniors to doctor appointments/grocery/other.

Those are what come immediately to mind, probably because those programs are all alive and thriving in my own community.
Click to expand...
I was just going to suggest Dress for Success. I volunteer there from time to time and help women with their interviewing skills. They accept donations of business clothing and also need volunteers hair stylists, makeup artists, and people to assist with business socialization and interviewing skills. It''s a great organization because it gives women that are really in need the tools and confidence to find success.

I also volunteer for the Brain Tumor Society. They are an excellent organization, and really spend donations on their programs for patients, families, and research. Most of the people that work there are not compensated. You can look them up on the link Skippy posted if you''re interested :)
 
Great ideas, everyone. I love that all you have to do is ask and the PS''rs jump right in!

You have all inspired me!
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Charities are hard to navigate for sure.

I would shy away from big charities, stick to smaller, localised efforts.

I used to donate to World Vision and Oxfam - then I went to Africa and saw just how useless they are...

I can recommend Sea Shepherd, and i think your local animal shelter is a great place to donate to
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One of my long time chums is a professional fund raiser and earns a hefty 6 figure salary. So before you donate cash, check to see how much of your money will directly go to the charity. I myself donate food to the local SPCA as well a volunteer there twice a month. I also volunteer at a local nursing home and visit those whose families have stopped visiting them. I often buy them things they need such as socks, leg warmers, etc. that one would expect a family member to bring them.
 
local homeless shelters are really hurting right now.
Funding is being cut on the state and federal level and in some places the client load is up over 50%
 
I never give cash b/c I worry it almost always goes to admin costs or other stuff. This year I''m donating school supplies to kids in need. All that stuff is painfully expensive. Backpacks, crayons, markers, glue sticks, dry erase markers, colored copy paper, etc. for my two kids always ends up being over $100. Teachers desperately need extra supplies because otherwise they often use their own money to keep their rooms stocked.

Last year, I went to put some school supplies into a bin at the grocery store that was clearly marked as donations and people had been using it as a garbage can!
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I usually save up some money (a few bucks here and there) and when christmas comes around I do a shopping trip for toys for tots.
if I can buy a few of the newest greatest toys (think furby or tickle me elmo) I try to do that if I can''t afford that I look for things that kids would love. I also will ALWAYS buy a book or two for anyone doing a book drive for kids.

I dunno I always like to pick out things myself and donate those.
 
We love International Cooperating Ministries. (ICM) A huge percentage of the money goes to the actual purpose. They build churches in India that serve as a
meeting place for people in very poor communities to get food and needs met. In addition, each church serves as an orphanage for children who are homeless.
They form a family and live with the pastor and his family. In turn, when a church is built, the people then build another at their expense, and so on and so
on. The gift just keeps giving. The children in India are very often sold into slavery and prostitution and this gets many of them off the streets.

It was started by a man who committed all of his personal fortune. His daughters now have taken over for him. He also wrote a book called, ''The God who hung
on a cross''.
 
When i go back home to my family (once a year) I give food stuffs to our local orphanage. My FI and I donate to hospitals and greenpeace, as well as other charities (e.g. a recent one is the Victorian Bushfire)..little stuff like that.

Giving is great! i believe in good karma
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I always give money to an animal charity on my dad''s (departed) birthday. One year I did a free spay/neuter day at the Humane Society. First 66 people to show up got a free spay or neuter for their kitty. I am hoping to do this one again sometime.
 
DH and I donate annually to many charities but I have to say my favorites that get a little *extra* attention from me are children's and women's charities, for example there is a place that provides infant and children items to poor familiies, anything from diapers, socks, to school supplies, and toys. Then there is the all women's shelter, open to and catered to women only, I truly believe in this shelter because it provides a safe and gentler environment for women, it can get pretty violent and scary in those co-ed shelters, especially when the woman also has children with her. Toys for Tots is a program near and dear to my heart, when I was a young kid, my family were new immigrants, there really was no money for toys, but imagine the joy my siblings and I had that Christmas when there was this big box full of toys waiting for us - from Toys for Tots. I've been donating to them ever since I had the resources to, and my DH is so sentimental about my story that he is really into that charity as well. I can personally vouch that they do great things for little hearts everywhere.

If you are hesitant about exactly where your donated money goes, I would suggest just purchasing the charitable items yourself and donating those. For instance instead of the $100, use that money to purchase socks, shoes, food, etc. and donate those instead. This way you ensure where and to what your money is used for.
 
*Bump*

My relative updated her website if anyone''s interested:

Canadares
 
Gaylet - Komen for the Cure for cancer, Replanting the Rainforest ( a not for profit organization that uses the donations to help buy lands that would normally house rainforests and re-plant them with plants that would naturally grow there, they also do work to help protect jaguars and orangutans and endangered monkey species), WWF (working to protect wildlife), pretty much anything environment related.
 
I love love love the organization "Dolphin" They are an organization that helps with sexual violence in Kenya. Small amounts go a long way with them, which is awesome. My friend did some fundraising for them and went over to Kenya to see them. They had two rooms with one lightbulb. They had to take the bulb out of one room and put it in the other for my friend so she could take pictures. She raised a relatively small amount and was able to get them filing cabinets, a computer, and of course office supplies (which included light bulbs). I heart them.

http://www.dolphinanti-rape.org/
 
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