Reputable Charities

[manlymatt83]

As the holiday(s) and New Years approaches, I'd like to make a new resolution to start donating more to charities, both beginning now for the end of the year, and next year. I realize there are a lot of good charities (Child's play being one of them), but I was hoping this thread could almost become an "official list of charities" of sorts for those looking to give.

Can anyone recommend any good charities? For me personally, I'd prefer charities dealing with people and health (perhaps cancer foundations, etc.) because I feel like I can relate to that the best. But charities for underprivileged would also work.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Crono]

Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child
American Red Cross
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

 

[Gooberlx2]

Not a specific link, but local shelters can always use donations.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Not a specific link, but local shelters can always use donations.

This, too. Anywhere you can personally see money and resources being put to help the less fortunate is good. Better Business Bureau also keeps tabs on charities.

 

[JakwoW]

United Way is pretty reputable.

 

[Apex]

This is a great place to look them up:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Nice charts and info. Efficiency info is awesome.

 

[funkymatt]

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Apex
This is a great place to look them up:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Nice charts and info. Efficiency info is awesome.

Nice site

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

Wow, the CEO makes a lot of many. IMO, no one in any charity should make that kind of money. I don't care how "successful" you are for that company, if you are pocketing that much (unless you donate most of your income) you aren't dedicated enough to that cause and shouldn't be working for that organization.

EDIT: Turns out Red Cross, St. Jude, and Samaritan's Purse CEOs make around that amount, too

Wow, nearly every charity I checked out pays their CEOs tons of money. Rewarding good leadership is fine, but 500k is excessive.

 

[torpid]

Use Charity Navigator. It's eye-opening. I'm ok with CEO's making decent money if they are actually accomplishing something and the organization in general has high efficiency.

 

[rudeguy]

www.jdrf.org

 

[JakwoW]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

Wow, the CEO makes a lot of many. IMO, no one in any charity should make that kind of money. I don't care how "successful" you are for that company, if you are pocketing that much (unless you donate most of your income) you aren't dedicated enough to that cause and shouldn't be working for that organization.

EDIT: Turns out Red Cross, St. Jude, and Samaritan's Purse CEOs make around that amount, too

Wow, nearly every charity I checked out pays their CEOs tons of money. Rewarding good leadership is fine, but 500k is excessive.

Yeah, CEO pay for non profits is often pretty good. Doesn't surprise me too much. Wiki article has some interesting info though. I'll have to think about whether I give to them again. Thanks funkymatt.

 

[DomS]

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

I concur.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The "right" charities are going to be different for each person, many people with cancer survivors in the family want to donate to medical research and education, those who are the first in their family to attend college might lean towards literacy or scholarship programs, etc.

I donate to Northwest Harvest, which supplies food banks throughout Washington state. I figure a lot of the food aid goes to retirees and to single moms trying to keep their kids healthy.

I also donate to the Seattle Times Fund, which is a much less corrupt alternative to United Way (the Times pays all the fundraising expenses themselves). It helps fund programs that also help kids and the elderly.

Plus Child's Play of course

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: JakwoW

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

Wow, the CEO makes a lot of many. IMO, no one in any charity should make that kind of money. I don't care how "successful" you are for that company, if you are pocketing that much (unless you donate most of your income) you aren't dedicated enough to that cause and shouldn't be working for that organization.

EDIT: Turns out Red Cross, St. Jude, and Samaritan's Purse CEOs make around that amount, too

Wow, nearly every charity I checked out pays their CEOs tons of money. Rewarding good leadership is fine, but 500k is excessive.

Yeah, CEO pay for non profits is often pretty good. Doesn't surprise me too much. Wiki article has some interesting info though. I'll have to think about whether I give to them again. Thanks funkymatt.

Non-profits are still a business with a business plan and steady revenue streams. It's one of the biggest scams out there. Non-profit that is making too much money often has huge salaries and bonuses to the CEO and/or founders

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: Crono
Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child
American Red Cross
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Please, Please, Please, remove the red cross from your list! They are the most vile, evil,corrupt, so called charities on earth! From my mother in law in war torn Europe, '45, to my volunteering in the wild fire in San Diego '70 I know this to be a FACT. If I gave you the details it would make you sick to your stomach.

 

[Baked]

Donate actual things like food, clothing and toys/electronics/tools etc., not money. I don't trust charities w/ cash money.

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: Baked
Donate actual things like food, clothing and toys/electronics/tools etc., not money. I don't trust charities w/ cash money.

Toys for Tots is a good one if you wanted to donate stuff rather than $, but I'm sure other folks can recommend many equally good ones.

 

[Capt Caveman]

http://www.dana-farber.org/
http://www.unicef.org/
http://www.mspca.org

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Baked
Donate actual things like food, clothing and toys/electronics/tools etc., not money. I don't trust charities w/ cash money.

It depends. A food bank can buy 20-lb bags of beans and white rice by the ton for a lot less than if you buy little bags at the store.

It's true though with Toys for Tots or Child's Play you can buy toys, games or books that go straight to the kids.

 

[robphelan]

St Jude's, with all their good work, is a research hospital with only 62 beds. Yes, you don't have to pay IF you fit their current research criteria.

I'm close to someone at Ark. Children's Hospital and it's a wonderful institution - has 292 beds.

The executives on the Foundation side (fund raising side) do alot of work. Puts in lots of hours and travels extensively trying to raise money for the kids.

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

the shenanigans at UW ended years ago after the fiasco. they really are a great org now.

 

[mjquilly]

I have seen the wastefullness of United Way first hand, but they (and RedCross) are able to raise very large amounts of funds from people who otherwise may not take the time to donate through their advertising.

Having said that, I'd definitly find local charities that have an effect on your community. The big ones are good at finding donors, but you have already decided to donate, so I'd find a local place which will be more efficient.

 

[Elstupido]

The Salvation Army is the only charity I will ever give any money to. They are the real deal.

Fuck the American Red Cross, and less so the United Way.

 

[moshquerade]

American Cancer Society

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: DomS

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: JakwoW
United Way is pretty reputable.

you aren't serious are you?
here's some quick info from wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America

don't donate to united way.

I concur.

Me too!