fellow man or mother earth:  where do YOUR charity dollars go?
600793
My "charity dollars" as you call them usually go to the directly needy in my surroundings.I don't like charities or the word charity. It stinks of elitism. That today in 2006 we even need to think about charity saddens me. There is more than enough to go round if it was shared out a little better.\nI remember some years ago, in Eritrea there was famine and thousands of tonnes of flour were sent to relief the hungry.\nSo much flour that they stopped cultivating it, causing another crisis.A crisis caused unwittingly by "help" from charities.\nShow those in need how to help themselves give them tools housing, farm equipment, better sanitation, water de salination.  \nCharities are self indulgent. Those that choose to help the needy would be far better putting the effort into prevention rather than cures. Change the policies that a partly responsible for this human catastrophe.\nHow much of your charity dollar actually reaches those you donated it for? 10% maximum! All the other "charitable parties taking their cut.\nI am fed up with being stopped on the street , sometimes several times by different beggars, good causes and charities and then feeling bad about not contributing. I don't always have money to give and I'm sure most people are in the same boat.\n Don't you get fed up with the likes of Oprah, Bono, Bob Geldoff, Tom Cruise,Angelina all multi- millionaires with 25-50 million dollar homes and enormous bank accounts telling us on prime time TV what we should be doing.\nHow much went to the needy after "live Aid"\nSorry about this I'm Ranting but it is a subject near to my heart.\nThanks for your question. Now I know what i am going to rant about on my famous site. http;//thebaldchemist.blogspot.com   see you there.
180637
I share your concern. I only give to charities when I know that more than 90% of my contribution goes directly to the cause.\n\nWhenever I get a call from a telemarketer asking for a contribution, I ask how much does the charity get. You'd be surprised at how much the professional services take of our donations!\n\nThere are several organizations that rate charities. You can find them by doing a search. Here are a few; I don't have experience with them, so I can't really make a recommendation as to which is best:\nhttp://www.charitywatch.org/\nhttp://www.charitynavigator.org/\nhttp://www.sls.lib.il.us/reference/por/features/98/charity.html
421225
i will donate some but not all the money to charity bcs we dont know when will i be needing it
613344
how about a local church??? most churches will take clothing donations too  and they do not re-sell the clothing to people, they give poor people clothing for free...they may also have many connections to oversea organizations  and can get you in touch with them or send them for you... best wishes!
370299
I would donate 5% to church\n35% to the Heiffer Project  http://www.heifer.org/\n50% to CASA  http://www.nationalcasa.org/\n5% to the Red Cross\n5% to Golden Harvest Food Bank
1090718
the money is great...and you can lend a helping hand in the time of need!!!
492117
There are so many deserving charities out there I would rather you donated it along with your $10 to somebody that is truly in need.  God Bless!
242219
Get a job working for a charity organization (ex: Red Cross).  Of course the money comes from somewhere, but you get a salary for giving it away to those who need it!
563998
after i pay off my bills, my parents bills, my in-laws bills, give a bunch to my church, take everyone out and i buy a nice 5 bdrm home in Oregon then i would give a bunch to a charity for sick kids/people.  after all i would help my family and friends first, the people who have helped me and supported me thru my life.  but i would want to be sure to give to a charity to change the lives for the better of people that i don't know too!  =)
813390
It is a documented fact that Christians give more to charities and help those who struggle than any other group.  How many atheists or agnostic groups do you see out there sending help in the form of money or physically being there.\n\nYou are such a hypocrite.  Why don't you stop complaining about how you aren't in a financial position to help or that you wish you could go to Africa and help.  If you really care, get up off of your a$$ and do something about it.  Stop hiding behind your excuses.\n\nNo, instead you just sit up in the gallery spewing out your condemnations on the very people who are the ones doing what you don't have the guts to do.  How pathetic.
332497
Having done charity work before (soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, etc.), the feeling you get from is is why I do it. Helping your fellow man, or those less fortunate, is more of a reward than any of the other things you listed.
1138925
I've a catering company.  I donate all my left over food to local charities.  I cook for local organizations who feed and help the poor and the homeless.  I donate online and click on for www.worldhunger.org everyday to fight for hunger around the world.  Back home I donate to local charities regularly to help them feed the poor children and care for the orphans.
714212
The united way won't give you any money but they will direct you to entities that do help. Start with them and good luck. Some Churches have been know to help.
715644
I give to the local Goodfellow Fund, a non profit human services agency in my area and the Area Agency on Aging Wheels on Meals program. My donations have tapered off in recent years due to my own limited income but this year I will give a donation to all of them regardless of how much money i have left. \nEvery year with the goodfellow fund at minimum I try to buy a paper that they sell on the street.\nThe area agency on aging can often obtain matching funds from our local newspaper.\nI work at the non profit and volunteer for many events in addition to adopting children/adults with physical disabilities, that are receiving services from our agency for the holidays through of Gift Wish List Program.\n\nI believe that giving is one of the best things that you can do-whether it be your time or your money it is a selfless act that i would encourage all to do.
767239
At this time of year I get a generous amount of requests for donations.  I use to donate to almost all of them, but after I started looking into the charities, I found that some of them were not registered with anything and I suspect the donation money was going to some greedy people in the name of Charity.  That is so disgusting. Now I only donate to organizations that can prove they are for real!  I know that so many many people need help and really deserve it-- I am willing to donate to as many charities as I can but only to those who are truly in need.
696082
accept items of interest for resale. sort of a thrift store operation. there is nothing like getting something for your donation. you might can get a location donated.
40875
It is SUPPOSE to go to help victims but alot of the big charities (the red cross comes to mind) it has been discovered doesn't go where it is supposed to.  So investigate it before you donate!