think before you donate - eye opener

We are just a group of friends who bridge the donors to their recipients. We don't raise funds so as to not to make complex charity works. When a sponsor sends money for one charity, we right away execute the charity based on his/her budget and email him/her the scanned receipts. In this way, everything is clear... as to how their money is being spent by the group. Besides, ours is all voluntary services. No incentive nor any salary received. The only benefit we get is going to remote areas of the city where we haven't been before. We have made a number of less-fortunate children happy for more than two years now. We give slippers, school bags with some school supplies in them, feeding program, cash education assistance and toys when christmas comes. we also donate paints to some public schools and whiteboard to the deaf and mute class in one public school. As much as possible, we don't accumulate the money that are sent to us. We right away execute individual's charity work. :)

It would have been very helpful if you had quoted your source for this information (and MyLot's Guidelines say that you should ALWAYS link to information like this rather than quote it). By just doing some simple searches using the MyLot Search bar (earned 19 cents!), I found plenty of sites which give factual information about how much of your donation goes to the cause itself. One is Charity Navigator, which claims to be America's largest charity evaluator and gives a state-by-state breakdown of 'local' charities: http://www.charitynavigator.org/ If you are thinking of giving to a charity this season, beware of emails and telemarketers soliciting for charities you have never heard of. The following tips are from the National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch: "[i]If you're approached by an unfamiliar charity, check it out. Most states require charities to register with them and file annual reports showing how they use donations. Ask your state or local consumer protection agency how to get this information. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance also offers information about national charities. Call (703) 276-0100 or go to www.give.org Be cautious about e-mails seeking charitable contributions. Many unsolicited e-mail messages are fraudulent. Beware of sound-alikes. Some crooks try to fool people by using names that are very similar to those of well-known charities. Ask how donations are used. One of the most important things to consider is how much of your money goes to fundraising and administrative costs, rather than to the charitable work itself. Be wary of requests to support police or firefighters. Some fraudulent fundraisers claim that donations will benefit police or firefighters, when in fact little or no money goes to them. Contact your local police or fire department to find out if the claims are true and what percentage of donations, if any, they will receive.[/i]" ( http://www.onlinecardonation.org/charity-news/check-out-charity.htm ) Here is a page with some useful tips on how to choose a charity: http://www.ehow.com/how_2060556_pick-charity.html Two good sites for the UK are: The official (government) Charity Commission website: http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ Charity Choice: http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charitysearch.asp The Charity Awards site is also a useful guide to the top performing charities: http://www.charityawards.co.uk/home/winners.php?pg=1&yr=14

Hi there...you haven't named a source...would you mind telling me where you found your information please. I've always been against charities for the reason that most of the money goes toward administering the charity, rather than to the charity itself. I'd really like to dig up the info for my own country.

Thanks for opening my eyes.I accept my ignorance in this matter and will think many times before donating to the reputed organisations.From your discussion i can glean that a minuscule amount reaches those in need.It boggles the mind that in such reputed organisations personal comfort is more important than the needy for whom they ought to provide aid.

Oh,my God! Is it true? It sounds bad. However, what would you do for vulnerable groups? By the way, does the news come from the Wikileaks website?

A great eye opener information thank you very much. I hope people still hope to donate more but not to this big organizations but rather to small ones most probably charities run by the churches. People affected still need help to rebuilt their lives. Keep charity forward.

Wow!.. I guess we just don't know who to trust anymore. I was always wary of the ones I seen on television asking for money and sponsors, But I wouldn't have thought that of the Red Cross..And that is great to know that what is given to the Salvation Army goes back into the community to be given where and when it is needed. Thanks for the information.

Yes, I have learned this about some charities too that I have donated to in the past. I read an article lately that many of them use agencies who charge them large fees for promoting and then collecting donations. Sometimes the fees are so large that the charity ends up with little or nothing. There are some good ones out there and I appreciate the research that you have done on this. My problem is that I know people have to earn a living, but some of them appear to be on huge salaries.. _Derek

The Salvation army is a great oraganization I think. They do a lot for the community. I like to shop at the salvation army thats the best part and part of the proceeds goes to the programs that give back to the community. It seems that for doing all that work though that Todd Bassett isnt receiving that much money. My ex made more then that doing plumbing and heating locally. It seems someone running a huge thing like the salvation army should be making more then that. $13,000 a year really isnt that much to live off if you have medical expenses and rent and car payments or house payments.

i have always known about the salvation army being the best. ive read a lot about them and they know and live by what our savior meant when it comes to charity. they always have been for doing more for others then profiting for themselves.

I knew UNICEF was not worth giving to, but I didn't know that about Red Cross. For disaster relief I give to an organization called IDES. I hope they're all right. I was glad to hear that money given to the Salvation Army mostly goes to charitable causes. I don't give to them, but I think my mother and brother do. Thanks for the information.

Hi kety, how are you. After long gap I'm meeting with you. UNICEF-CEO are Big things for me. UNICEF can be compared with WHITE ELEPHANT. The seed is bigger than the fruit.

since am here in the Philippines, I donated to reputable institution that really helps the needy and really extend all their resources to help those people in need.I choose World Vision and the CBN-Asia 700 Club. I believe they do wonders for all our donations and they also bring blessings to us donors. Since I believe that every child has the right to schooling, World Vision is the right institution. And extending help to poor Families by giving them jobs or small business that will improve their way of living, 700 club delivers it amazingly. so give a try, and give to these reputable institution and Our Good Lord will surely bless us.

I usually give only to the Salvation Army and veterans charities. The Salvation Army does a phenomenal job of urging volunteers to help and puts so much toward actually helping people. I have never seen any other organization that is able to do what they do.

That is a problem with so call charity, they are not able to keep profit. however it is not mean the money would go to the needed people.

This is a real eye opener. It should be shared and made known to many. Thanks for the info.