Do You Give to Charity?

[clovenhooves]

Read this.
Above the law: America's worst charities - CNN.com

Look at the categories that are common among the bad charities.

[KahanaReef]

Maybe the IRS should lighten up on The Tea Party and take a closer look at the real criminals...

[Badass WS6]

Depends on how good the lap dance is and if I get a "happy ending".

[clovenhooves]

Yeah, true, the Federal government needs to do its job better. Meanwhile, I'll continue to avoid charities that try to emotionally manipulate me into supporting lame causes.

[Redrokit8]

The only charities I give to are the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars. I guess you know by now that I'm a Veteran ! However, these charitable organizations have no big executives who get a piece of the pie. It's all volunteer, no fancy offices, no lap dance secretary's (unfortunately), you get the picture. You've got to be VERY careful, especially with phone solicitors claiming to represent various Police Officer Benefits. I agree that the government should do a better policing of this but we all should never entertain any donations that we haven't thoroughly checked out. There's no excuse for ignorance.
Slow down and do some web searches and ask for address and phone info. A lot of these solicitors phones are only one way in and a return call from you won't work. You'll be told it's a non-working number. Just do your home work up front and don't trust any lists unless they are very current.

[0rion]

I never give money to charities...but I donate other things when I can. Last year alone we gave several hundred dollars worth of baby girl clothes, car seats, and what not to a local church that operates a free store.

[5.0THIS]

I give to the bell ringers around the holidays. I donate old clothes when possible. And occasionally I'll buy a few raffle tickets to win something if the cause is good.


And I go to the casino and play poker every once in awhile. Definitely a shitty charity

[5.0THIS]

Depends on how good the lap dance is and if I get a "happy ending".

Ahh yes, the "single moms working their way through college" charity, or in 0rions case, the "single dads working their way through college" charity.

[0rion]

Ahh yes, the "single moms working their way through college" charity, or in 0rions case, the "single dads working their way through college" charity.

I've yet to see a dime......

[KahanaReef]

The only charities I give to are the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Same here Have for many years. Solid charitable organizations.

[CJREX]

Yes I give to charity, though none of those listed.

I get a quarterly statement detailing where the money goes.

I've yet to see a dime......

Maybe try some different dance moves?

[clovenhooves]

When charities have a display at a retail store, they seem more trustworthy than phone solicitors (to whom I've never given anything). From the investigation, the in-store stuff sometimes shouldn't be trusted.

[SiggyZ]

I only give 'items' to places like The Salvation Army, Goodwill and Habitat. I don't give money to charities, because I never know exactly where my money's going and to who. That list above is both upsetting and not surprising to see.

[redls1]

I get calls on a regular basis late at night.

Hope House 8:37 pm on the dot most nights. They say its computer generating and don't know where they are calling. I tried complaining and does no good. Had someone call my house at 9:00pm the other night asking for me to take a survey. I usually give to Goodwill or Habitat also.

[67CamaroRSSS]

DAV and a couple of Breast Cancer charities for me. I always ask what percentage goes to the charity and what gets pocketed (so to speak). If most of it goes in the pocket to pay for expenses I then proceed to debate/argue with them as to why and then don't give them my $$$ and it keeps them tied up so they don't rip off some other helpless fools.

[wileyCoyote]

i generally only give to charities for wounded/disabled veterans...

[SouthernBornThriller]

i generally only give to charities for wounded/disabled veterans...

Be careful with those as well. A friend of mine who lost his legs during our deployment last year informed me recently that only about 10 cents per dollar goes to veteran's benefits/programs from the Wounded Warrior Foundation. They're the biggest name, but have done the least to help him or the others he's recovering with, but they by far take in the most money in donations.