Do you trust charities to use your donation honestly?

Answer 1

When I was in my teens (this is dating me!!), the whole "Band Aid" thing came out and I remember mustering up every penny I earned from being a hostess at a restaurant to buy all the singles of that record that I could and then gave them as presents. It was the first thing I had every done that was so charitable with my money. I was beyond devastated and crushed when I learned that a lot of the funds were going nowhere NEAR the country they were doing the benefit for: Africa. I was so young and naive and I had a hard time trusting the human spirit after that. I still struggle with that trust today-20 something years later.

I have donated since to churches, red cross, ASPCA, greenpeace and arbor foundation and the ONLY one that I trust is the ASPCA and Greenpeace. Why? because the founder of Greenpeace was a millionaire who had inherited a ton of money from his family and decided to start the charity. They are one of the few that have nothing to gain from the donations because the founder is as loaded as he needs to be.

The Red Cross has disgusted me in the way they handled Katrina, not only from turning me away several times when I offered to fly myself to New Orleans to help out to the mismanagement and extreme lack of organization with the victims. Let;s not even go to the churches where priests are molesting kids and being kept safe from the law. They don't deserve a single penny in my opinion.

So the answer is I barely, by the skin of my teeth, trust just a tiny few to do the job with my donations. As soon as I win the lotto, I will start my own charity just to make sure every penny is adequatly spoken for.

:)

Answer 2

Charities have a terrible reputation for corruption and graft and waste. I think they are more in the business of providing themselves with a cush living than in doing any real charitable work. I stopped giving to United Way when I found out management was providing for themselves first and foremost. That taught me my lesson.

Even though I have this cynical attitude, and well deserved, I find that I can not avoid providing funds in time of great need even though I know that 70% will probably not make it to the intended recipients. Oh well, charities have a much better record than governments. With charities at least 30% might wind up where it was intended. With governments, I think about 95% is diverted.

Answer 3

I would sure hope so. If they rely on the generosity of others to function, they better be using the funds as they say they are. I personally do not donate to charities that I am not familiar with their work for that reason. If I am familiar with the charity and see some of the things they provide, then I feel comfortable donating my money to them.

Answer 4

No, not really, but I do not think they are all dishonest either. I do prefer to put it in the hands of the needy myself and keep it local. I try to avoid the institutional charities because of the huge overhead and administrative costs that are paid from donations.

Answer 5

I choose small local charities, like a no kill shelter or an organization the services the local down and out.

Answer 6

No , and if i did before , the whole "Katrina" thing ruined it all for me. If i WERE a millionaire and i wanted to contribute something (and i would), the only way now is when the money leaves my hand, it goes directly to the needy parties , no middleman organization.

Answer 7

no. not necessarily.

especially those that hire telemarketing firms to solicit funds.. I've worked with a lot of "non-profits" and a lot of them have some very well paid executives.. you really need to do your homework beofre giving these folks your money sometimes