During the holiday season, the barrage of unsolicited address labels, letters, and calls to my home phone (unanswered) intensifies to a fever pitch. How do I choose which charities will get my donations and support? I am not much of a volunteer, and I prefer to give money or goods rather than time.
I save up clean clothing, linens, books, and household goods for donation. When I get the postcard that the Medina Children's Home truck will be in my neighborhood, I put the stuff out on my porch to be picked up. Two or three times a year, I pack up the bags and take it to the Goodwill donation center instead. As I update my home, I donate things like doorknobs, metal fencing, shutters, and light fixtures to Habitat for Humanity.
Over the years, I have lent money or provided services to people who have not paid me back. I had a pretty good idea that might happen, so I mentally record it as a charitable donation.
But there are certain issues that really hit me in the gut: neglect and abuse of animals, both pets and farm animals; starvation and the continuing spread of diseases such as malaria; and the equal rights of women and ethnic minorities.
That's a lot of stuff to care about, and I don't have enough money or hours in the day to make a big difference. So I have to pick and choose which ones to support.
I check out charitable organizations on Charity Watch before contributing or to make sure they're still rated with an A. I also join non-profit organizations that work on the issues I care about, although they are not charities as such, so that my membership dues help the cause.
I still get caught by the occasional telemarketing call or a pleading letter and end up writing checks to other organizations not on my list, but I try to stay on track with the issues that are most important to me. I think it is easier to do good if you have a plan for helping the causes that mean the most to you personally.
What do you think? How do you decide?
Photo credit: Anna Cervova
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