Where do you donate? (x-post from my BMB)

legalbeagle1

I just did our taxes yesterday and was embarassed to realize we don't give enough to charity.  My DH is clueless (heartless?) about this sort of thing so I am going to research a bunch of organizations and make suggestions to him for this year.  Right now we give to Save the Children and a local domestic violence organization.  Am thinking about UNICEF as well.  Are there organizations you guys have given to that you think do a great job with their respective missions?

JackoftheBox

We do relay for life, special Olympics, and march of dimes. 

Helenahhandbasket

Nothing formal, but I do buy a bunch of $10.00 dunkin donuts gift cards and hand them out to homeless people at the train station and some of the ones I pass everyday on my way to work. 

I should probably maybe just make a donation to a homeless shelter, though. 

legalbeagle1

Oops and btw this wasn't supposed to make anyone feel bad for NOT donating.  More just that I realized we should be doing better than we are.

Helenahhandbasket

legalbeagle1 said:

Oops and btw this wasn't supposed to make anyone feel bad for NOT donating.  More just that I realized we should be doing better than we are.

Oh no-- I don't feel bad at all.  I like handing out the GCs because the people I give them to are really thankful, and that makes me feel good-- so it's like insant gratification for both of us.

I should think about a formal dontation though, because homelessness is one of those things that gets to me.

 

Chapter79

We give to two   My H has it set up through work, and they automatically take the percentage we've told them to take every 2 weeks when he's paid. Works like a charm!

We give to the national breast cancer foundation.  My BFF had breast cancer 2 years ago, my aunt last year, a cousin 5 years ago.  And various others, way too many I know.

And we also give to the asthma and allergy foundation.

Helenahhandbasket

YellowWallpaper12 said:

Helenahhandbasket said:

Nothing formal, but I do buy a bunch of $10.00 dunkin donuts gift cards and hand them out to homeless people at the train station and some of the ones I pass everyday on my way to work. 

I should probably maybe just make a donation to a homeless shelter, though. 

________________________________________________
STUCK IN THE BOX!
That's so nice of you to do.

Thanks!

I sort of feel like Phoebe in that Friends episode though-- the one where she tries to find a selfless deed but can't, because the selfless deeds make her feel really good and therefore aren't really selfless.  Don't worry though-- I will not let a bee sting me.

Chapter79

Oh, I also give some one time donations when I have the cash and feel inclined
I have a friend whos daughter has CF and gave to her before a race before.  I also gave a bit to BostonKisses when she was raising some on her webpage awhile ago.  

I love to donate when I can. I don't always have the extra to do so, but do when I can. 

Tink112011

Our large donations go to our alma mater and the animal shelter that we adopted our cats from.  Once in a while we will also donate to United Way, Special Olympics, and Make-a-Wish Foundation. I think we're pretty philanthropic given our age and income levels.

Arcadia1114

I had ds pick out some toys to donate to Toys for Tots. He cried when he put them in the bin. It was sweet to watch. We do a few 5Ks. I donate blood every eight weeks. My mom needed a lot of transfusions while she was sick. It was through the blood donations of others that she was able to see me get married and meet ds. I pay that forward.

hopefulmom81

March of Dimes, Planned Parenthood, local Rape Crisis Center, and my friend's non-profit for children being active.

Shabutie

Whatever foundation you donate to, just make sure you're okay with the amount of money that they actually spend for their cause. One of the worst charities for this is the Susan G Komen foundation. That woman(Susan's sister) takes a way bigger cut for herself than any human being should.

I can't find the link to the website that tells you the good charities from the ones who waste all the donation money on advertising, and lining executives' pockets. I think my husband knows it. I'll ask him when he gets home.

ETA, I always throw any change I have into the Ronald McDonald House boxes, and I visit the house in Macon and donate baby stuff/money, because I stayed there for ~two weeks while baby was in the NICU. That place is amazingly helpful, and the people are the sweetest ever.

legalbeagle1

Oooh love the local public radio idea.  We listen so much and haven't given yet!

TiffanyBerry

You can use an online site to check how much of your donation actually goes to causes, rather than paying a CEO or other things like that.

I give to a "local" trails association, my college (mine and my husband's), and I would do our local public radio if I ever remember to do so.

eyenigh

Donations don't have to be just actual money either. I donate about 30 boxes of stuff per year to donatestuff.com, which works to benefit Amvets, Easter Seals and Purple Heart. Last year it was a ton of clothing, old computers, small appliances, household items, tableware, bedding and toys. I only donate usable, resellable stuff and you just sort of estimate its resale value for your deduction (the receipt from the organization just lists the number of boxes and a general description of what was donated). They come pick it up right from your porch which is the big win for me. I also give small amounts to ASPCA and St. Jude's.

kristennd

We sponsor a memorial cat kennel at the local no-kill shelter and then there's usually one random thing a year. It's never the percentage I feel it should be, though.

KatieB19

We donate stuff to goodwill. We've donated money to organizations people are fundraising for (march of dimes, cancer awareness). And we've donated on occasion to red cross.

But more often than not, we donate to *things* not causes. Like, we really enjoy NPR. I always donate to the local npr station because I always have it on; DH will donate to the specific programs that he listens to the podcasts of. We've also donated to community organizations that work to keep up the downtown area and put on free events throughout the year. I actually want to do more in this area, of helping out in the community.

I do think it's noble and a great thing to donate to larger causes -- catastrophes, cancer, etc. -- but I also think that there is a such a big focus on those, that causes and things close to home that may be taken for granted can easily get forgotten. 

KatieB19

TarHeelMomToBe said:

I buy girl scout cookies - does that count?

It totally should, lol.

this decaf life

We want to start donating but wanted to sort of set ourselves up first, we'll probably start looking into something this year now that we're both working.