How do you choose?

cherryblossomzel

Sue makes an excellent point, and what turned me of the large charity wasn't so much their government funding, but rather that they couldn't be bothered with smaller donations, creating the impression that they don't really need MY donation.

It's not about the amount of money they require as the minimum, it's the principle of the thing.

longforgotten

I give small amounts to numerous charities by d/d and gift aid and try to stick to that amount.


I give to Dogs for the disabled but not to Guide Dogs for the Blind as I've been told GDFTB have loads of money.


I give food to the Blue Cross but don't give to RSPCA because when I phoned RSPCA for help with a wounded dove they would not help me ( the tv impression they give is that they will always help but reality is different)


Medecins Sans Frontier I give to because they seem to be always the first charity to turn up and help at a disaster and have a strong voice.


My Dad died from cancer 20 years ago and I donated monthly ever since to the hospice charity that helped us when we cared for him at home. But recently I've got the hump because a member of staff in their charity shop is , putting it politely , disinterested and unfriendly so I may well give to Macmillan Nurses instead.


So I give what I can afford and change the mix when the mood takes me

Mels1

I have a list of charities I won't give to as they use chuggers or, even worse, doorstep chuggers. Unfortunately my list is getting longer and longer. I also try not to give to the big charities as I dislike intensely the way they keep asking for more. The fact that larger charities may get funding from local authorities or the health service wouldn't put me off though as this funding is for clearly defined services only and the charities generally offer better value for money than if services were delivered directly by the funders.


I do tend to research the charity I want to give to, though, as I think charities vary greatly in their ability to spend their cash wisely and at least you can have a browse through their accounts/annual reports on the Charity Commission website.