Giving Money To Charity - Hurricane Katrina

[crosses]

The people here talk a lot about the best way to save their money. What is the best way to GIVE money in your opinion? I think when I give money to a cause, I want as much of that money to go to the cause as possible (not to advertising and more money raising). How do you decide where your money goes and are you as thorough in researching where you give money as you are about saving your money?

[PrincessPerky]

I try to stick to stuff, stuff is hard to steal, or skim. So blankets or food is my preference, but then you have to figure in the cost of the charity transporting it .

[meaghanchan]

The BBB runs a website, http://www.give.org, that tells you what percent of your money's going where. The American Red Cross, where I decided to donate, stacks up pretty well. I don't know if it's the absolute BEST in terms of percentage of money to programs, but a lot of people are donating to them right now. You can also earmark your donations just to go to Hurricane 2005 relief, if you so wish.

[CheaplyClever]

I also give a cash donation to the Red Cross right after any disaster.

[moester]

I have a couple of good links for people looking to donate $ for Katrina.

Charity Navigator.org rates charities on how financially healthy they are and how well they spend dollars that are donated. This page gives guidelines and links for donating for Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...8/cpid/310.htm

Note that it does not list the Salvation Army because it cannot analyze its financial health with hard numbers. (but we have all seen the wonderful work they do.)

Here is a page from the Philanthropy Network that also provides lots of links for donations:
http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd/hurricane/index.jhtml

[DivaJen]

I donate cash first to the Red Cross, like a previous poster mentioned. After that, if there are secondary ways I can donate things (as opposed to money), I try to do that. I've already given to the Red Cross.

I've mentioned a fundraiser in my journal that has 100% of the proceeds going to the Red Cross: http://craftrevolution.etsy.com. Over $5000 has already been raised this week.

[CRFSaver]

Can I remind people not to just give money to the red cross without stating exactly what the donation is for. If you don't specify what the donation is for, the Red Cross can contribute those funds directly to their general fund. If it goes to their general fund they are not required to pay out for that charity. In fact they can use it for other causes or to pay their administrative expenses. Thats why I either give goods and services, or specify exactly what my donations are for. Red Cross has a history of not distributing all funds during a disaster.

[baselle]

First of all, your charitable giving should be a budget item, just like any other line item. It gives you an idea of what kind of money to spend and it does make it easier to say no when someone tries to guilt you out.

Second of all, you need to get a handle on your values. What tugs at your heart? What burns ya? I find that the emergency itself tugs at my heart, but I know that everyone else donates to that. I value giving long term and anonymously - that's just my thing. Didn't give to the Red Cross, gave to the United Way Katrina Response Fund.

Third, check your charity out, keeping in mind that the scammers use similar names for well-known charities. http://www.guidestar.org is another excellent resource.

Fourth, if you itemize for taxes, give by check or credit card to get the receipt.

FWIW - It is true that the Red Cross has a history of not distributing *all* funds donated for a disaster that during that specific disaster. The Red Cross (like most non-profits) has a history of keeping a reserve for the next disaster, otherwise they would have to wait to get funds before they could act. For example, its likely that some "leftover" donations collected from the tsunami are being used in Katrina.

IMO, paying for administrative expenses in and of itself is not bad, if the expenses are within your tolerance because its likely that the dollars used keep the lights on and pay the salaries of folks doing the work. Its what doesn't burn me .

[retire@50]

I like to find sources that will match my contribution when I dontate. I gave to the Red Cross this time because my company matches 3:1.

If I'm just giving in general I like to give to places like Care N Share where I buy food and give that. I don't feel like anyone can take a portion of the food for overhead. Plus if I shop for sales items, my money can go farther and buy more.

Another thing I like to do is look for free items with coupon or free after rebate items that I wouldn't necessarily use and buy them anyways and donate them. It makes what I can give go farther if I just take the time to send for the rebates plus I like to give tangibles rather than cash when possible. These are mostly personal care items and a lot of these types of items go to Silver Key.

Another favorite of mine is the Toys for Tots fund. Every year I take my nieces shopping for Toys that they pick out and I buy and then we donate to the Toys for Tots fund.

[Tree0164]

My husband's company is matching donations. We have donated to the red cross and it was specified to go to the Hurricane Katrina vicitims.

[rob62521]

For folks who would like to buy gift cards and have them hand delivered, check out the wbgl.org site and click on morning show. There's a person who will be going down south and giving the gift cards to the neediest. You can read about it on this Christian music station.

[Some1Shy]

Originally Posted by baselle

Second of all, you need to get a handle on your values. What tugs at your heart? .

i soooooo agree with is..whenever i donate to anything i go with "where my heart leads me"
sometimes giving money is good other times my heart pefers that i actually buy 10 chicks or whatever other food throu a charity that than loads it to a family in need..as it helps more than one family.. i guess i pefer that one better because i KNOW what my money is being spent on.. same with food banks at least i know some family or person is going to get 5 big bags of food..

[Bluezy]

Yesterday, our church began taking donations of food, clothing, non-perishables and such, that was to be driven to the hurricane zone today. Our church did take donations of money for petrol for the truck. It was the best way I knew of to get food and necessities to the victims and not be sold along the way.

I do not trust national agencies. Period!

[Gailete]

>>What tugs at your heart?<<

I too, like to go with what tugs at my heart. We already tithe our income and don't necessarily have cash to donate, but there are some situations that I have to do something.

In this case one of the things that tugs at my heart as a quilter is knowing how many children lost their blankies and other comfort items. I finished a quilt to donate yesterday and started another today. As soon as I can locate a way to send them to the relief efforts, they will be on their way.

The other thing for me as a confirmed reader, is the books that were lost forever in in the flooding, both schools, libraries and individuals book collections. I am trying to raise funds through my Usborne book business so that any profits from books sales this month will be used to purchase books for the children involved in this tragedy. If anyone would like to help out by purchasing some books for themselves or others, here is the website: www.ubah.com/HOS43555

I guess my concentration is so much on the children because of the terrible emotional scars that will be imprimted on them. Anything to give them care and confort and show that others care about them will go a long way towards helping them recover.

[PrincessPerky]

How are you getting the blanket there? IS there a website or something? I don't quilt but I tend to recive lots of blankets when I have babies, and I only need a couple (which I have since I have 2 kids already)

[Gailete]

I live in NW PA which is a long ways from the disaster. I figure soon they will be taking collections of things--currently all charities are only collecting money, but I'm sure that will change. I believe the big city near us is expecting to to receive evacuees through our international refugee center, so if nothing else, I can donate there. I have to do something hands on and I'm sure by the time I've finished a few quilts I'll find a place ready to take supplies. I'll keep you posted. I'm hoping Project Linus will put out a call for blankets (usually they collect them in FEB)--HMM maybe I should check their website to see what they are doing.

It is the same thing with every major disaster. Trying to co-ordinate the goods with the people who need them.

[agold138]

Right now I am giving cash to Operation Blessing; 97 cents of every dollar goes directly into relief and they coordinate their efforts with the Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Which are two other groups that I will be giving to for Katrina Relief. The site for Operation Blessing is: http://www.ob.org/about/index.asp

Our church is also taking donations and collecting goods to be sent down.

Thanks for telling us to designate where we want our donations to go. I didn't realize that about the "general fund" for charity and I would assume it would be best to do that with any charity we are giving to.

I am so thankful to see all of the generosity of the people throughout the country. This is another time which reminds me to put my priorities in order and shut my mouth, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. My prayers for those devastated by Katrina.

[PRICEPLUS]

I gave to the Salvation Army. I am looking to find some money in the budget to send a little something every month. The KAtrina disaster will be on going for many months.

I am also going to donate blood when I get a chance.