Monday, November 06, 2006
It's that time of year again, boys and girls. If your town is anything like mine, the Christmas season started before Halloween this year (my local Walgreens started putting up Christmas trees Oct. 1). While your local news will probably do stories about being safe in mall parking lots and how Wal-Mart is dropping its prices on HUNDREDS of items, the story I want to talk about is charitable giving.
First, DO IT. If you are fortunate enough to be reading this blog (Ha. HAHA.) you probably have enough money to own a computer. Which means you probably have enough money to pay your electric bill to power your computer. Which means you probably have enough money to pay for a roof over your head. Which means you are more fortunate than a lot of people in this country, for whatever reason.
Second, DON'T DO IT. Unless you truly know to whom you are giving your hard earned dollars that you could otherwise be spending on upgrading your video card.
I give about 10% of my annual income to charity. I don't tithe to a religion so this equals me out is my thinking. I have a few hard and fast rules for my giving choices. I only give to charities that I have researched and personally care about. I never, never, never, did I say NEVER, give money to organizations that call me on the phone, knock on my door, or stand on street corners with buckets and pictures of starving children. Nor do I just hang up on these people or close the door in their faces. I ask three specific questions, and it always makes the solicitors go away.
I've worked in the non-profit world for about ten years. These are three questions that any reputable non-profit solicitor should be able to answer without hesitation. Here in Houston we have an organization that has a name that makes it sound like it helps support the families of fallen or wounded peace officers. They pay a for-profit call center to make cold call solicitations over the phone. Every time they call I ask these three questions. Sometimes the caller will know that the organization is a 501(c)3 - which it is. None of them know their administrative percentage, and I've had them actually hang up on me when I ask for an annual report. I happen to know that this particular organization gives only 10% of each dollar to support the families of these officers. They don't get a freaking penny from me. On the other hand, there is another local organization that actually DOES support these families as well as supports purchasing life protecting equipment and offering educational opportunities for officers. If you wish to give to a charity that supports peace officers, please contact your local police department and ask them what charity actually supports them. In Houston, I recommend The 100 Club. But be aware that even if you have 8 of those annual stickers on your car window, you're still going to get a ticket for running a red light.
My local BBB recommends that the administrative percentage be no more than 35%. I think that number should be closer to 15-20%. For example, my local United Way keeps that number right around 12%. Isn't that awesome? But be aware - all United Ways are local. Every United Way does business differently and your local UW may or may not be well operated. Please investigate before you write that check (and before you condemn all UW's for the story you hear about one where the president stole money to pay for a horse farm). I know that the local UW is very well run and totally financially transparent. The BBB is a great way to investigate any charity you are interested in supporting. Another great resource is Charity Navigator.
Some local charities that I personally believe in include:
First, DO IT. If you are fortunate enough to be reading this blog (Ha. HAHA.) you probably have enough money to own a computer. Which means you probably have enough money to pay your electric bill to power your computer. Which means you probably have enough money to pay for a roof over your head. Which means you are more fortunate than a lot of people in this country, for whatever reason.
Second, DON'T DO IT. Unless you truly know to whom you are giving your hard earned dollars that you could otherwise be spending on upgrading your video card.
I give about 10% of my annual income to charity. I don't tithe to a religion so this equals me out is my thinking. I have a few hard and fast rules for my giving choices. I only give to charities that I have researched and personally care about. I never, never, never, did I say NEVER, give money to organizations that call me on the phone, knock on my door, or stand on street corners with buckets and pictures of starving children. Nor do I just hang up on these people or close the door in their faces. I ask three specific questions, and it always makes the solicitors go away.
1. Are you a 501(c)3 organization? The solicitors almost never know the answer to this one.
2. What percent of each dollar your organization raises goes to administrative costs? I have NEVER had a solicitor be able to answer this question.
3. Will you send me your most current annual report? I have NEVER had one of these show up in my mail box.
I've worked in the non-profit world for about ten years. These are three questions that any reputable non-profit solicitor should be able to answer without hesitation. Here in Houston we have an organization that has a name that makes it sound like it helps support the families of fallen or wounded peace officers. They pay a for-profit call center to make cold call solicitations over the phone. Every time they call I ask these three questions. Sometimes the caller will know that the organization is a 501(c)3 - which it is. None of them know their administrative percentage, and I've had them actually hang up on me when I ask for an annual report. I happen to know that this particular organization gives only 10% of each dollar to support the families of these officers. They don't get a freaking penny from me. On the other hand, there is another local organization that actually DOES support these families as well as supports purchasing life protecting equipment and offering educational opportunities for officers. If you wish to give to a charity that supports peace officers, please contact your local police department and ask them what charity actually supports them. In Houston, I recommend The 100 Club. But be aware that even if you have 8 of those annual stickers on your car window, you're still going to get a ticket for running a red light.
My local BBB recommends that the administrative percentage be no more than 35%. I think that number should be closer to 15-20%. For example, my local United Way keeps that number right around 12%. Isn't that awesome? But be aware - all United Ways are local. Every United Way does business differently and your local UW may or may not be well operated. Please investigate before you write that check (and before you condemn all UW's for the story you hear about one where the president stole money to pay for a horse farm). I know that the local UW is very well run and totally financially transparent. The BBB is a great way to investigate any charity you are interested in supporting. Another great resource is Charity Navigator.
Some local charities that I personally believe in include:
Houston Area Women's Center Their mission is to provide shelter and support services to victims of domestic or sexual violence. I hope to never need them but am greatful that they're there.
Target Hunger They distribute 2 million pounds of food annually to more than 91,000 people. Again, hope to never need them but they do great work.
DePelchin Children's Center They offer adoption, foster care, counseling, and residential services for children and adolescents. Will never need them but have done some volunteer work there and you just fall in love with the kids - you can't help it.
Child Advocates They train volunteers and administer a program that assigns volunteers to children who are victims of abuse who get lost in the legal system. Have thought about volunteering with them but know I would end up emotionally crippled.
Montrose Counseling Center They provide outpatient mental health, chemical dependency, and case management services, education and research primarily for the GLBT population, people living with HIV, and their significant others. Got my first HIV test there twenty years ago. The only place I know of in Houston that offers anonymous HIV testing - and believe me there is a big difference between anonymous and confidential when you're talking HIV.
Lone Star Legal Aid They provide civil legal services for low income people including fair housing and family law services. When I was a child, my mother had it very tough after my parent's divorce. These folks helped her.
Crisis Intervention of Houston They service people in crisis by providing 24-hour telephone and web-based counseling, suicide prevention, intervention education, links to community resources, and community education. I have a friend who volunteered here for many years. They literally save lives one person at a time.
Texas Center for the Missing They provide support for families and volunteers searching for missing children, and they provide Child ID kits to help law enforcement if a child does go missing. They coordinate the various agencies that mobilize to search for these children, and they administer the local Amber Alert program. My friend Mel would kill me if I didn't include them on my list.
Locks of Love They provide hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss. This is a very cool organization because they don't just want your money or your time - they want your HAIR, which costs you nothing.
Citizens for Animal Protection They not only offer shelter, rescue, and placement for homeless animals, they also provide low cost spay and neutering services. We had our sheltie fixed there and it was a great experience - these people truly love what they do.
Labels: opinion
# posted by Carol : 11:31 AM
