Charities

Do you donate to any charities? And if so, which ones and why? For example, I donated to Water Aid and RSPCA, Water Aid because when you think about it then it really isn't much to give in order for a child to recieve water he may desperatly need, and RSPCA because I just love animals and to see them hurt just really depresses me.
So what about you?

Just a heads up - a lot of Members won't know what the RSPCA is, as they are not UK based.

I do volunteer work from time to time (HFH, DoW) but I'm not a big believer in the whole "money is all those things people need" philosophy that's been spread in charity circles in recent years. The problem with money is that it's really easy to obfuscate the cashflow and siphon part of it off to less than charitable endeavors (I'll not name specific charities but if you look back at past charities that have been busted for this, many of which still exist to this day after being caught red-handed you'll likely be shocked at just how prevalent mismanagement has been in the past for "charities").

All that said, I do give to St. Jude monthly, and want to empathize that I am not anti-charity, I'm just cautious with anyone championing a cause by trying to get their fingers in my wallet. Some of the most popular international charities only ever see 20-30% of their donations actually making it to the causes they champion statistically. The way I see it if you really feel strongly about an issue you should start by trying to make a difference in your own community and work outwards from there rather than seek out international nonprofits to offer up money to in most cases anyway. Granted this doesn't work for everything, and there are valid reasons why certain causes would need donated money to operate effectively, I just think people should pay attention to where their money is going and what it is actually working towards.

I'm a member one of those groups who teaches about Christianism but the dogma parts.
I think it's better for me to save some time to this instead of donating. At 1st i couldn't donate even a penny and all i could do was to get into as a volunteer and now that i can donate i still be a volunteer

I donate to a lot of charities - too many to try and list, but can only afford small amounts. Every few months they all do the ring-around - I think I'm on their speed dial! I have the same concerns as above though, with the charities that ring for donations - I suspect the majority of funds given goes towards admin and paying a select few who don't do it voluntarily, and very little actually makes it to the charity.

Wish I could give more. But if I could, I'd find some other means of handing the money over, to make sure 100% of it goes to the cause.

I run a snack/drink bar at work where I buy items when they're on sale, then sell them to my workmates at full price, and the money made goes to a local animal rescue group. It's an opportunity that fell into my lap, to give financial support to a cause I value, when I'm not in a position to give it personally. Everybody wins, and all I have to give is some time and a bit of heavy lifting.

I donate blood to the Central Blood Bank and once a month I make donation to charity for orphans in Ukraine. This Christian community helps orphanages to meet basic needs for survival. Any help, they greatly appreciate, now it's part of our family budget. I think they do a great job.