Choosing my donations this holiday season

[BP1]

St. Jude ?

That’s where I donate to every year.

 

[mr45man]

Matt Bershadker sure appreciates your donation to the aspsa

ASPCA spending may not be what donors expect, CBS News investigation finds

The ASPCA is not an umbrella organization for local organizations with SPCA in their names.

www.cbsnews.com

I learned about this year’s ago

 

[Bill Score]

I know an older gal that throws $500 in an envelope and drops them in mailboxes of families she knows could use a little help. No names/addresses or anything, just writes “Merry Christmas”. I always thought that was a good way of doing things.

 

[KMart]

St. Jude ?

My wife donates to St. Jude a couple of times a year. What she doesn't know is that at least once a month, sometimes more, a "reminder" from them shows up in the mail at the POffice. Only the bills for lights, gas, and water find their way home.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Since a lot of you like to support our veterans (me too), you need to vet the Wounded Warrior charity before giving. Last time I checked IIRC only about 50% or less gets to needy veterans. Instead I have been giving to Forces United that is largely volunteer run and most of your donation goes to the needy. These things morph over the years sometimes because of management changes, etc. so it is wise to check them out occaisionally to make sure your money is being used the way you think it is being used.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

I used to donate > $20K per year to charities. Then I joined the board of one.
The charity was strictly volunteer, 100% funded by donations, $675K at its highest revenue. In the 9 years I was associated with it, at our lowest percent effectiveness to programs (schools and juvenile therapy programs in > 30 states) we were 93% all toNon profit the end recipients.
Pouring over the books, I learned to read charity tax records and saw the waste endemic in so many others.
I never cared about the tax deduction. I stopped giving to most charities and started supporting individuals.
What I came to realize was your best charity investment is to keep it local.

Agree. Non profit doesn't mean the folks at the top may earn a bunch of money running the organization!

 

[ditter]

Since a lot of you like to support our veterans (me too), you need to vet the Wounded Warrior charity before giving. Last time I checked IIRC only about 50% or less gets to needy veterans. Instead I have been giving to Forces United that is largely volunteer run and most of your donation goes to the needy. These things morph over the years sometimes because of management changes, etc. so it is wise to check them out occaisionally to make sure your money is being used the way you think it is being used.

^^^^^^^ 100%

If I told you what I saw of Wounded Warriors first hand, you'd never give a dime to them again. Talk about waste and luxurious spending. Youd be better off standing in the lobby of a VA hospital and handing out twenty dollar bills to people walking in.

 

[KMart]

^^^^^^^ 100%

If I told you what I saw of Wounded Warriors first hand, you'd never give a dime to them again. Talk about waste and luxurious spending. Youd be better off standing in the lobby of a VA hospital and handing out twenty dollar bills to people walking in.

I have not heard anything good about WWarriors either.

 

[dave@aDave]

1. U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots
2. I am a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I make a contribution to them every year.

 

[drop_point]

Donate $20 to each and every liberal cause. They will spend a minimum of $100 trying to get you to repeat your donation!

 

[NorCalMikie]

Just got a donation "receipt" (looking for more $$$) from one of the local Rescue Missions.
Enclosed also was a note saying that if you buy from Amazon they can get a few cents on each purchase.
Accurate Shooters does the same thing. You go to Amazon thru Accurate Shooters and Accurate Shooters gets a taste.

 

[Stumpy1]

Given vision's importance in our sport, and in our lives, my wife and I have been giving to the Himalayan Cataract Project for a fair number of years.
They seem to be pretty efficient in getting care to folks who really need it, and I figure the good Karma can't hurt with regard to my own eyes.

Charity Navigator - Rating for Himalayan Cataract Project dba Cure Blindness Project

Himalayan Cataract Project dba Cure Blindness Project has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator. This Charitable Organization is headquartered in Norwich, VT.

www.charitynavigator.org

Help us create a world in which no one is needlessly blind

HCP Cureblindness is working to eradicate avoidable blindness in under-resourced areas of the world by helping people retain and regain their sight.

www.cureblindness.org

Frank