To whom should I give my money?

[sunshine 2]

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United Way is a rip off. Why not just give directly to the organizations that they dole their funds out to without them as middle man taking some of the money for their own outrageously high administrative expenses.

That is so true. I'm glad to see someone else knows the truth about the United Way.

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meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[jtval 0]

must be a bitch to get life insurance

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[bbarnhouse 0]

The Cousteau Society, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Red Cross, Susan B Kohmen Foundation, MS Society, Disabled American Vets, The American Heart Association.

Sheesh its no wonder I live in the desert in a trailer!

[BikerBabe 0]

Our CFC $$$ mostly go local, but one that's really good is Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Mentoring of at risk kids. We actually do it, and it is a blast...and they always need help, not just $$ but volunteers.

I also give to the Red Cross and Earth Share.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[skygod7777 0]

the kelly keeney skydiving charity/fund

[jceman 1]

The SPEBSQSA.

Yes, they are on the list.

Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money.

Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them?

[Vallerina 2]

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United Way is a rip off. Why not just give directly to the organizations that they dole their funds out to without them as middle man taking some of the money for their own outrageously high administrative expenses.

Why not? How is a woman's shelter in Frankfort, IN going to get enough money to support itself with the needed facilities, food, doctor's care, etc without the United Way? You really think that tons of people out there are willing to donate their money directly towards it? United Way is awesome for setting up programs and making them readily available for anyone to use.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[moodyskydiver 0]

How about the Moody Student Society? Its goals are to support poor female college student desperately trying to support her skydiving habit in hopes of exciting opportunities for her future. This cause has recently added "medical costs" (such as knee specialists)

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[homer 0]

I lost my left testicle to cancer you can buy me a new prosthetic

CSA #699 Muff #3804

[arlo 0]

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Anyone want to make a pitch for their favorite charity?

I don't have a "favorite" per se, but why not something to take care of fundamental needs like food or shelter? Meals on Wheels is a good one, your local food bank or homeless shelter, or maybe habitat for humanity (time or money). Or for the non-perishable charity, how about Big Brothers/Big Sisters? Kids need someone they can count on or look up to. Okay, so maybe that's not the best thing with some folks.

good on ya for donating...
arlo

[rmsmith 1]

I donate $250.00 each year to my alma mater, Cal Poly, SLO, as well as $40.00 for annual dues to the school's civil engineering club; tax deductible too!

[wmw999 2,150]

They all have costs. The United Way adds to those some, but they do allocate the money among largely worthy charities in a reasonably fair way. That's who my work donations go to. Yes, there's more overhead. But they're on the list, and they DO give money to organizations according to need. If the cat shelter gets a $1,000,000 donation from some cat-lover this year, then everyone else gets more of the United Way's money.
I donate a lot for my dad (old people get a boatload of requests for donation). One that's kind of interesting is Techno-Serve -- they provide technical education and setup for self-support efforts in developing countries.
Local shelters are always good, too. There are many people who need them, and it's often a way to give something real to the mentally ill.
Any decent charity will be able to give you their overhead cost. Less than 10% is decent for anything big enough to coordinate with work.
Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)