Do you still give to charity?

[Deleted User]

big issue is my favorite charity, especially since getting information on a discussion thread

I stopped wateraid and world vision because of constant harassment. They just don`t know when to stop

[Deleted User]

I like to give to the salvation army when I see them. They quietly beaver away

I am also looking into kidscape and centrepoint

any donations I give these days are completely anonymous because of the continual harassment. I got a present from the WWF and they were constantly on the phone. Real pests

dealsearcher

If I give I make sure it is to a charity that doesn't waste it's money on admin, etc.. There have been a number of scandals of charity going to countries in Africa where money has been syphoned off to buy 4x4's and food sent by the UN ending up being sold in shops.

You must also be careful you are not being scammed. Old clothing pickup bags have sometimes been found to be going to people that sell the clothing for profit for themselves. I have received phone calls asking me to give money which are almost certainly scams. There are also scam type letters which people receive all the time asking for money which will not get anywhere near a charity.

I suggest giving to a local organization you trust.

FrankieM

We give the same amount though I've been thinking of increasing our giving. I've been reading up on giving loans to people in very poor countries. Kiva is the organisation I've been looking at but I'm sure there are others.

Davesnave

dealsearcher wrote: »

If I give I make sure it is to a charity that doesn't waste it's money on admin, etc.. There have been a number of scandals of charity going to countries in Africa where money has been syphoned off to buy 4x4's and food sent by the UN ending up being sold in shops.

I suggest giving to a local organization you trust.

That's why we support a local, very small organisation with people on the ground in Africa (who'd be there anyway) and with virtually no admin costs. No Land Rovers; just boring stuff like pedal pumps, fertilizer and farmers' cooperatives to store/sell what's produced.

p00hsticks

I'm still keeping up my direct debit donations, but probably won't be able to afford to increase them this year.

And charities certainly are being affected by the credit crunch - not just by falling donations, but also by the decrease in interest rates they can earn from their cash reserves.

As an example, our local childrens hospice has reported a drop in donations of around £150,000, and has had to cut the number of nights it can offer respite care from six to four nights a week as a result.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Hospice-boss-don-t-desert/article-718758-detail/article.html

mewbie_2

Well done to all those who support various charities. I don't do anything, apart from my work on here trying to cheer up the motley collection of depressed, penniless, socially awkward and sexual deviants who make up the MSE demographic.

Cleaver

mewbie wrote: »

Well done to all those who support various charities. I don't do anything, apart from my work on here trying to cheer up the motley collection of depressed, penniless, socially awkward and sexual deviants who make up the MSE demographic.

Do you get gift aid tax relief on that?

I sponsor a Dopester. Just 30p a week get's him fresh drinking water and a simple dial up internet connection for his cave.

chewmylegoff

nothing has changed; i still give nothing to charity.

Pssst

No i dont. I;ve become like everyone else i.e extremely selfish and i look after myself.