Which Charity?
Discussion
Ok, so I've decided it would be worthwhile donating a little cash each month to a charity. I'd like it to be one of the big NGO's so that the money will get distributed on various projects worldwide but I don't know which one to choose from the following:
- British Red Cross
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Oxfam
Are there any specific reasons that you have narrowed the list down to those three?
If the reasons are personal, can you narrow it down any further due to those personal circumstances?
That is what I did for charitable donations, and why my support goes to a particular cancer charity - plus support for any decent cancer charity that has impact that is local to me and my community.
ETA: Out of those three, I would probably choose the Red Cross myself.
I had an ex who worked for Oxfam many years ago, and the amount of money that "disappeared" into the beaurocracy was unforgivable.
If the reasons are personal, can you narrow it down any further due to those personal circumstances?
That is what I did for charitable donations, and why my support goes to a particular cancer charity - plus support for any decent cancer charity that has impact that is local to me and my community.
ETA: Out of those three, I would probably choose the Red Cross myself.
I had an ex who worked for Oxfam many years ago, and the amount of money that "disappeared" into the beaurocracy was unforgivable.
Edited by Meeja on Friday 13th March 23:19
Its because I want to give to someone that helps around the world where needed and that can have the biggest impact on those worse hit by major disasters etc - I guess its partly that countries which don't have established social infrastructures would seem the best to put cash towards.
Think of it as a self satisfying social conscience tax!
(PS: thats not to say I don't believe in UK charities but I would rather give to home based projects as I see fit during the year)
Think of it as a self satisfying social conscience tax!
(PS: thats not to say I don't believe in UK charities but I would rather give to home based projects as I see fit during the year)
I choose by first of all picking a charity which I feel is deserving of my hard-earned and then ask them to show me what percentage of their donations actually get to the recipients and how much is swallowed up by admin and costs. I was amazed how much some charities spend on things like company cars for employees of the charity to drive round in when I would prefer as much as possible to get to the people or animals that need it.
Dear mikeyr
I have a friend whose daughter has just died from SMA (Spinal Muscular Astrophy), currently this countries biggest killer of under 2 year olds (yet not highly recognised by the government statistics, and surprisingly specialists in the NHS etc....) bet yet there it is. No child is expected to live past 4/5 in this country as the best medicenes cost around £2000 per injection, with the need for a monthly booster (USA seem to be doing better - average life expectancy about 7/8).
The Jennifer Trust co-ordinates any funding.
Please consider this charity and support a very worthwhile (non governmental vote winning / after thought cause).
Thanks in advance.
Rupe
I have a friend whose daughter has just died from SMA (Spinal Muscular Astrophy), currently this countries biggest killer of under 2 year olds (yet not highly recognised by the government statistics, and surprisingly specialists in the NHS etc....) bet yet there it is. No child is expected to live past 4/5 in this country as the best medicenes cost around £2000 per injection, with the need for a monthly booster (USA seem to be doing better - average life expectancy about 7/8).
The Jennifer Trust co-ordinates any funding.
Please consider this charity and support a very worthwhile (non governmental vote winning / after thought cause).
Thanks in advance.
Rupe
Understood.
It can be a difficult decision to make - like I said, for me, Oxfam would be ruled out immediately - but the other "big" charities could easily have similar failings.
A friend of mine sponsors several children in Africa (You know, the old £10/month to help educate a child type thing) and he gets huge satisfaction from knowing that he is making a difference.
It can be a difficult decision to make - like I said, for me, Oxfam would be ruled out immediately - but the other "big" charities could easily have similar failings.
A friend of mine sponsors several children in Africa (You know, the old £10/month to help educate a child type thing) and he gets huge satisfaction from knowing that he is making a difference.
Meeja said:
I had an ex who worked for Oxfam many years ago, and the amount of money that "disappeared" into the beaurocracy was unforgivable.
That's my concern as well - I try and give on the ground where possible. Plus, I'm bitter about MSF after one of their shiny new landcruisers nearly ran me down (and covered me in mud) in Cambodia. I get a bit annoyed with the "Charity begins at the local Toyota dealership" mentality myself. Just given these people a donation - http://www.softpowereducation.com/ I did some volunteer work for them when I was in Uganda and they really do use every shilling on schools and education projects. Though the fact that every AIDS orphanage is next to a catholic church is another topic...
Yes its just because its on today, but have you thought about Comic Relief? It undertakes work both abroad and in the UK, and RE Oxfams beaurocracy moneypit, according to Wiki every pound donated is directly spent on a charitable project, all staff and other beaurocracy costs are paid for by corporate sponsors and interest.
VxDuncan said:
I get a bit annoyed with the "Charity begins at the local Toyota dealership" mentality myself.
Indeed. They should buy Land Rover and maintain them - the buggers would last forever! VxDuncan said:
I did some volunteer work for them when I was in Uganda and they really do use every shilling on schools and education projects.
Top work that man.If I was at all charitable I'd rather give to something that funds research into prevention and/or cure than something that props up things which don't work. I don't know the ins and outs of the charities you mention, but Oxfam inparticular seem to specialise in dumping food and clothes on Africa which has the long term effect of perpetuating the problems and holding back the development of local industries, and they go on about debt relief, which has the same effect.
Either that or do something like spending the money on things you enjoy, which ensures people have productive jobs in profitable companies and don't need charity in the first place.
Either that or do something like spending the money on things you enjoy, which ensures people have productive jobs in profitable companies and don't need charity in the first place.
When I was still a student, I worked for a call centre cold calling for charities. It taught me two things. Most people are absolute twunts and very rude when they're talking down to someone 'inferior' on the phone. Ever since I've always been really nice to call centre workers and often say I was in the same job/generally get better service for it.
The other was that charities are a business, they're there to generate money like any other business. However, their money does go to a good cause. A smaller charity will benefit more from a donation than a large charity like Oxfam or Scope. Also many charities will let you specify where your money goes or if you have a particular project that you're interested in you can specify you want the money to go onto that.
The other was that charities are a business, they're there to generate money like any other business. However, their money does go to a good cause. A smaller charity will benefit more from a donation than a large charity like Oxfam or Scope. Also many charities will let you specify where your money goes or if you have a particular project that you're interested in you can specify you want the money to go onto that.
daveenty said:
Everything I do now for charity goes to my local Hospice.
Seen so many people benefit from the work they do.
I would second that. I've worked with hospices for years.Seen so many people benefit from the work they do.
They only get a maximum of 40% of their funds from the NHS the rest is from donations.
Children's hospices get no funding from the NHS at all.
They're hurting badly at the moment.
Personally I give to and raise funds for muscular dystrophy but I am biased.
http://www.actionduchenne.org/r-nav/1.jsp
Probably more poorly funded than half of what you see on tv tonight and your kid could be born with it.
http://www.actionduchenne.org/r-nav/1.jsp
Probably more poorly funded than half of what you see on tv tonight and your kid could be born with it.
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