What charities do you support or recommend supporting?

8/15/2010 3:27:27 PM

http://www.greenpeace.org/

[Edited on August 15, 2010 at 4:00 PM. Reason : ]

8/15/2010 3:31:57 PM

http://www.jdrf.org/

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

8/15/2010 3:35:33 PM

http://www.growfood.org/

8/15/2010 3:42:07 PM

http://www.interactofwake.org

http://www.foodshuttle.org

8/15/2010 4:07:52 PM

Please support the Immune Deficiency Foundation. They are dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of persons with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases through advocacy, education, and research.

Thanks to the hard work of the foundation SCIDS screening has recently been added to the national newborn screening standards. SCID, a primary immunodeficiency disease, is commonly known as bubble boy disease. Affected infants lack T lymphocytes; the white blood cells that help resist infections due to a wide array of viruses, bacteria and fungi. Babies with SCID appear healthy at birth, but without early treatment...these infants cannot survive.

SCIDS Newborn Screening would have saved my son and our family weeks of struggle while searching for answers. I am grateful for everything that the IDF does for children and families like mine.

http://www.primaryimmune.org/idf.asp

8/15/2010 4:14:58 PM

http://jphro.org/

8/15/2010 4:42:46 PM

ACLU Legal Defense Fund

8/15/2010 5:23:01 PM

Personally, I don't donate to charity on the grounds that I already give plenty of compulsory support to government entitlement programs.

[Edited on August 15, 2010 at 6:17 PM. Reason : to include progressive income tax, personal and corporate "bailouts", Social Security, etc...]

8/15/2010 6:09:24 PM

^

8/15/2010 6:11:28 PM

^^I view charitable donations as a means of counteracting that.

You don't get a say in which hoochiemama gets some of your support, when that support is doled out by the government.

By vetting the charities to which you donate, you do get a little bit more say in the matter.

8/15/2010 6:35:39 PM

I give my old stuff to goodwill, do 5k/10k/half-marathons that benefit cancer, and shit like that but as far as actually giving money, my views are on par with TheDuke.

[Edited on August 15, 2010 at 10:28 PM. Reason : your mom is farty and smelly]

8/15/2010 10:27:40 PM

I give money to Doctors Without Borders and Heifer International when I can.

8/15/2010 10:33:02 PM

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

http://www.aspca.org/
ASPCA (damn those commercials)

http://www.chsnc.org/home.html
Children's Home Society of NC

http://www.unicef.org/
UNICEF

and i give my blood to the red cross but i can't give again until Feb 2011 :/

i don't really understand the rationale behind not giving to charity. *shrug* that is just me and i'm not trying to start that argument.

places like the LLS don't receive any federal funding, though. and giving tax dollars to broken government run programs just doesn't cut it for me.

[Edited on August 15, 2010 at 10:43 PM. Reason : .]

8/15/2010 10:42:18 PM

When I get food cheap I give the extra to my student/unemployed/underemployed friends.

If I had extra cash: http://www.ilads.org/

8/15/2010 11:36:20 PM

Quote :

"You don't get a say in which hoochiemama gets some of your support, when that support is doled out by the government."

The programs we commonly and collectively refer to as "welfare" are not much more than a drop in the bucket. Abuse of them is fucked up and pisses me off, but there are other entitlement programs that are worse.

(really, it's wealth redistribution in general that I cannot stand).

Quote :

"places like the LLS don't receive any federal funding, though. and giving tax dollars to broken government run programs just doesn't cut it for me."

Absolutely true, but the dollars that I would be willing to give to them are taken from me by the government. In other words, it's Uncle Sam's fault that good organizations go without, not mine. It's a zero-sum game...I'm only going to cough up so much.

[Edited on August 16, 2010 at 12:41 AM. Reason : though if you guys want to give to charity, more power to you.]

8/16/2010 12:41:21 AM

Maybe these aren't charities, but non-profits that do valuable work imo:

1) Planned Parenthood (hellz yeah)

2) the one I sit on the board for: Durham Bike Co-op

3) Independent Animal Rescue

4) Genesis House

8/16/2010 7:34:41 AM

PETA
NAACP
etc

8/16/2010 8:12:55 PM

http://www.twocentsofhope.com/

Quote :

" What is "Two Cents of Hope"? "Two Cents of hope" is a registered non profit organization aimed at promoting education for the underprivileged. Started by a group of students at NC State University, it has spread its wings across 3 continents establishing outlets for people to contribute to this cause. We help uplift the weaker sections of the society through the panacea, education. Our vision is to render education to be universally accessible to the youth of India and to create opportunities for them to realize their potential. "

8/16/2010 8:22:33 PM

Thought this was worth a bump to keep the various charity option awareness alive:

To quote the thread's creator's profile:

Quote :

"Homepage : blog.playpumps.org/how-the-playpump-system- Biography : Donate to that charity, please <3"

That link takes you here:
http://www.waterforpeople.org/

Quote :

"About Us Water For People helps people in developing countries improve quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs. Around the world, 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion are without adequate sanitation facilities. Every day, nearly 6,000 people who share our planet die from water-related illnesses, and the vast majority are children. But the real failures are all the broken pumps, filled latrines, and solutions that aren’t. We want to change all that. The solution? Programs that last and examine entire districts and regions rather than purely households and villages. Create solutions that last, and not only do people benefit for a long period, but organizations don’t have to expend time and energy going back again and again to the same location. Our vision is a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. That vision is within reach and we hope you’ll join us."

In particular they have a challenge going on right now, if they raise 500 k from people, then the Rosenthal philanthropists pitch in another 500 k, to bring it up to 1 mil for the Rosenthal Million Dollar Challenge.

Quote :

"Donate online today! All donations received through October 31, 2010, will qualify, so please pass this challenge on to your friends and family."

Quote :

"Progress: 98% Raised: $ 490444 Goal: $ 500000 "

They're $9556 shy of their goal atm.

-

To answer the threads original question, local animal welfare/wildlife protection agencies is where my most recent donation went. Due to lack of funds one of the big regional ones had to shut down a lot of their operations, so I wanted to support a smaller local one that was picking up some of that burden. Being a pet owner & having worked at vet clinics off & on, I am fond of animals, and think charity in that direction makes sense since they can't speak out for themselves. I've organized a few pet food drives for the county animal shelter. Taking in toys, blankets, cages and other materials too. Anyway people can donate & help out can make a difference. With economically difficult times shelters face the challenge of both potentially less financial support, and more service demands in terms of people not adopting pets or people turning away pets they can no longer afford that end up at the shelter.

The Triangle Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic in particular has a wishlist of items you can donate, if you want to support them, but can't do so directly financially:
http://www.trianglewildlife.org/wishlist

The Goathouse Refuge, also takes both items & donations for their no kill shelter in Pittsboro, NC:
http://www.goathouserefuge.org/daily-needs/

10/29/2010 2:13:51 PM

Another charity that the OP has advocated for (pulling from a 2008 pm):

Quote :

"Subject : All about the boobies ... June 14th, I'm walking in the Komen Race for the Cure. "

http://ww5.komen.org/

10/29/2010 3:19:20 PM

^^^^ I hope you realize when you are supporting PETA you are providing funding to the largest domestic terrorism organization. They are the main financial support for the ALF. The people that set labs on fire.

10/30/2010 2:56:15 AM

My post was sarcasm... I posted organizations which are basically hated by a lot of people

But here is one that I donated to recently:

http://www.dec.org.uk

(don't tell me any money sent to them will also support terrorism!)

P.S. It is an umbrella organization made up of:

Quote :

"ActionAid Age UK British Red Cross CAFOD Care International UK Christian Aid Concern Worldwide Islamic Relief Merlin Oxfam Save the Children Tearfund World Vision"

[Edited on October 30, 2010 at 3:11 AM. Reason : ]

10/30/2010 3:06:33 AM

Quote :

"Absolutely true, but the dollars that I would be willing to give to them are taken from me by the government. In other words, it's Uncle Sam's fault that good organizations go without, not mine. It's a zero-sum game...I'm only going to cough up so much."

Hmmm...

I'm wondering if you've considered taking about the 25% or so that our government spends on welfare and then donating the 25% of whatever the government takes from you (say they take 20,000 from you, you donate 20% of what they take from you, out of your own paycheck) to charity. Then, you can write off whatever you donate to charity off on your taxes. Hell. it may even knock you down to a lower tax bracket.

10/30/2010 3:23:50 AM

Quote :

"I posted organizations which are basically hated by a lot of people But here is one that I donated to recently: ... umbrella"

10/30/2010 3:28:26 AM

You would be shocked how many people are still clueless that PETA= terrorism.

10/30/2010 9:20:09 AM

http://www.stophungernow.org

10/30/2010 11:51:30 AM

It is government's job to do charity. You as an individual can work hard, earn more, pay more taxes, be an entrepreneur, create jobs, etc.

10/30/2010 12:22:08 PM

Quote :

"Absolutely true, but the dollars that I would be willing to give to them are taken from me by the government. In other words, it's Uncle Sam's fault that good organizations go without, not mine. It's a zero-sum game...I'm only going to cough up so much. "

Most charitable donations are tax-deductible to avoid this mentality. You can give to whoever you want (up to the tax deductible limit...) so that taxes don't deter you from charity.

Sounds like you're using right-wing propaganda as an excuse to be stingy.

I don't give to charities because i'm a lazy, selfish asshole who'd rather have a new iPod (that's pretty awesome, to my credit) than to help other people.

10/31/2010 1:04:16 AM

i didn't see any threads about movember so i'll post the link here...raises awareness for men's health issues (in particular, prostate cancer). MEN...you should do it!

http://us.movember.com/about/

^ and yes. people who understand taxes FTW

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 1:49 PM. Reason : .]

11/8/2010 1:48:23 PM

Quote :

"Most charitable donations are tax-deductible to avoid this mentality. You can give to whoever you want (up to the tax deductible limit...) so that taxes don't deter you from charity. "

geez moron, you really missed their point. If you make 1k a week and the govt takes 300 of it, they are suggesting that they would give more if they got to keep that 300 they earned. ( I dont agree with that statement, but I believe that is what they are suggesting). But you seem to say, taxes dont matter because bc you can deduct it. Well using this example, if I then give 100 out of the 700 I have left, (at the 30% tax rate), then I just saved 30 bucks in taxes. Far less than the 300.

Quote :

"Personally, I don't donate to charity on the grounds that I already give plenty of compulsory support to government entitlement programs. "

Joe I personally think everyone should take home what they earn and do whatever they want with it, but I just hate that type of thinking you mentioned. To each their own, I suppose.


I donate to local SPCA shelters, and national Humane groups. (though Im second guessing supporting the national groups)
USO
Leukemia society (wife does that one)
St. Judes
Lions Club

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 2:04 PM. Reason : .]

11/8/2010 2:02:56 PM

http://www.unchaindogs.net/

The Coalition to Unchain Dogs is a good group too. They take donations, but they can make use of volunteer hours making fences too (this has info for the Raleigh volunteer coordinator):

http://www.unchaindogs.net/chapter_raleigh.shtml

11/8/2010 9:38:41 PM

http://www.waterforpeople.org/extras/rosenthal/rosenthal-million-dollar-web.html

Just thought I'd point out that the Water for People charity, that was aiming for 500k to get the matching 500k donation to bring them up to 1 mil, ended up getting about 823k well exceeding their initial goal.

And for good measure, here is one of their success stories too:

Quote :

"Success Breeds Success in Galufu, Malawi In the small village of Galufu, Malawi, residents still recall the frequent outbreaks of cholera, especially during the rainy season, when they had to collect water from a polluted stream. One year they lost an entire family to the disease. This kind of illness is now only a memory. Water For People began working in Galufu in the year 2000. Collaborating with Malawi Freshwater Project, a local NGO, Water For People worked with the community of 1,700, including Chief Lydia Biston and her family, to develop safe water and improved sanitation solutions. And the improvements continue. Since Water For People’s initial intervention with Galufu village, Chief Lydia has helped her people move themselves further away from poverty. "

11/17/2010 12:28:52 AM

MDA/Jerry's Kids

11/17/2010 1:48:59 AM

http://www.specialops.org/

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation strives to relieve Special Operations personnel of the one concern -- their families -- that might distract them from peak performance when they need to be - and when America needs them to be - at their very best.

Today, more than 800 such deserving children exist from Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Their children should not be denied the education their fallen parent would surely have wanted for them. With more than 100 children eligible each year for college in the upcoming years, the Foundation's financial need, determined by a professional actuarial corporation, is $76 million.

Because of the high tempo and active involvement of special operations personnel, the number of wounded warriors has increased significantly since Sept.11th, 2001. Although there are numerous charities and other organizations who assist military personnel who are wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, SOWF has learned that one of the most important issues the families face is getting to the hospital without delay. SOWF fulfills this need by providing $2,000 immediately so family members can travel to be bedside at the hospital during the crucial first days.

11/17/2010 8:56:50 AM

http://www.childsplaycharity.org/

http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/ (which at the moment is going directly to Doctors without Borders)

[Edited on November 17, 2010 at 11:34 AM. Reason : .]

11/17/2010 11:33:43 AM