Can we ensure accountability by charity organizations or do we just contribute?

1. 60

   telltaleposted 13 years ago

   Can we ensure accountability by charity organizations or do we just contribute?
   
   Every now and then, we get to see new charities being set up - some tax deductible while others are not.  Many people make contributions to charitable organizations (including me, sometimes) but how many of us actually ask where the funds go to?  If you contribute to charities, are you concerned how the funds are being disbursed?

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2. 65

   Honorablewomanposted 13 years ago

   You can do some research to see what percentage of a non-profit organization goes to overhead and salaries. However, With any giving you have to give in good faith that what you have given goes directly to helo others. I say give from the Heart and Trust God. No matter what someone else does with your giving, The Lord still smiles on your unselfish act.

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3. 74

   cathylynn99posted 12 years ago

   there are organizations like charity navigator which rate charities on how much of their intake goes to the cause.

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4. 87

   Mandrake_1975posted 12 years ago

   I don't donate to any charities unless I have first done the following:
   
   1)  Looked online for complaints about the charity and checked their status with various charity watch groups.
   2)  Checked to see if the charity has been in business for more than 3 years.
   3)  Verified exactly where and to who their funds go and for what.
   
   I began doing this several years ago when I realized that the United Way (a group that most businesses tend to support and ask their employees to) provides funding for organizations that are considered by many fathers' rights groups to be anti-male and anti-family (at least in my state).
   
   Just because an organization that the United Way helps provide funding for sounds good does not mean that it promotes interests that benefit you and the community.
   
   We should not only check out charities, but we should also check out each organization that a charity provides funding to.  Some organizations that you are inadvertantly supporting may just be lobbying government to pass legislation that actually hurts you financially or which goes against your moral values.

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5. 60

   Kaddamposted 12 years ago

   Research is the best answer, but if you don't have the tools or money to do research then you're best bet is the resources of the watchdogs for charity or the local charities that you participate in.

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