What are some charities you donate to?

[t0dd]

I'm making more than I need, so I want to give whatever I can away. What are the most efficient and transparent organizations out there? Which ones give the most of their profits to program expenses? The type of charity should be environmental, international relief, etc. (and aligned well with progressive ideals, so no NRA please :-P).

Conservation International seems like a great environmental organization. I'll probably be making monthly donations to them.

[tblue]

1. Paralyzed Veterans of America, for many years, when I can.

I don't give much lately because my income is close to $0. But I also volunteer at International Rescue Committee, an outstanding org that helps refugees and asylees newly arriving in the US.

There are so many wonderful worthy causes. I have a hard time saying no to many of them. I'd recommend Shriners or St. Jude's, too.

[truedelphi]

2. Try and read your local paper and look into any local organizations

In other words, if there is a cause you like, let's choose the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as an example, you will see more of your money spent on programs if it is done locally.

I give to The Marin Cat Connection - they place kitties in foster homes until a real home can be found for them. I feel they are far better than the Marin Humane Society, and Cat Connection spends 100% of what they are given on their projects. (I think Ann occasionally uses the funds for her gas money, but her driving is all for the purpose of picking up cats.)

When you give to a National Headquarters, they often spend more than sixty percent of the money on salaries and promotional advertising etc.

If I had more money, there are two or three local churches that serve the homeless, and again, close to 100% of the money is spent on the actual cause. I have felt for years that the United Way has tremendous overhead and doesn't really examine the needs of people. For instance, they have good programs for people who are combating alcoholism, and will get such people housing, but they don't help those who have already kicked their bad habits, and so there is no housing for them.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Save the Children Fund; British Red Cross; Peace Direct; Oasis of Peace

The latter two are not as well known but are very good causes

www.peacedirect.org

www.oasisofpeaceuk.org

[JVS]

4. The Human Fund

Because it's money for people.

[Liquorice]

5. Here is a link to a site that gives information about many different charities...

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

[westerebus]

6. My list.

Doctors without borders. The local Salvation Army. The local Food Bank. Second Harvest. The local Humane Society.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. I'd think hard about the Salvation Army.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=151814&mesg_id=151814

[Hekate]

7. Planned Parenthood, local and national. Direct Relief International. Local Food Bank.

Sometimes I also send to:
Heifer International
SEE (Surgical Eye Expeditions)
Smile Train (cleft palate repair)
Doctors Without Borders
Amnesty International

Hope that helps to give you something to consider.

Hekate

[LeftishBrit]

17. Yes, I also sometimes give to Amnesty International

Also the Alliance for Middle East Peace (www.allmep.org)

Oxfam

The Brooke (www.thebrooke.org.uk), for working donkeys and horses and their owners

[area51]

9. SPCA, Petsmart, Remote Area Medical (n/t)

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. I researched this a year or two ago.

http://www.cambodiaschools.com/

They build schools in rural Cambodia. It checked out as legit but I haven't anted up so far.

There is another website... in addition to the one another poster above supplied ....that evaluates charities and specifically international aid orgs..... but for the life of me I can't think of the name.

Getting the $$$ to the people who need it for the reasons you want them to have it is a particular concern when sending money to places like Cambodia. So caution is advised. And pre-donation homework.

But sheeezzz , the NEED there is *immense*. And in an economy like that... a little $$ goes a long way.

[jules1962]

14. Another site is charitywatch

I give to charities that have a low overhead. How can the American Red Cross be defined as a charity when the President of it makes over 100,000? Just wondering.

[Smarmie Doofus]

19. Well... if you live in a place like NYC or Wash DC....

...100,000 is really not much $$$, taking cost of living into acct.

But your larger point is a good one and thanks for charitywatch.org... that could be the site I was trying to remember.

[old mark]

11. Paralyzed Veterans, local animal shelter, and just yesterday the

Clinton Foundation.
I used to work for a United Way affiliated non-profit, and will never dontate to the United Way again, not to any other large organized "charity".
Too much sticks to fingers along the way.

mark

[DesertFlower]

12. my local food bank, Feeding America, ASPCA,

Humane society, best friends animal sanctuary, Red Cross.

[OutNow]

13. ACLU Foundation, Center for Constitutional Rights, AFSC

The ACLU is not a charity but the ACLU Foundation is

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is involved in all the Gitmo trials, etc.

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker run organization that promotes peace and helps the helpless all over the world.

There are many many others. You will feel better by donating your extra funds rather than buying more crap to throw out when it breaks.

[Cid_B]

15. SPCA, Salvation Army, USO, Veterans Community

and Soldiersangels.com

You can find the link for the last one in my sig. Th

[Chipper Chat]

16. St. Labre Indian School,

Paralyzed Vets (I like the return-address stickies they send), VFW, P-Flag, 3 colleges, local firefighters & police charaties.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

18. Back when I had money

I gave to Amnesty International, Save the Children, Equality Now, People for the American Way, the World Wildlife Fund and Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, plus a teen halfway house and my local food bank. Not all charities but all orgs worth supporting.

I've had to cut back a lot, but the charity I still support regularly is my local food bank. People gotta eat. Demand is up. If I could do more I would donate more locally. In a big city like mine, there are all kinds of citywide and community-specific nonprofits that help struggling families, troubled kids, at-risk teens, elderly shut-ins, HIV/AIDS patients and more.

Whatever's important to you is the best way to start. A friend of mine gives every dollar she can spare to no-kill animal shelters. It grieves her to see dogs put down. It hurts me to see people go hungry. Helping our environment matters to you. Between us all, we can cover all the bases. :)

You can learn more about which charities are most efficient with your dollar at www.charitynavigator.org.

[NMDemDist2]

20. I have a private charity

http://campingwithcancer.com/wordpress/

[northoftheborder]

21. charities

I donate items to Salvation Army, ARC, children's homes, Paralyzed Veterans. In the past I've given to PBS and NPR and Habitat for Humanity. This year I gave only to the local food bank and the service center at church.

[Lyric]

22. I used to donate to the Salvation Army, but not anymore.

Now I donate food to the local food banks and money to a program called "The Connecting Link." TCL is like a secular charity hub for our area; low-income people go there when they need help with a bill, the rent, clothes, food, whatever, and the people at TCL call a list of churches, programs, and individual donors to gather up help. For example, to pay someone's $600 rent for them, they might get a little bit of money from several different churches plus money from the United Way and a handful of private individuals who've agreed to be put on their list.

Rhythm and I donate that way. I'd rather my money go toward helping people directly than through some religious middle-man.

[Frosty1]

23. Doctors Without Borders/

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe.

[asdjrocky]

24. I try to give, what I can when I can, locally.

I live in Stockton Ca, made famous in Capitalism, A Love Story. This town has been hit very hard by unemployment and the foreclosure crisis. My veggies from my garden go to the two of the three food banks left open, and I work with a group that picks fruit and other produce for the hungry.

I have more time than money right now so I find myself giving a lot of that at a shelter, mostly just doing all the clean up stuff the overworked staff doesn't get around to. It's very satisfying.

If I ever start making the kind of money I use to make, I would have less time so my money would go to the food banks and the shelter. I feel better seeing local results of small amounts of what I can do or give.

I think you asked a good question too. In these times, if you have extra, you have to give.

[lonestarnot]

25. Take a homeless hungry person to breakfast and buy them a coat. No admin costs.

[madamesilverspurs]

26. Local food bank.

Always in need of food, cash and time donations.


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[WT Fuheck]

27. beamsonline.org

new nonprofit here in Nashville