Charity - Do you believe its put to good use? POLL

wnangle

Member
Mar 14, 2007
64
0
0
Charities and Fundraisers are all around us. People call us at all hours, send us solicitations in the mail, and even at work want us to contribute to some cause that they believe is important.

My question: Do you give to charity and believe that the money you give is put to good use, or do you NOT give to charity because you are skeptical of how the funds are used.
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,855
319
126
I'd rather buy some candy or donate to a local school's sports team than any "charity". I rarely ever give to charities. Very rarely.
 

iRONic

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2006
7,792
3,085
136
We have ceased supporting large national charities because of the scandals they've been involved in and the buereucracy they've become.(Red Cross, for example)

Our giving is all local now and is only actual foodstuffs and clothing we purchase and give directly to the shelter and food bank.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
We give locally, with the exception of a couple out-of-town organizations where we personally know some of the people involved. I am certain that what we give is used wisely.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I give to St. Jude's and local church that does a lot of good in the area.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,648
4,162
126
How about a poll option for both?

Many charities are good. Many charities attempt to be good, but their goal is futile or worse the aid harms the goal*. Finally, many charities are mostly scams and little if any of the money goes to any useful goal.

I choose to donate to charities that I can clearly see have a beneficial outcome.


*Flame warning: such as with food aid to some starving children in countries with corrupt governments. Sure, you can help one starving kid survive, but then he/she grows up and has 5-10 starving babies. You just made the problem 5-10 times worse.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
14
81
fobot.com
there are good ones and bad ones
like anything

too broad a question


i don't give to United Way, they are corrupt
 
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
81
I think SOME charities do good. I prefer donating to local charities over larger global ones. I think volunteering > donating money. I think United Way is mostly full of shit.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
There are good ones and bad ones...obviously. Give, but give wisely. Know how much of the money you give will go to bureaucratic overhead.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I give a lot to unitied way.

I've seen first hand the kinds of services that are offered and they're amazing.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Originally posted by: dullard
How about a poll option for both?

Many charities are good. Many charities attempt to be good, but their goal is futile or worse the aid harms the goal*. Finally, many charities are mostly scams and little if any of the money goes to any useful goal.

I choose to donate to charities that I can clearly see have a beneficial outcome.

*Flame warning: such as with food aid to some starving children in countries with corrupt governments. Sure, you can help one starving kid survive, but then he/she grows up and has 5-10 starving babies. You just made the problem 5-10 times worse.
Same here, I give to just 3 charities:

1. Seattle Times Fund for the Needy - it's a Washington state alternative to United Way that gives to a bunch of local charities, but the newspaper pays for 100% of the fundraising costs and all of your donation reaches the charities.

2. Northwest Harvest - supplies food banks throughout the state. Instead of giving a bum cash for a 40 oz I give them cash to buy a mom a few cans of soup for her kids.

3. Child's Play (see you all in November :) ) - give games and toys to children's hospitals so sick kids have something to take their minds off their hospital stay.
 

jupiter57

Diamond Member
Nov 18, 2001
4,600
3
71
Originally posted by: FoBoT
there are good ones and bad ones
like anything

too broad a question


i don't give to United Way, they are corrupt

QFT!
United Way is very bad.
Any charity that pays a top Executive Millions annually can't be on the up & up!
And as with most charities, only about 15% ACTUALLY GO TO THE "CAUSE", the bulk of their donations go toward salaries, with the second largest cost being more fund raising, and the actual "cause" receiving what is left.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,234
1,722
126
It depends on the charity. All of them waste some of it on administrative fees. Pretty much all of them have some who scam, steal, defraud ....

Some charities though, are really good at putting the money to a good use. Soup kitchens would be a good example of such.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Idontcare
Originally posted by: wnangle
Charity - Do you believe its put to good use?

Charities have and always will serve the very good use of eliminating guilt.

That is utter non-sense.

Charities provide services and free help to those that need it.

Look at Hospice.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: George P Burdell
I think SOME charities do good. I prefer donating to local charities over larger global ones. I think volunteering > donating money. I think United Way is mostly full of shit.

 

YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,546
1
81
I don't give money usually. I do give my old stuff to Catholic Charities or Salvation Army though.