Best Charity

[jenkinsdakota]

I am thinking of giving 1% of my income to charity. I just don't know which one to give it to. How do I really know which Australian charity is good? In America there is a site called Charity Navigator that evaluates American charities, but what about for Australia?

[Ffrenchstar]

Pray about it;)

[4B2L]

Mmmmm, good uestion, and a hard one. Have a good think about what is important to you, what maybe will have the most impact on you. Disease, abuse, poverty, enviroment?????? Then do some research to find the most efficiently run. Goodluck, glad to hear you are doing something so positive. I give generously to charities, but it is spread over a few different ones.

[Bron]

It's a hard decision. It depends what you want to support. Are you concerned more about local homeless people, people with disabilities, political prisononers, animals or people living in famine and war torn countries overseas? All are perfectly legitimate and worthy, so which issue worries you the most?

Also, which approach do you like the best? Taking people living overseas in war torn countries as your example, do you prefer Oxfam, where the money is given to a community, or World vision where an individual is chosen to benefit?

It is so hard. Do a lot of research and decide what suits you the best?

For mine, I give money to Oxfam and Amnesty International. And I buy the Big Issue. And I put money in various tins rattled at me in town.

[jenkinsdakota]

One per cent may not seem like much for now but I plan to increase it a little over time. I recommend giving a percentage of your income. That way your donations increase as your income increases, so it's like you're putting back to the community when the community puts in for you. Plus it gives you an altruistic incentive to get a promotion.

I'm more worried about really horrendous things like genocide, hunger, and animal cruelty. E.g. I find that seal clubbing in Canada is very scary (see Live from the Ice (http://hsus.typepad.com/seals/) from the Human Society but beware of disturbing images).

But it is difficult. For example, hunger and poverty relief charities like CARE and Oxfam allow people to give cows and other animals as donations, but PETA says that these animals are usually treated badly and that most poor people who receive them don't want them because they are too expensive to keep alive for milk.

But I like Charity Navigator even though it's a US site. Many NGOs are actually international so I hope that if a charity is good in the US it is good all over the world. E.g. World Vision and CARE are 4-star charities.

I don't want to sound mean, but local homeless people I just don't think are that worse off. I've been in the city and I've seen a few of them. They seem like big people who have had good meals compared to the skinny starving child we see on World Vision ads, so I think it's fair to prioritize.

[Frazzled]

I don't want to sound mean, but local homeless people I just don't think are that worse off. I've been in the city and I've seen a few of them. They seem like big people who have had good meals compared to the skinny starving child we see on World Vision ads, so I think it's fair to prioritize.

Actually those who live in poverty in our own country, live in the same conditions as those in 3rd world countries.... Our rate of poverty/homelesness in Australia is extrememly high (one of the worlds highest rates). This is disgusting considering we are one of the worlds wealthiest nations.

If you want to consider helping people 'in your own backyard', then think of our indigenous. The conditions many of these people live in, and life expectancy rates for them, are comparable to those in 3rd world countries....

[jenkinsdakota]

If you want to consider helping people 'in your own backyard', then think of our indigenous. The conditions many of these people live in, and life expectancy rates for them, are comparable to those in 3rd world countries....Yes you're right. I wasn't think about the Aboriginals though. I was thinking about those bums in the city. You know what I'm talking about! Every time I go to the city (this is Melbourne) I always see them begging for money. Most of them seem quite clean and obese.

Based on my research, World Vision gives a percentage of donations to Aboriginals. Oxfam Australia has an Indigenous program. CARE doesn't seem to have anything.

[ThomasMum]

We've been supporting World Vision for years. One of our "children" is going to finish his high school! He's from Thailand, he always sends birthday card to my husband, I like the way he calls my husband "dear Mr Joshua..." instead of "Dear mr surname" so cute...

I would suggest World Vision... the money DOES go to the right place etc

[Frazzled]

Yes you're right. I wasn't think about the Aboriginals though. I was thinking about those bums in the city. You know what I'm talking about! Every time I go to the city (this is Melbourne) I always see them begging for money. Most of them seem quite clean and obese.

Based on my research, World Vision gives a percentage of donations to Aboriginals. Oxfam Australia has an Indigenous program. CARE doesn't seem to have anything.

Sorry, I don't know what you mean and find your comment quite ignorant. I do quite a lot of volunteer work with these so called 'bums' and I find your comments very stereotypical and a rather big generalisation.

[jenkinsdakota]

Sorry, I don't know what you mean and find your comment quite ignorant. I do quite a lot of volunteer work with these so called 'bums' and I find your comments very stereotypical and a rather big generalisation.Okay, I'm sorry. I've been offending a lot of people lately. You should see my Christmas thread.

I just find that with the welfare system in Australia unlike in, say, Sudan, there doesn't seem to be any need for charity here. The aid organization is the government. More than 40% of tax revenue goes to human services in Australia and less than 1% goes to foreign aid.

[FishFace]

I dont agree with your statement at all.

But back to charity..I give to C.A.P.(christians against poverty) and Childcare ( a sponsorship for kids in Uganda)

[Becteria]

I give to my charity of choice through time and money, touched by olivia. TBO is making a happier and healthier life for Australia's children, so I see a direct benefit from the charities work.

[FluffyBunny]

I give to lots of charities like The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Mater Childrens Hospital and World Vision.
We have been sponsoring a child through World Vision for 3 years now and we get to see the impact our donations have on her life. Its great to recieve the many letters from her and know how grateful she is for our sponsorship.

[mum_I'm_hungry]

I think it's nice to find a charity that supports something that is important to you and to give to that in some way. My husband is a doctor, so we give to Medecins Sans Frontieres (sp?!) every month and I've done some work in the past for War Child, which a lot of authors donate their time and work to. Maybe there's some interest of yours in particular that you could tie in?

[Lauz]

I saw someone the other day on tv checking out the work of union aid aborad. They take the approach of not only teaching the people how to "cook" fish, but also how to catch it! A more well rounded philosophy. They seem liek a good charity to look into!

World vision I have had an odd experience with: suddenly the child/community we were sponsoring "left the program" and we were sent a letter of the nature of "this can be your replacement child" - it all seemed a little odd!

Another one: a guy I used to go to camp with has started the Oak Tree Foundation- they have a website- young helping the young.. check it out!

[jaface]

Firstly I would like to say what a lovely thought. I donate $30 each week to charity. $10 to Cancer Foundation, $10 to RSPCA and the other $10 which is my favourite Charity of Choice (As they are struggling the most) is Zoes Place.

Zoes Place is a childrens hospice in Mount Ommaney in Brisbane, which has respite for children, but what really touched my heart was the end of life care they have. The staff are beautiful and they care for these gorgeous children and their families right through to the end of their life and beyond (Counselling to their families).

I have been fortunate to meet some of the children that have passed away (The twins that are displayed on the memory page) and I was told the staff attended both funerals. This is so lovely.

They are really struggling for financial help and I think this is something that anyone of us may need one day.

Again what a lovely thought and good luck in choosing a worthwhile charity as there are so many of them out there. I am about to start investing in property and my husband and I have decided to donate at least 2% of earnings to Zoes Place so hopefully we can make some money on items soon.