What is your favorite charity, and why?

[azul99]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

[indigo]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

I like MAZON (Jewish charity that fights hunger) and Habitat for Humanity. (Now someone's going to post that they both misuse funds or something and I'm going to cry.)

[bumblebee]

I like MAZON (Jewish charity that fights hunger) and Habitat for Humanity. (Now someone's going to post that they both misuse funds or something and I'm going to cry.)I love Habitat for Humanity's goal and message, but I do have a minor peeve about them (and almost every other charity or non-profit that accepts donations). I HATE the mailings that they send once you donate. It seems like such a waste of money, paper, and other resources, and I feel like it's preaching to the choir and unnecessary. Even the World Wildlife Fund and other environmentakl organizations send tons of junk to people, or they did until recently.

I have no idea about the effectiveness of such mailings. (I hope research has been done to validate them somehow!) And there may be an opt-out list I don't know about. But I donated a relatively small $100 a few years ago and still get envelopes stuffed with HFH literature and weird little metal things, and TBPH, it makes me feel like my money went toward marketing materials for people who already know about the organization rather than toward something more worthwhile.

[deeka]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

The federal government prints this information as part of its Combined Federal Campaign every year. (Through this program, federal employees can designate specific charities to give pre-tax dollars to, with contributions coming directly out of one's paycheck.) You can look at the 2007 campaign booklet for the DC area here:

http://www.cfcnca.org/files/docs/RK/2007CatalogofCaring.pdf

Most national charities and many local charities participate, so it's a good source of information.

Also, you can try the following charity watchdogs:

Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance www.giv.org
Standards of Excellence Institute www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org
American Institute of Philanthropy www.charitywatch.org
Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org

My favorite charities? We send a monthly check to our UU church and always participate in the church's Secret Santa project at Christmas time, putting together a box of gifts for a local needy kid. We give generously to the boys' public school. The rest of our monetary giving these days is taken up by giving following natural disasters (Katrina, the tsunamis--I usually donate to Save the Children) and by donating in lieu of flowers (as requested) in the name of people we know who have died. Most recently, we gave to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation after my aunt died of breast cancer, and to a local charity (can't remember its name) that provides tickets to sporting events to needy kids, in honor of a friend. (This particularly felt like such a nice thing to do, because our friend's wife told us she had picked that charity because her DH (who was childless) had so enjoyed taking our children to a Nationals game several months before he died.)

We also tend to give items away to charity rather than sell them. Last year I finally gave our crib--still in great condition--to a local women's shelter, and recently I donated a ton of toddler toys--also in good condition--to a local charity that provides weekly activities, healthy snacks, and toys to kids staying at 4 area homeless shelters. http://www.playtimeproject.org/

[Kari]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

Lutheran World Relief (Edited because I'm a moron, LOL) :heart:

[jump4joy]

Heifer Project International, for many many reasons. They have an emphasis on helping people develop self-sufficiency, instead of just handing out food that will soon be gone. They tailor each program to the environment it's going into, so that they aren't giving the wrong type of help where it won't do any good. They especially help women start small businesses. They give hope, not just handouts. Last but not least, my family was involved with them when they were a much smaller organization (we raised goats for Heifer) and have given to their organization for over 30 years, and they have always been a very honorable charity. They consistently rate very highly in all of the indicators of charities, and have recently gotten a boost from people like Oprah bringing them into a higher profile.

We also give to World Wildlife Fund, and smaller organizations like the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, etc.

Edited to add: unlike World Wildlife Fund and others, Heifer doesn't send out endless mailings. But they do put out a magazine, which I've always found very inspirational and informative. I like that approach much better than the mailings.

[saffron]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

We give to the International Rescue Committee (they do overseas relief work and refugee resettlement in the US) and Heifer International. I also usually donate to the local dispute resolution center. I have personal ties to the IRC and my dispute resolution center as I have volunteered for both in the past, so that is a big factor in deciding where I donate. The IRC always gets great ratings in terms of the amount of money that goes to program (vs administrative) expenses, so that is another reason I donate to them. I like Heifer International because (in addition to the work they do) they have a great website that really shows what they do. So that is what the kids have been donating to lately - and IMO it really helps that they can understand what they are giving their charity money towards.

Here are a couple of websites that rate (or give info about) charities:

Charitynavigator.org
Give.org
Guidestar.org

[jerzymama]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

The IP - my belief in what they do is visceral to be honest. http://www.innocenceproject.org/ I think justice in this country (probably all countries) is often a function of wealth and I believe that if the IP takes on a case, it likely has merit. I've never really spent a lot of time evaluating why I feel strongly about this organization. I just trust them.


The Salvation Army - because, well, for a large organization - I simply trust them. When I lived in Denver, there was a man who lived next door to me who had recently lost his wife and about six months later was evicted from his apartment where he lived for 30 years. In the middle of January, w/snow on the ground he came home from work and ALL OF HIS THINGS were on the side walk and kids were picking over them. It was so sad. The property management company *knew* that it was because his wife had always taken care of things and paid the bills, etc. I knew this - because the manager TOLD ME while she was showing me my apartment. Anyways - I just felt so absolutely awful for him. I wasn't sure what to do (I had only moved to CO from NYC in November)...it's about 7:30 p.m. and I looked up social services in the phone book and saw the number for TSA. I called and explained what was going on. I am not joking - 30 minutes later a HUGE HUGE truck from King Soopers shows up w/about half a dozen men (I assume volunteers) and they load the man's stuff off the sidewalk.

The next couple of days - there was an article about it in the newspaper; it turned out he worked for the Denver Athletic Club for 30 years or so and they had no idea what was going on. They put him up in a new apartment and said they would always make sure he was taken care of. At the time, (20 years ago), it seemed like a very happy ending. And I've been a fan of TSA ever since. :)

[Sue]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

Not my favorites, but I mostly donate to St Jude's and the Jimmy Fund because childhood cancer is just horrible! I think St. Jude's spends a bit too much on marketing. I donate what I can on a monthly basis, I don't need mailings. But they do good work up there.

Oh because it's such a habit I for got to say we donate A LOT to the girl's schools, with time, fundraisers and cash.

I have to say my favorite charity is Heifer International. The concept is fantastic!! And so far they seem to be doing a great job implementing.

I also love the Interfaith Hospitality Network, they basically take homeless FAMILIES (did you know most shelters separate Dad's and older boys from their families?) put have them live in church basements or sunday school rooms, from different churches and faiths. TEACHES them how to find a place to live, how to pay the rent and bills, this seems like a little thing by cronically homeless people don't know how to do this! Then they help them find a place and give them the things they need like dishes. THEN they check on them to make sure they are handling the pressures of running a household well. :-)

[Bonny]

I don't think I have just one favorite, but if I had to pick one, I'd pick The Simple Way (http://www.thesimpleway.org/) -- I don't know if it necessarily counts as a charity -- but I love love love how they operate and how they are changing people's lives.

Beyond that, 2 local ones that I really love are Feed My Starving Children, (http://www.fmsc.org/) because it involves something tangible that my family can do together to help others, and Sharing and Caring Hands (http://www.sharingandcaringhands.org/) because the woman who runs the organization is one of my heroes. My favorite world-wide charity is World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org/)

[Sue]

The Salvation Army -

We donate almost everything to the Salvation Army when we are done. And sometimes even buy things from there, realize we won't use it and re-donate, LOL! And I had my Girl Scouts bring in donations as part of a mini-service project. The Salvation Army is a WONDERFUL organization. When my Dad was growing up in we completely on his own at 16 (but often times found himself homeless and alone at a much younger age) the Salvation Army helped him tremendously, he always talks about it. How he did work for them and they would feed and shelter him. When noone else wanted him, THEIR doors were open.

[Rosemary]

CHOP is where the most % of our donations go. Obvious reasons. It's an excellent hospital, one that so far I've only had to use for relatively minor things, but when I did, I was always very assured of the care, and God forbid, if I ever do have something serious to deal with, I know it's there.

A good friend of mine, her son, who is now 15, had cancer when he was a toddler, and the care he recieved, and actually, still does, was wonderful. He wasn't supposed to live, the statistics were so low. If you look at him today, you'd never know. I also know a little boy right now, one of Abby's school walking buddies who has brain cancer, and is being treated there. It's just one of those places that I feel compelled to donate to, because they do so much good.

[Pensive]

I like the buy the malaria prevention stuff because (long story) I saw this little boy dying on malaria on "Idol Gives Back" and he just really reminded me of my Tommy at the time. So, that's my thing. I like to buy the malaria stuff. With ADRA's catalog, you can specify that you want to buy stuff like that. And they have a nice mix of prices so there's always something affordable that makes a real difference in someone's life.

I also love Habitat for Humanity but I haven't been involved in it since college. I was looking forward to taking my boys with me to help but then they changed the rules to say that you have to be at least 16 to volunteer. I understand why they did that but it really bummed me out. When I was in college, a man used to come with his two little boys and they would do light carpentry and stuff. It seemed like a meaningful family activity.

Also, with Habitat, not only is it local but you get to see the results first-hand. We built one house that was a few houses over from a crack-house. The people in the neighborhood were these really kind, older people. It's easy to write off the whole neighborhood as scary. But when you get to know the people inside, you see that many of them are just poor people trying to get by and wanting the same things as the rest of us, which is a nice place to live. They were sooo appreciative and they fed us and everything. I was really touched by that.

[Pensive]

I have a sponsor child through "Save the Children" (I forgot to mention that charity in my post; I should edit) and I love the organization. I get a lot of info on our sponsor child. And if we happened to be in Mozambique, we could just stop by and meet her. The organization is very easy to contact and frequently sets up meetings between sponsor children and parents; yk, they're not hiding anything and they're not impersonal. I've been really pleased with them and I like the breakdown of financial info that they send, etc.

BUT, they send SOOOO much junk mail, asking me to sponsor another child, asking me to send additional $, etc. The sheer amount of junk mail I get from them is mind-boggling to the point where I question that use of the money. I'm already on board; stop trying to recruit me; save the money, YK? It does really annoy me.

[Peggyann]

Ronald McDonald House.

My sister was born at 28 weeks and had to be at Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital. My parents lived (at the time) in a dinkyass podunkville town a few hours away called St. Mary's. Even back then, a hotel room in P-burgh was about $65 a night, but the RMH made it possible for my Mom to stay close to my sister and pump breastmilk to feed her thru her tube with.

~PA~

[Sarah]

I give a lot to the Canadian Cancer Society, and to the Heart and Lung Association. But I have GREAT respect for Heifer.

[Bickery]

Ronald McDonald House.

My sister was born at 28 weeks and had to be at Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital. My parents lived (at the time) in a dinkyass podunkville town a few hours away called St. Mary's. Even back then, a hotel room in P-burgh was about $65 a night, but the RMH made it possible for my Mom to stay close to my sister and pump breastmilk to feed her thru her tube with.

~PA~

A friend also had very positive experiences with the RMH in Denver.

[Annamarie]

We give financially and our time a couple times a month to run this.
Other than that, we donate to a local ministry called South Caldwell Christian Ministry which provides VERY cheap clothing and free food to those with proven needs. They also pay power bills for people with needs. I don't give to any national charities right now.

[lisabelle]

I'm pretty basic--I give to the American Red Cross, Senior Services of Snohomish County (it's a meals on wheels program and I do that faithfully because my dad was a homebound terminal cancer patient who benefitted from receiving meals) and then the Northwest Food Bank. I've given to Habitat for Humanity, and the dh always gives to our local alternative radio station.

This year we'll be giving more because we can afford to, and our emphasis will be on food-giving charities.

[elizabeth]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

And to Martha's Table because I think they do really good work and their programs are very important. I also contribute to the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association.

[Peggyann]

oh oh oh

I forgot this one:

I know the guys (Don and Marc) that run it.

http://www.myspace.com/shstrangers


~PA~

[Lynn]

Heifer Project International, for many many reasons. They have an emphasis on helping people develop self-sufficiency, instead of just handing out food that will soon be gone. They tailor each program to the environment it's going into, so that they aren't giving the wrong type of help where it won't do any good. They especially help women start small businesses. They give hope, not just handouts. Last but not least, my family was involved with them when they were a much smaller organization (we raised goats for Heifer) and have given to their organization for over 30 years, and they have always been a very honorable charity. They consistently rate very highly in all of the indicators of charities, and have recently gotten a boost from people like Oprah bringing them into a higher profile.

This is my absolute favorite organization !!!!!
If I have birthday or Christmas gifts/teacher gifts etc.....I always go through them and purchase something. :-)

~Lynn

[Bonny]

ah I forgot abt the Crisis Nursery. I had friends who used to (maybe they still do?) work w the crisis nursery, taking little kids into their home. Their kids used to organize pajama drives at church for them.

[davidah]

And do you know how I can find a list of charities ranked by how efficiently they use funds donated to them (i.e. w/o excessive expenses taken off the top)?

Thanks.

(I didn't read all responses, so sorry if this is a duplicate). But if you go to www.charitynavigator.org , you can find information on administrative expenses, etc.

We give consistently to:

American Jewish World Service (they do excellent work with refugees, respond to all crises (the recent tsunami, earthquake, etc.)

New Israel Fund (they work to promote a more just society within Israel, helping immigrants, Arab rights, battered women, etc.)

Amnesty International

Mazon (see Indigo's post)

Various environmental groups (Natural Resources Defense Council and some local and state-level groups)

Also our local food bank and local United Way

And this year we're doing a lot of political donations.

We give to other groups inconsistently, but those are our main ones. We're working toward donating 10% of our AGI, but we're not there yet.

We try to always have something in the categories of: environment, human rights, international crisis/poverty, and Israel.

Davidah

[Ahnyx]

Besides the obvious connection, it is just a FABULOUS place that has done (and is currently doing) amazing things for children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.

It's rated very highly wrt the percentage of funds that go directly to patients, patient needs, and research.

[azul99]

Great info and food for thought on this thread. Thank you!

[muse2clio]

An organization called Women for Women International, which does wonderful work helping women in wartorn countries rebuild their lives. I got to meet/here the founder speak last year, when a friend of mine organized a fundraiser for the organization. You can give a regular donation or "sponsor" a woman monthly and exchange letters with her.

[leannan_si]

Called Read to Feed http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.3813527/

Last year my Ds's 3rd grade class did it and raised enough money to by rabbits, ducks and chickens. It was really cool.