Tithing to Charity

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turbolapp

turbolapp

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Aug 10, 2007
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So I've been doing a piss poor job at giving back. (I'm selfish and I like my money) but I really want to do a better job. And as I have an infant with me 24/7 atm, really the best way is to do it through monetary means. I was actually raised to tithe to the church. (again props to the christian campaigning on that one) Since, obviously, we don't go to church (please see my raving atheist posts ;) ) we've decided to give the 10% to charity. What I would like to do is switch it up a bit and maybe donate each month to a different organization.

So I'm asking you guys if you know of any decent multi charity websites that I can browse through? Or if you have individual charities you want to plug go for it. I only ask that their financials be listed in plain sight so that I can make sure they have very little overhead and that most of my donation will go straight to the cause.


**Oh and nothing for animals...nothing against them but people first in my book**
 


I don't have a favorite, but Forbes has always been good at doing the numbers behind each of the large charities' rate of efficiency. Here's a link to their latest report (I think)...

Most Efficient Large Charities - Forbes.com

I'm not sure if a charity's efficiency sways your opinion, but it's still an interesting report.
 
I've used charitywatch.org to pick charities in the past to donate to.

Some I recommend are:
action against hunger
big brothers big sisters
electronic frontier foundation
humane society of the united states
 
I'll suggest Habitat for Humanity - not really just another give away since there is real work and real payments required of the clients. The realtors used to say " Real Estate can Motivate" and Habitat seems to understand that.
 
turbolapp said:
So I've been doing a piss poor job at giving back. (I'm selfish and I like my money) but I really want to do a better job.......


**Oh and nothing for animals...nothing against them but people first in my book**
Click to expand...

You are my kinda of athiest!! If some of these bible waving coo coos would act more like this, the world would be a hell of a better place (and as you know from previous posts I do believe in God, harry potter, the force, whatever the fuck you want to call it....)

To answer your question, check out:

Kiva.org
Do you know the site that always pops up on google public service ads? It's called Kiva - it gives micro loans to people in the 3rd world and other places. I like that idea, I'm always suspect when I see that commercial late at night of the chick who played Roseanne's sister (Jackie is it?) begging for money to send to starving kids in the 3rd world...
Anyway they give micro loans esp to women a model idea - help people help themselves I say. Some of them even sell their goods online!!

Kiva - Loans that change lives

There's also CharityNavigator at:
Charity Navigator - America's Largest Charity Evaluator | Home



Lastly, if you want to have your family name "live on forever" for $10,000 (they may have lowered the minium) you can set up a chartible giving fund aka a donor advised fund. This is basically where you/your family has something that looks and smells like a family foundation but a)you don't have the same stringent requirements of a foundation in that you have to meet x number of times, you have to disperse x amount each year of the foundation's assets, etc.

What happens is that the amount you donate/allocate to the fund is managed by a fund manager. Each year or whatever time, you designate where, how much money you want sent to a certified (charity ala a 501c3) (nb: the org you give it to has to be approved by them but this is usually a formality)

The cool (ok narcissistic maybe?) part is that just like a normal foundation your donation will be made on behave of the "Turbolapp Family" or however you want to name it: "The Turbolapp Charitable Giving Fund" or the "Turbolapp Family Fund for a Better World" or the "John and Jane Doe TurboLapp Fund" or (to honor someone) "The XYZ Memorial Fund". This can also help with local, regional, etc networking and business building coincidently as your fund can make donations to noble causes, individuals etc much the same way as the Carnegie Foundation or Ford Foundation, etc can (on a different scale of course....)

Vanguard has a really good one and Schwab too (nice info here if you are not already familiar -
Schwab Charitable Offers Eight Smart Tips to Stretch Charitable Dollars During This Giving Season: Business Wire Business News: SCHW - MSN Money )


WF rocks....one big fucking love fest bringing together athiests and believers to make monies online for themselves and give back to others ;)
.....
 
Turbo, like you I felt like I was doing a shitty job at giving back, so a few months ago I started to volunteer 3-4 hours a week at this "keep the kids off the streets" kinda deal. I also donated a bunch of cash to it.

Feels pretty good to see these kids look up to you. Much more fulfilling than just writing a check and walking away.

Try something like that instead.
 
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metsguy said:
I actually have a separate account at chase so whenever i make a deposit or a wire comes in I have it set up to automaticly have ten percent of it transfered to a different savings account at the end of the month i pick a charity. And it gains interest for the charity i choose in the mean time. I usually check it out at Charity Navigator - America's Largest Charity Evaluator | Home or GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses
Click to expand...


You guys are really freakin' me out with all this goodness and whatnot...
Have you people been smoking rolled up Watch Tower magazines or something - jamaican style?!

J/k no disrespect to any Jehovah Witnesses....
 
I know you said people come first but I donate 10% of my income to wildlife sos
They rescue "dancing bears" in India and put them into a sanctuary and then give the former owners vocational training so they can make real income instead of performing on the street. I was invited to there sanctuary when I was in India a few months ago and it was gut wrenching.

Also checkout network for good they have a huge database of charities with alot of information about management and how the money is spent, etc
 
Oh wow, I love the Kiva.org site. What a great idea. For those that haven't seen it, It's a loan that you give to entrepreneurs in 3rd world countries that gets paid back to you and you can just give it back to someone else. It's truly the gift that keeps on giving. Love it.
 
There are many good large charities, but I like the idea of working closer to home. Look into what community projects are offered in your area. You can work with organizations and schools to offer scholarships or loans to people in your own community just as easily as people across the globe.

I teach in a "Title 1" school meaning 80% of my children are "free and reduced lunch." That's government lingo for teaching in a school where the vast majority of kids are poor - some are homeless. There is nothing more rewarding that helping others directly. Believe me, I know the infant makes things tricky, but if you can, find ways to help others learn to be self sufficient. There are way too many kids who just need positive role models or a step out of the cycle poverty creates.

Check out programs that help kids with homework or volunteer at a community center to keep kids off the streets. Donate to local programs that help out after natural disasters and such. Any men that are reading - seriously consider helping out with a Big Brothers or mentor style program. There is an entire generation of young men that are seriously struggling right now. I should know, I teach them. :(
 
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