drugstore_cowboy
Member
I volunteer for a local one, don't have a lot is spare cash and rather spend on my own family.
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Do you donate to charity?
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terrdactycalsrock
Member
Yeah, Whenever Im checking out, and the cashier asks me to donate a dollar for a foundation I will. I also donate to childs play when GB has their streaming event
TheExecutive
Member
Scrounged up around 1500 dollars with my peers at work and bought around 200 toys for tots. We had a 20% off coupon for a single purchase. Store manager was pissed about the coupon. Awesome for the kids though.
TheExecutive
Member
Donate tangible goods... Or your time.
Yes. Actually, I'm going to c/p an old post of mine where I talk about it, because this still covers my position pretty well.:
Talking about charity always makes me vaguely uncomfortable, which I guess might be due to the ethical/moral notion that telling people of your generosity makes it mean less. I don't actually believe that, but I act like I do. I dunno.
Anyway. I think it's useful to talk about, because it helps set a norm, it helps other people to form the idea that yes, charitable giving is something other people do, and that maybe I should do as well.
So yes. I have a charitable giving amount in my monthly budget. I don't generally give to those grocery store donation drives, or to people who stop you on the street asking for donations--I choose to give intentionally, not because I've been put on the spot, and in large chunks, not a few bucks every time I walk by. I've given to a variety of causes over the years, from the Red Cross to children's hospitals to Heifer to various forest-saving funds, and to Kiva, though that's not quite the same.
These days, I've been sold on the idea of efficient charity, of giving your money to the single most effective charity rather than spraying it around to a bunch of them that have caught your eye due to advertising. I generally follow GiveWell's recommendations, which means the Against Malaria Foundation, which distributes anti-mosquito bed nets in Africa that save children's lives, or GiveDirectly, which does what it sounds like and simply directly gives cash to poor households in developing nations (this has been shown to be a highly effective intervention, despite what you probably think intuitively--read about it on GiveWell!).
Ultimately, I think the Mormons have the right idea (you've probably never heard me say that before!). 10% of your income is a great goal to shoot for as far as an amount to give. I'm short of that amount personally, but I'm working on it. Actually, this thread has reminded me. I got a nice raise this year but didn't increase my giving accordingly. Hang on, going to go change my budget.
tl;dr
It's totally normal to give to charity, and everyone should do it (to the extent they can afford it--if you're just scraping by, commit to give to charity later in life, once you're set up more solidly). If you want to give but don't know where to start, go to GiveWell and choose one of their top recommended charities.
FO-totality
Poet Centuriate
My family and I donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. They have done and are doing amazing research relating to childhood cancers and terminal diseases (a doctor there won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1996), and don't turn anyone referred there away. Even if a family can't afford it, they'll do it for free. When I was a kid, my best friend was my cousin who had a really severe case of cancer that he didn't survive from. He spent a lot of time at St. Jude and I think that gave me a little more time with him, and I'll always be grateful for that. I miss him like fucking hell everyday, but I'm glad a place like this exists.
Nealand Liquor
Member
Yep, I am a Humble Bundle philanthropist.
My generosity proceeds me.
My generosity proceeds me.
evil solrac v3.0
Member
donate monthly to the WWF and give blood two three times a year at work.
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
I HATE THIS FUCKING MENTALITY.
okay, just had to get it out there. I hate it when people say they want 100% of the proceed to go directly into xx cause.
Like, okay, so do you not want the people working there to be paid? Do you want them to have electricity? do you not want them to work in a building? Do you not want them to
communicate with the outside world?
Instead of thinking of how they're using their money, think of how they're closer to accomplishing their Mission goals
Watch this: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong?language=en
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
:lol Buying Newman's Own doesn't count as donating to charity.
I do donate to various charities throughout the year. My company matches donations too.
I do donate to various charities throughout the year. My company matches donations too.
DOWN
Banned
Not sure I understand people who use overhead as the excuse either. Your dollar is still money they don't have for that cause. Even if only 5¢ would go to the cause, that's 5¢ they didn't have. Or you can go find a charity you like with lower overhead. If you can't afford it, okay. Just not sure I get the idea of generalizing charities as unworthy of your money due to overhead.
Good Will if I have stuff I don't need.
I'll give the $1 every so often when they ask at the cash register. And I buy from Humble Bundle and Amazon Smile.
But for the most part, I find that a lot of charities don't spend the money how I want them to or support something I don't. If I ever become rich as hell, I've thought of starting charities that tell people where each dollar is going in a very open way.
I wish I had the time commitment to help ESL kids again in the summer. I did it one year in high school.
I'll give the $1 every so often when they ask at the cash register. And I buy from Humble Bundle and Amazon Smile.
But for the most part, I find that a lot of charities don't spend the money how I want them to or support something I don't. If I ever become rich as hell, I've thought of starting charities that tell people where each dollar is going in a very open way.
I wish I had the time commitment to help ESL kids again in the summer. I did it one year in high school.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
Well I think everyone can agree that 100% is crazy but there's definitely charities with varying degrees of effectiveness and I'm not sure why that shouldn't be used as a gauge. Are you seriously trying to say all charities are created equal? There's plenty of shit charities that essentially pocket the money rather than using it how most would assume it's being spent.
PaulExcellent
Member
Humble Bundle whenever + $100 to St. Jude's every year.
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
did you not read my entire sentence? Of course not all charities are equal, which was why i said, and I'm gonna repeat myself again since you failed you to read it
Instead of thinking of how they're using their money, think of how they're closer to accomplishing their Mission goals
Even if i could afford to, i doubt i would. I don't trust for the money to go to right place (ie anything relevant, from actual goods to necessary supporting infrastructure), i don't trust it won't go to someone's own pockets just because, or that the charity itself ends up being corrupted as fuck (selling goods instead of giving them away or some such shit).
Besides, i do not believe charity is a solution to problems. Perhaps it is necessary at times but... eh, really, many problems that charities aim should be truly solved, by government intervention or such (internationally?).
Ideally. In practice, not gonna happen, i know.
Perhaps if there were a cause that i felt was important enough, i might donate. Might.
Besides, i do not believe charity is a solution to problems. Perhaps it is necessary at times but... eh, really, many problems that charities aim should be truly solved, by government intervention or such (internationally?).
Ideally. In practice, not gonna happen, i know.
Perhaps if there were a cause that i felt was important enough, i might donate. Might.
Escape Goat
Member
I just took a box of old clothes to Goodwill. I'm a good person.
JordanN
Banned
I'm still poor myself so I can't just get up and be charitable every day.
But I do know if I ever make it successfully (financially speaking), I will want to take a leading part in fixing the world. When I hear stories of child soldiers, or girls being banned from education in other countries, it makes me angry. I want to do something that eliminates such suffering.
But I do know if I ever make it successfully (financially speaking), I will want to take a leading part in fixing the world. When I hear stories of child soldiers, or girls being banned from education in other countries, it makes me angry. I want to do something that eliminates such suffering.
themidnightsun156
Member
i consider every plastic water bottle i throw away to be donating 5 cents to the homeless
bennywhatever
Member
I donate to the Riley Children's Foundation. I had open-heart surgery at Riley 23 years ago and it saved my life, so I try to give back as best as I can. It's a legit group to - 66% of the donations goes to Riley Hospital and its programs. This is really high for a foundation, and I'm okay with that.
Yep, me and my SO donate to http://www.donorschoose.org/ every month.
They're like kickstarter for school teachers. The teacher needs something and the donor provides the money.
Usually it's super basic stuff like staplers, or pencil sharpeners, or hole punches. And you can find school by income, location, or both. So you can find low income schools in your area to donate to.
Really great service.
Other than that we've donated lots of Water.org in the past. As well as Red Cross about once a year.
They're like kickstarter for school teachers. The teacher needs something and the donor provides the money.
Usually it's super basic stuff like staplers, or pencil sharpeners, or hole punches. And you can find school by income, location, or both. So you can find low income schools in your area to donate to.
Really great service.
Other than that we've donated lots of Water.org in the past. As well as Red Cross about once a year.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
i am against charities. they are all full of cronies running them.
if you want to give your money to a helpful cause, give it to a homeless shelter or something that directly helps people, not something that "administers" funds for research or whatever the fuck
if you want to give your money to a helpful cause, give it to a homeless shelter or something that directly helps people, not something that "administers" funds for research or whatever the fuck
AstroNut325
Member
Can the people who are claiming charities are scams, wasteful, or shady... what is your basis or justification for such a stance?
HeartlessNobody213
Member
Nope.
This covers my giving in a nutshell. My wife and I try to give around ten percent of our take home each year after Christmas to a few charities that we believe in after having researched them. Pancreatic cancer action network, Front Steps and local rescue/animal shelters are the usual suspects.
I've been giving to the pancreatic cancer action network for around six years now since a very close friend of mine passed away from it.
It's sad to see people so critical of charities. Just do some due diligence and do your own research. There are a number of sources to find charities that are effective. Overhead is going to happen, but you know what that overhead does is pay full time employees to basically run a company.
DoktorEvil
Banned
I donated to Firefox and Wikipedia last year.
I haven't made any donations yet this year.
I will do so for the tiny tax dedication I receive.
I haven't made any donations yet this year.
I will do so for the tiny tax dedication I receive.
Escape Goat
Member
There are starving kids in Africa still using IE.
Aaron-Lagann
Banned
No. I'm barely making it by as is, can't afford to worry about anyone else.
They don't want to donate anything cause they are selfish so they make up an excuse in their own little minds.
HOMEBOY OVER HERE
Banned
I volunteer occasionally and engage in civil service.
I'm currently trying to figure my own life out.
I'd eventually like my future to be mostly about serving a higher cause and making the world a better place.
I'm currently trying to figure my own life out.
I'd eventually like my future to be mostly about serving a higher cause and making the world a better place.
My father's a frequent blood donor (0-), but I can't donate my own.
Only little monetary donations thus far. When a stable income comes my way, I'll set some aside for local LGBT youth shelters.
I did some hands-on volunteer work for a particular local organization a few years ago when they were restoring run-down schools, but they were overstaffed to the point that I could barely do anything. Haven't done anything for them since.
Only little monetary donations thus far. When a stable income comes my way, I'll set some aside for local LGBT youth shelters.
I did some hands-on volunteer work for a particular local organization a few years ago when they were restoring run-down schools, but they were overstaffed to the point that I could barely do anything. Haven't done anything for them since.
DoktorEvil
Banned
Firefox is free. My donation keeps it free
I also donate blood because I'm the universal O+.
Who controls capital? The rich. Who controls charity? The rich. Who will slit a grandma's throat if it means making an additional penny? The rich. Yet, I'm supposed to believe that they're looking out for anyone other than themselves. They won't pay taxes, but they sure care about poor and sick folks? Keep thinking pink.
Sounds super risky dude, you should definitely avoid anything charitable.
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