Good Charities

[Jedi Mind Trick]

Could one of you fine people tell me of some good charities to give to?

I’m looking for something where my money would actually make a difference in someone’s life and not go to line the pockets of the administrators or be wasted by inefficiency.

[Jedi Mind Trick]

oops... I see the sticky posted above the forum already covers this question.

[Jedi Mind Trick]

Well, just checked out those sites listed but i am still wondering if there are any that you-all would personally recommend.

[Zebulon]

I'm a monthly donor to the International Rescue Committee. I became involved with them after they were mentioned in a National Geographic article a few years ago.

http://www.theirc.org/

One of the first to respond, one of the last to leave. For more than 70 years, the International Rescue Committee has been a leader in humanitarian relief. We mobilize quickly, bringing sustained support to regions torn apart by violence and deprivation. We provide a fresh start in the U.S. for refugees. And we advocate tirelessly on behalf of the displaced, addressing the root causes of violence and standing up for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

The IRC is a recognized leader in humanitarian emergencies. When thousands flee war or repression, the IRC is immediately on the ground to make sure life-saving help gets to those who need it. We provide shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education to displaced people. Most importantly, IRC works with them to make sure they survive their exile in dignity.

Making a Difference
In 2006, the IRC restored hope and opportunity for more than 15 million conflict-affected people around the world. Here’s a look at some of our recent achievements.
We gave over 3 million people access to clean water and sanitation.
We trained more than 10,800 educators, and supported schools attended by 316,000 children, more than half of them girls.
Our doctors,nurses and community health workers served more than 6 million people with primary and reproductive health care.
We reached some 5 million people through our health education and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
We counseled and cared for nearly 140,000 survivors of sexual violence.
We educated some 1,560,000 men,women and adolescents on the prevention of sexual violence.
We reunited over 2,400 separated children and former child soldiers with their families and cared for another 9,300 young people.
In the United States, we helped resettle 5,000 newly arrived refugees and asylees and provided services to 18,000 other refugees.

[Stacey Melissa]

The American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) is 91% efficient, which is pretty damn good. They get more of my donations than anyone else.

[The Other Michael]

The San Francisco Food Bank has a pretty low cost of administration with 97.3% of the money going to program expenses (.7% admin, 2% fundraising).

You may have some local charities that have similar low overhead numbers.

cheers,
Michael

[Copernic]

I think somehow a sticky should be made specifically to address this question. Every year, many of us have an opportunity to give through our employer's connection to United Way. In fact some of us may have a good matching program.

I think it would be helpful to list out charities that we have an opportunity to donate to when the time comes up.

As for myself, my wife and I donate (with 100% matching from my company) to the NCSE (National Center for Science Education), our local science museum, and a breast cancer foundation.

J

[Steve Schlicht]

The American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) is 91% efficient, which is pretty damn good. They get more of my donations than anyone else.

I wholeheartedly agree!

They were there for us before any other group in the aftermath of Katrina with much needed funds!

It is my hope and determination that once we get some of our storm related debt paid off that I will return every bit of the cash they supplied and continue to donate substantially on an annual basis.

We are also very fond of Unicef (http://www.unicef.org/) and Doctor without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/index.cfm?msource=AZD0408H1001) among others.

[Stacey Melissa]

I think somehow a sticky should be made specifically to address this question.
We have one of those here (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?p=2703711#post2703711).

[Stacey Melissa]

Another angle you can take is to volunteer your time for a charitable organization. You'll be making the organization that much more efficient by helping them help others at no cost.

If you can, try to find an organization that provides training to new volunteers by using veteran volunteers, rather than paid trainers.

[Steve Schlicht]

Another angle you can take is to volunteer your time for a charitable organization. You'll be making the organization that much more efficient by helping them help others at no cost.

If you can, try to find an organization that provides training to new volunteers by using veteran volunteers, rather than paid trainers.

I also recommend initiating your own group of friends to participate in events that attain donations for worthy causes, blood drives, marrow drives, food drives, charitable causes and even community needs on the local level such as clean-ups, adopt a roadway/park/beach/river etc.

Here are some recent events our group has participated in:

The Great Southern Humanist Society (http://humanism.meetup.com/164/boards/)