what's the best?

pyotr · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2005, 09:52 PM

Has anyone recently done a comprehensive analysis of all the major charities to determine which organization(s) provide the best bang for your bucks in various categories etc. For instance, which charities have the lowest administrative costs relative to their total net assets? Which ones have the largest marketing and other overhead? Which ones have questionable histories/records? Which ones have liberal/conservative political ties? etc. you see what I mean.

According to a well-known biography, Warren Buffet did this and decided to set up his own charitable company and donate to it only. That is, he found no existing charitable organization which was run well nor (according to him) worth giving to.

sweeps · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2005, 01:16 PM

Every year Forbes comes out with their Most and Least Efficient Charities list. 2005's list should be coming out soon, but 2004 is available now.

miclason · #3 (**permalink**) 11-28-2005, 01:29 PM

at my office, we have "adopted" a small public school...this is the best way - for us - to contribute and KNOW where our money is going...we also contribute time, as we teach English to the top 10% students in the higher classes...(I contribute time, as I don't have much $$$, but some people contribute both...) This weekend, we went and painted the outside of the school...our VP donated paint so that the students can come and paint the inside...it looked soooo different when we left...it really makes me happy!...and, I got to take my daughter (who's 5) with me...and she actually helped!!!...I want her to know that she (everyone, really) CAN make a difference...

andimorony · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 05:26 PM

Also, call your favorite church. They always know of someone who needs help or can put you onto a good group.

I like the ARC. Their admin costs are low and you can specify where you want you money to go. And then it does.

a

acezz4e_tish · #5 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 09:41 AM

i think you really gotta be a part of what you will give too. i give to the humane society and i got our family pet there, miss buttercup our blonde lab. i also ask my kids school thier teachers if theres anything i can give or they need. they are glad to keep me posted. i mean what better charity is there than that of home. knowing my kids have all they need in school and extra stuff for fun, that they had the best day ever, nothing touches me more. i buy good snacks for the classes, such as fruit trays, i save all our paper towel and toilet paper rolls, they just made kingdoms at school. i buy some of the walmart clearance fabric for thier crafts at school a dollars worth goes a long way.i buy an extra dollar special book to put in thier class library. im not rich by any means, but even the lil bit i do extra for thier classes makes it better. i will from now on also send extra girl/boy gift at christmas to school. this year some shorted the class, the teacher had to make three gifts on the spot with what she had, so my daughter gave a bratz doll and she got a brown bag iwth a mechanical pencil and 2 candy canes for her present cause her name with r she was last to get pick. she cried her heart out, i wont see that again!
the library loves having readers come to read to children, theres all kinds of charitable things you can do that cost you very little even and makes a world of difference.

Bluezy · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andimorony

Also, call your favorite church. They always know of someone who needs help or can put you onto a good group

I agree. If you do not have a favourite place of worship, ask around in your community to find out which churches do the most for those in need.

Personally, I donate when I can to our local pregnancy center. The center helps to counsel future single mums and place them in training programs to help them understand their role as a mum.

acezz4e_tish · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 10:30 AM

our family planning center is not local its county. you can find them easily, the phone book added a section that dont charge them for, first section in yellow pages, says abortion alternatives. it will have all your regions centers of different types there, like ask a nurse phone centers, parenting classes organizers etc. you can call your local welfare dept also they will have a list. they too also hire volunteer workers. you still get paid but not by the hour, a daily food fee, which when i worked in st clair mich was 5 dollars a day for meals, and 33 cents a mile for driving or a bus pass for free. you would love doing that job, i did! i answered phones, checked people in, helped organize toys and all for toys for tots, wrap and deliver too, plus if you have funds to add to the cause, it would help also.

fgabriel09 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 07:21 AM

It helps to support a charity that you're directly involved with, as that helpsyou know where the money is going, and even have an influence on where the money is spent.

scfr · #9 (**permalink**) 10-17-2007, 07:04 PM

You can find information related to a charity's finances at:
Charity Navigator - America's Largest Charity Evaluator

marjorie · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 02:21 PM

I really like the idea of Home - Modest Needs®

Broken Arrow · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 03:13 PM

The original post was made back in 2005, and much may have changed since then.

For example, in a television interview, Warren Buffet has stated that while capital allocation was his passion, charity was his wife's. He was originally going to donate his money to his wife's charity organization, but since she has passed away, he has decided to donate his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation instead... to the tune of $30 billion in fact.

In his words, the Bill and Melinda Foundation was one of the best and brightest non-profit organizations he has ever seen.

Landwatch · #12 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 09:57 PM

In our office we have set up a small fund, to which all the employees contribute every month. This money is used for the education of children from poor families. I think these small steps can make a big difference in someone's life. So please all be free to help in which ever way you can. Never shy away from helping your fellow beings.

ScrimpAndSave · #13 (**permalink**) 06-18-2008, 03:42 PM

Definitely check into Forbes!

PrometheusIV · #14 (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 04:47 PM

I started my company last year and made the decision upon doing so to ensure that made a donation through each and every project that my company creates. In the beginning, I asked myself the exact same question that you did in this forum... and found an amazing resource which not only indexes charities for you, but rates and grades them upon their performance! Google search, or Good Search, "Charity Navigator", and become a user today... I research each and every charity that I wish to get involved with, or which contacts me to get involved in one of my projects.