What are your favorite charities?

[rubybeth]

In this season of giving and being thankful, I thought it might be interesting to know: what are your favorite charities? How and why do you support them?

DH and I like to give to charities, and because he works for a large non-profit, we usually give directly to them or the United Way, which does a lot of grant funding to the organization. I've also supported breast cancer relief organizations since my grandmother died from the disease, and JDRF since my sister has Type 1 diabetes.

 

[Skippy123]

My hubby has money automatically taken out of his paycheck to give to United Way. It helps our local community. I will that company's will work with United Way to have auto deductions so you don't even miss it! I like to the Breast Cancer Walk and will make a donation then and also if someone is walking for a good cause I will sponsor them.

Great thread!!! It is nice to remember others in need during this time. My husband and I use to take a name from a tree and buy toys for a kid. I know when the babies are about 3 we will do that again so they understand helping others in their community. I am just going to make a donation this year to a food bank.

Rubybeth, that is great you are giving to organizations that are close to your heart. hugs

 

[luv2sparkle]

My favorite at Christmas is Samaritan's Purse. You decorate and fill a shoe box sized box for either a boy or girl and they bring it to countries where kids don't get gifts or really have any extras. It is so very fun to do. We always try to get a plastic box with a snap lid.
In many countries and cultures the box is an awesome present. You include a small amount of money to help with the shipping.

I also like Compassion International, and ICM, which builds churches that serve as community centers and orphanages in poor countries.
100 % of the money given goes to building and helping the people in these countries. All the operating costs come from the personal money of the family who started the charity. Our family built a church in India a few years ago and we regularly get updates and photos of how they are doing. It is about 7-10 thousand to build a church, depending on the country and it helps the people in so many ways. So many countries have children who are abandoned and have no one, and they have a place to live and learn in the upstairs of the churches. Local widows also have a place to live and take care of the children.

ICM=International Cooperating Ministries

 

[rubybeth]

Skippy! I forgot that my DH also has an hour or two of pay taken out for United Way. I like that his employer does that, too.

And, I love doing those giving tree things. We took a few tags from the YMCA's tree.

 

[Skippy123]

My hubby has money automatically taken out of his paycheck to give to United Way. It helps our local community. I like that company's will work with United Way to have auto deductions so you don't even miss it! I like to give to the Breast Cancer Walk and will make a donation then and also if someone is walking for a good cause I will sponsor them.

I can't type this morning! sorry! I fixed my errors.

I also like to take canned goods from the pantry to the food bank drop box or make a donation.

 

[mayerling]

RSPCA and Save the Children.

 

[Mayk]

Wounded Warrior; YMCA (they provide after school activities for children and summer camp); Hubbard House (is shelter for abused women and children)

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Charity Water: http://www.charitywater.org/

Vulnerable Children Society (based in Canada and working with Faya Orphanage in Ethiopia): http://vulnerablechildren.ca/

Tumaini/Reeds of Hope (working with a small orphanage in Eastern Congo to provide formula, nannies, food an other resources for children birth-age 5 and then boarding school or family reunification once children are past the crucial first years--most rural Congolese families where the mother dies in childbirth cannot buy formula or provide care for a baby/toddler, even if the father is still living): http://tumainidrc.org/

Project 61 (sending kids who live in a huge trash dump called Korah in Ethiopia to school): http://www.p61.org/

Hamlin Fistula Hospital/Desta Mender: http://www.fistulafoundation.org/?gclid=CN3LkIre3qwCFUdn5Qod6GersQ

heifer international: www.heifer.org

Compassion International: www.compassion.com

Food for the Hungry: http://www.fh.org/

WorldVision: www.worldvision.org

We also like to buy presents for children with incarcerated parents through AngelTree: www.angeltree.org

 

[Pandora II]

We don't get tax relief on charitable donations here which I think you get.

DH and I give to charities which are more political groups that represent things we are interested and actively involved in, having worked in fundraising I'm very cynical about a lot of the big charities.

I give to the London Zoological Society and the British Humanist Association.

 

[ame]

I give to Planned Parenthood as often as possible, I also like CHD charities, and locally Feed my People, which is a small food pantry. I refuse to patronize United Way because at least locally they have a lot of sticky fingers and overpaid executives and I cannot handle the idea of anyone in a supposed non-profit making six figures.

 

[asscherisme]

One of my favorates is our local food pantry. I not only donate money but also donate my time. Its a really great organization.

 

[kenny]

The American Red Cross.

 

[asscherisme]

I like the american red cross too. They are on my annual donations list as well.

 

[rubybeth]

I give to Planned Parenthood as often as possible, I also like CHD charities, and locally Feed my People, which is a small food pantry. I refuse to patronize United Way because at least locally they have a lot of sticky fingers and overpaid executives and I cannot handle the idea of anyone in a supposed non-profit making six figures.

Yeah, ame, that is hard to reconcile, even if they're doing a very difficult job that would be even more highly compensated in the public sector. I've never thought of giving to Planned Parenthood--maybe I'll do that this year!

Pandora, because of the tax bracket we're in, we don't really see any tax break for charitable giving, we just do it because we support the organizations. Since we both work for non-profits/not-for-profits, we are keenly aware of the financial struggles of these organizations, esp. when the economy is crummy and they are basically attacked on all sides--public funding and grant funding dries up, donations dry up, and then they have even more people than ever needing help/services.

Bella mezzo, mayk, mayerling and luv2sparkle--great organizations and thanks for the links. Asscherisme, that's awesome about volunteering at the food pantry!

 

[chupiechow]

Humane Society and ASPCA....

 

[maplefemme]

We donate to the Romeo Dallaire Foundation, I admire the man's ethics and dedication and how the charity is run administratively. It runs summer camps in Canada for disadvantaged children and offers mentorship and guidance. It also finances projects for children in Rwanda who were affected by the genocide.

I'm very particular on charities that I give funds too, having worked in Foreign Aid overseas myself for numerous organizations, I have seen gross mismanagement of funds and corruption in some of the world's largest, most popular NGOs.

I have a friend in the US who rescues bully breeds in dire medical need from shelters and pays for all their surgeries, I donate directly to the vets he uses, he's an amazing, selfless, man.

 

[ame]

I have been making most of my PP donations to the Texas locations, especially Dallas area. In part because I have family there, but also because a lot of texas stifles free speech, free choice, and anything that isn't die-hard right wing agenda. My SIL pulled my nephew out of his former PUBLIC SCHOOL because his teacher was doing religious teaching in the classroom and told them that he was not properly prepared with christian preschool before being sent to school and it was going to prevent him from having a good future and education. Myself and my In-Laws are NOT interested in religion or anything related to any sort of deity or organization like that, and have a seriuos problem with religious teaching in a public education system. So anything I can do to support womens rights and freedom to choose down there I am going to get behind.

 

[Saoirse2]

**** Run Free Clinic Project, free medical in our community.
Local Ronal McDonald House, free stay and meals for parents of very ill children.
Wounded Warrior Project, local food bank.

 

[tyty333]

My DH donates via United Way at work. He directs the money to go to the Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando where our daughter
had to have surgery.

Locally, I like to donate to the SPCA.

 

[Maisie]

We support Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London.

 

[mogster]

I've been donating to The Fistula Foundation after watching A Walk to Beautiful and also to my local PBS station, albeit not a charity.

 

[packrat]

We give to the food pantry here in town. I used to give to others but then it got to be harassing phone calls that pushed me to tears (you can ONLY give FIVE DOLLARS???), so I quit. I just got an email a couple weeks ago listing the salaries and it really disillusioned me.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

Instead of buying Christmas presents for my close family members, I have adopted/sponsored one endangered animal for each of them for a year from http://www.careforthewild.org/.... They get a sponsorship certificate, a stuffed toy resembling their adopted animal and regular updates on the progress. My whole family is very environmentally aware so I know they will love it.
I also collect clothes and toys twice every year for the Salvation Army.
I work for an international non-profit organisation, so I like to support our partner organisations, especially http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html,,,, http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/ and http://www.stopthetraffik.org/default.aspx... I support organisations by making donations, increasing awareness by joining campaigns, signing petitions etc.
All very worthy causes.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

As a sidenote, I must say that I find it very disturbing that some are not willing to donate to a charity because of the salaries. Most employees in non-profit do not make six figure salaries (or even remotely close). Most of the directors in big NGO's are extremely well educated (a masters degree is a requirement even for entry level positions and it's not unusual to see directors with two masters degrees and/or a Phd) and have extensive experience. Many of them got non-profit experience by volunteering for years, and thus earn nothing when other graduates with their experience earn decent salaries. Why is it that these people are not deemed worthy of earning a decent living?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Aside from regular giving to our church, most of our extra giving has to do with orphans or needy children. Some have already been mentioned.

Show Hope (adoption grant ministry founded by Steven Curtis Chapman's family)

Samaritan's Purse

Angel Tree

Hope for Haiti (orphanage)

Holt International (adoption agency that has sponsorships for orphan children in foster care)

Local Crisis Pregnancy Center

 

[Phoenix]

Medicins Sans Frontieres, because without them my family and I wouldn't be alive today.

But we also give money to others, as well as donate our time. Faves are charities for children, the elderly and animals.

 

[ame]

As a sidenote, I must say that I find it very disturbing that some are not willing to donate to a charity because of the salaries. Most employees in non-profit do not make six figure salaries (or even remotely close). Most of the directors in big NGO's are extremely well educated (a masters degree is a requirement even for entry level positions and it's not unusual to see directors with two masters degrees and/or a Phd) and have extensive experience. Many of them got non-profit experience by volunteering for years, and thus earn nothing when other graduates with their experience earn decent salaries. Why is it that these people are not deemed worthy of earning a decent living?

Because a decent living in the majority of the world doesn't require six figures.

Besides that, just in relation to the United Way, they have a serious history of serious misappropriation of funds. I don't give to them because they don't seem to have a handle on that.

 

[packrat]

The email I got also showed what percentage of the money donated went towards doing what the charity is supposed to do..and the ones w/the highest salaried higher ups had the lowest percentages going towards the charity itself, which leads me to believe the money donated mostly goes towards the salary rather than doing the good it is intended to do. A couple people made a very very token salary, like 20,000, and one or two DONATED their time. So..yeah, I'd be more inclined to donate to those charities rather than the ones where the ones who run it pull down six/seven figures a year, yanno? And plus, it kinda gives me a sour stomach much the same as You can ONLY donate FIVE dollars????

 

[lulu]

Our every month donations go to The Salvation Army, Catholic Relief Services, World Society for the Protection of animals and Hawkeye and Friends Dog Sanctuary.

http://www.hawkeyeandfriends.org/

 

[ladypirate]

One that I don't think has been mentioned yet is "Donors Choose". You give money toward specific classroom projects submitted by the teachers. Pretty cool way to give to local education!

http://www.donorschoose.org/

ETA: 95% of their donations go toward the actual programs, which is awesome!