Organizations I support, and a note on why

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glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
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Originally posted by: Craig234
For all the bickering here, I think one thing that might do a little good is 'awareness'.

So, here's a post on that.

I'm going to pick ten organizations I support - politically and have supported financially.

And a little note on why.

1. Amnesty International

Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 2/4 stars (47.30)
Program Expenses: 75.8%
Efficiency Rating: 1/4 stars (24.86)

Honorable mention for the same reasons: Human Rights Watch
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 4/4 stars (60.24)
Program Expenses: 77.4%
Efficiency Rating: 2/4 stars (30.24)

2. Just Detention, formerly Stop Prisoner Rape
no information found for this group


3. The Center for Biological Diversity
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 4/4 stars (60.86)
Program Expenses: 83.6%
Efficiency Rating: 3/4 stars (33.36)


4. The ACLU
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 4/4 stars (68.01)
Program Expenses: 80.1%
Efficiency Rating: 4/4 stars (38.01)


5. Corporate Accountability International
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 3/4 stars (58.44)
Program Expenses: 81.4%
Efficiency Rating: 3/4 stars (35.64)


7. American Friends Service Committee
No Charity Navigator report, but 2007 annual report shows approx. $6.9MM fundraising and General Administrative expenses out of total expenses of $42.9MM, by my calculations an 84% efficiency rating (or 16% expense ratio if you prefer)


8. Moveon.org
no information found for this group



Here is my suggestion:
Marines Toys for Tots Foundation link
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 4/4 stars (62.24)
Program Expenses: 97.4%
Efficiency Rating: 4/4 stars (39.74)

 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,640
33,469
136
Originally posted by: glenn1
4. The ACLU
Charity Navigator report
Overall Rating: 4/4 stars (68.01)
Program Expenses: 80.1%
Efficiency Rating: 4/4 stars (38.01)

I'm kind of surprised by the high efficiency rating. I joined the ACLU many years ago and quit after a year because they spent the entire price of my membership and then some on sending me junk mail asking for more money. I still get junk mail from them.
 

Corn

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 1999
6,389
29
91
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: Ocguy31

You felt free to post your support of a left-wing organization, I felt free to call you out on it.

I guess my consolation is having called the right-wing idiot behavior so exactly:

I'm not looking for responses of 'I'm a long time Republican and I hate your peace group'. We have plenty of threads where your disagreement is known, and the 500th repititon of it adds little.

Ah, so you wanted an Echo-chamber where everyone was going to sit around the fire with the acoustic and sing.

LOL, bingo!
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
0
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace


An advocate of leadership through strength on the global stage.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
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Originally posted by: Vic
ATPN is not your blog.

There are a couple groups I like, and Craig and I differ on alot of things; however, I dont get the point this post. Maybe we ALL should post what our favorite orgs are?
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Originally posted by: Ozoned
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace


An advocate of leadership through strength on the global stage.

I don't see much reason to choose them; 'leadership through strength' too easily translates into 'continuing massively excessive militarism that can be misused by the next Bush'.

The front page has one of the worst bastards writing against any cuts to military spending. I'm not esepcially impressed.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Glenn, for me, the economic efficiency is very secondary to the cause being promoted. I'd rather a dime go to a critical need than a dollar to something less important.

I'm glad to see tots get toys, but it's a secondary priority for me to tots getting, say, their parents alive and food.

We have no shortage of people who are not too interested in what I see as the critical issues and who will ensure tots get toys (I don't mean you, I mean people who would have no interest in P&N or politics), so I'm promoting what I see as underserved needs. Not just anyone is concerned that prisoners not get raped.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,168
14,599
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Originally posted by: JS80
You left out 10. The Communist Party.

How typical of a right-wing poster to try to equate the ACLU with the Communist Party.

After all, with the ACLU's sole purpose being to support the Bill of Rights, even when the cause is unpopular, to the righties, THAT is un-american.
 

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,516
1,128
126
Charity starts at home, in your local community. I suggest you look to your community for things to support and not just the big stuff.


first, 3 i have been involved with:

www.hikeforacause.wordpress.com

not a registered or recognized thing, but something I'm involved in. You should all check it out.

Local Search & Rescue groups

Esp. in areas with more wilderness these groups provide an essential service for law enforcement personal. I volunteered a lot of time with a local group in college, became a coordinator with the group. during my time we had a 100% success rate. many of these groups do not get a lot of support from the community and are paid for by their members. These groups, like ours, also provide personnel support for many city functions such and directing traffic during big events and parades, providing communication and support roles during disasters and emergencies.

http://www.nasar.org/nasar/

ARES/RACES

Amateur Radio Emergency Service
these groups are usually affiliated with S&R groups. they provide communications in every situation. most groups maintain area repeaters and communication equipment along with helping city and other government groups like FEMA and the Red Cross. Operators have flocked to every natural disaster, have been essential for communication because of there training and knowledge.

http://www.arrl.org/


Americorp has been doing Great things for a long time.

http://www.americorps.org/for_...izations/how/index.asp


NRA
www.nra.org

because i do not believe in gun control, and i enjoyed emptying a clip in an AK

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

because i love backpacking.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org

i do not support many of the organizations that craig (edit: oops, i got you confused with dave) does, but I hope that this list will give you some more insite into what really matters, what you can change, what will directly influence your life in your town. I think that local charities are much more worthy of my time and support. Go play with the animals at the humane society, tutor at you local school, participate with the KC / moose lodge / etc. in your town to help local people. volunteer at a soup kitchen.