Monetary contributions

[Ed62]

Do you support anything with contributions? Do you receive "snail mail spam" asking for your money? I asked our mail delivery person if she would deposit our mail in a garbage can if I put one next to the mail box. She got a laugh out of that.

With all the organizations asking for support, the line has to be drawn somewhere when it comes to helping support them. We support the ASPCA (American Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and our local Humane Society. Occasional contributions are made to some other charities are made as well, but not on an ongiong basis. What about you?

Ed

[Warren]

I only donate monies in cash. I do not want to appear on mailing lists which, I think, are sold or traded with regularity by non-profits.

I support only a very small number of charities and, of course, this forum.

[Tequila]

There's a few local organizations that I support regularly, like our volunteer fire & ambulance services. Also my college alma mater. And a few non-locals that we're interested in or involved with.

But I would never consider sending money to an organization just because they sent me a mailing. We throw out dozens of requests every week.

[gad5264]

As far as monetary donations I give the most to my daughters schools as I am sure alot of you do also. But in lue of always donating money I donate more of my time. I am in a position that my boss allows me to use as much time as I need when I wish to go on field trips and help out with field days also. With my youngest daughter being a diabetic she has to go to the nurses office everyday before lunch to test her glucose and she also goes when she is feeling low to get help. So to give the nurse some help I will volunteer for Kindergarten readiness testing and also when she does site and hearing testing for all of the grades. I often feel that she appreciates that more than money.

[DaveS]

I have a friend that works for a charity - and he told me that the reason they push so hard is that they have a much higher giving rate from those that have already given to an organization, than to those that have not.

So, if you have a set amount of money for "advertising", which group would you mail to first?

He also told me that most organizations have a "don't bug me" list, which will reduce, or eliminate the mailings to you.

We used to get stuff from this one group we support every couple weeks. Since I contacted them and asked them to stop, I maybe get one or two pieces a year now.

[TheRic]

I belong to several Civic organizations that raise money for various charitable organizations (Red Cross, Cancer Society, MD, etc.). I'll spend several hundred hours every year donating my time to help with the various fund raisers. I'll take about 10 vacation days a year to work on the various fundraisers. I say that my hobby is community service. My wife says something else.

[DonHo]

I give to my church and the salvation army every month and I give to the National Right to Life Org every once in a while. I give blood on a regular basis but nothing else, so many charities only manage to get a small percent of what you give to those who need it and the rest goes to staff and collection cost.

DonHo

[maxparot]

Our Limits

• My wife and I support the NRA through our membership. (although it isn't considered a charity and is not tax deductable. We feel it is important)
• We support Purdue University through a monetary donation that is matched by the Mrs' employer. (My wife graduated from there)
• We contribute to Hope House (a halfway house for young boys)
• We donate unneeded items to a local veterans charity.
• And lets not forget the friends that decide to get involved with fund raising for schools or other charity events.

This is where the wall goes up any others asking for charitable contributions get refused flat.

The above mention total well over $1000 a year and we feel that if more is needed then others will have to do their part.

[twistsol]

Both my church and the local school get regular financial and volunteer support from me. There are a couple of national charities that I support financially through direct debit.

I used to work for SAP America (giant German software company) that would pay non-profits and schools when I volunteered my time. I tutor math a couple hours a week and they'd send $40 / hour to the school. I made signs for the local library's free music program and SAP paid them for my time and matched a donation for what I spent on materials. They paid a higher rate for people who provided emergency services, EMT's volunteer fireman etc.

Since I've started my own company, I now do the same. Check with the company you work for and see if they have a similar program and if not, talk to your corporate giving department and try to start one.

__________
An ethical man knows the right thing to do.
A moral man does it.

[dkerfoot]

One of the benefits of tithing to my church is they hardly ever spam me. : )

I get junk mail from my two colleges all the time. Personally, I can not figure out why anyone ever donates to their college. Didn't I pay enough while attending??? But that is just cranky old me...

I have stopped donating to a couple of worthy causes because they insist on calling me, despite my being on the national no-call list and repeatedly requesting that they stop. Whining that they have the legal right to call does little to influence this donor to reach into his wallet again...

I am self-employed and donate much more of my time than I care to even think about. Unfortunately (and contrary to most folk's perceptions) you can't deduct donations of time, even if it is to an official non-profit. Doesn't seem right at first, until you stop to consider if a $300 an hour lawyer mows the lawn at his church - how much should he be allowed to deduct?

Imagine if everyone gave 10% of their gross income to the causes they believe in. It would be a much more efficient use of the money and we'd all have a direct say in where it goes.

It'll never happen, but it is nice to dream. And, in the meantime I'll keep doing my share hoping more folks jump aboard.
(I deliberately self-edited parts of this that bordered on the political - hopefully what I have written doesn't cross the line and that others will show self-restraint as well)

[CManinLa]

I support my 3 children & my samoyed.

These days.....not everyone can say that.

[MilDoc]

Church

Habitat for Humanity (used to help build too but not anymore)

Local No-Kill animal shelter

Coalition for Clean Water

ACLU

Physicians for National Health Insurance

BT3Central .com!!!

[Pappy]

I give to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to the Children's Hospital of Austin (Now the Dell Children's Hopital).

Working for the government, we git hit every year for CFC. No way do I give toa 'charity' organization with a CEO making upper 6 figures, not counting perks.

[MilDoc]

Yeah Pappy. Got asked about CFC today, again. I agree. Never!

[billwmeyer]

We give to the Church, Salvation Army, Schools, Boy Scouts, and others on a local basis. I never really saw a reason to donate to my Alma Mater either, especially since it is a State Institution, and I donate in the form of taxes already. I feel it is a great school, but I think they have other sources of income, and other places are needier.

I sure I will feel dumb after I see the answer, but what is CFC?

Bill