Charitable Causes

[brett]

We stopped giving to a number a few years ago when we saw a charity report that listed how much of our giving gets to where we want it to go and how much goes to admin/fundraising. Some of the admin percentages and senior salary budgets surprised us...not in a good way.

We consolidated.

We increased our total giving. Almost all of it now goes to either our local food bank or a local shelter for homeless people.

 

[unclemick]

Underground guerrilla org that feeds homeless - not church or govt. affiliated - 'volunteers'.

529 for some person's children(4) from 'the old days' in New Orleans.

The usual suspects - church, some politics, trees, and few "Christmas time' foundations in small amounts.

Heh heh heh -

 

[Gumby]

I expect the young wife will outlive me, so she can do with it what she wants. That's why I don't think too much about it. We have no children.

If it were my decision alone, I probably would give at least some to my church.

 

[Backpacker]

Planning on setting up DAF with intention of supporting local Christian radio. Probably about 5-10 % of assets to DAF, rest to our 5 kids.

 

[Badger]

My current donations and name charitable beneficiaries are generally animal oriented.
I try to keep the bequests about equal.

Denver Dumb Friends League. I volunteered at their animal shelters for 18 years when I lived in the Denver area.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary. The largest sanctuary of its kind for large cats, bears and other large carnivores. I've contributed to their land purchases in SE Colorado and to their new wild horse rescue in northern Colorado.
The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. A beautiful place that is also conserving land for these great creatures.

Other local charities such as animal shelters and food bank are being integrated into the mix as well.

I donate to local animal rescue charities in which I can see where and how the money is used.
Years ago after making donations to large national charities and being inundated with mailed requests for more money I stopped all donations to them. So much of the money was being used for high upper level management and advertising. One large national organization that redistributes the donations to other charities and that companies encourage donations by paycheck deductions will never receive a donation from me. I felt like I was being coerced into making donations that would eventually find the way to some organizations in which I did not agree with. I didn't fall for their shell game that said you could designate where your donation would go. Sounded more like they would simply distribute more money to that charity from someone else.

Cheers!

 

[athena53]

One large national organization that redistributes the donations to other charities and that companies encourage donations by paycheck deductions will never receive a donation from me. I felt like I was being coerced into making donations that would eventually find the way to some organizations in which I did not agree with. I didn't fall for their shell game that said you could designate where your donation would go. Sounded more like they would simply distribute more money to that charity from someone else.

Yep- I see no one has mentioned them as a possible beneficiary. And yes, from what I've read, they have their allocation percentages defined beforehand and your designation doesn't change anything.

 

[Markola]

I grew up in a rural town where my mother’s family has 200+ year roots. I’ve lived elsewhere since high school but have tried to maintain some connections. We have no kids. Lately, I’ve been thinking we’d establish a charitable remainder trust at a big city community foundation to ensure DW and I always have resources and simply make the beneficiary my small town’s city council. I figure that way there would be democratic checks and balances between the two orgs long term to keep things roughly on track.

 

[Dash man]

We give to our church to support its regular needs, but also provide a scholarship for single parents to help pay for daycare at the parish’s child care center. We also provide support to reduce tuition for lower income families for our Catholic school.
We give to local food banks, homeless shelters and Birthright centers.
We help veterans and children’s causes, sponsor two children (one in Haiti and one in Honduras), and disaster relief organizations. Catholic Charities in Philadelphia does a great job and we support them, along with our local seminary.
Our kids and other family will get most of what we have left in the end, with our church getting a portion.

 

[RunningBum]

I grew up in a rural town where my mother’s family has 200+ year roots. I’ve lived elsewhere since high school but have tried to maintain some connections. We have no kids. Lately, I’ve been thinking we’d establish a charitable remainder trust at a big city community foundation to ensure DW and I always have resources and simply make the beneficiary my small town’s city council. I figure that way there would be democratic checks and balances between the two orgs long term to keep things roughly on track.

Pretty sure the final beneficiary of CRT has to be an actual charity. I'd verify that before going too far down this path.

 

[friar1610]

Upon our passing, the most significant bequests will go to establish scholarships at my college alma mater and my spouse’s high school. Lesser amounts will go to several faith-based organization that support the feeding, health care, housing and education of people less fortunate than we have been.

 

[Car-Guy]

I became disillusion with some of the bigger charities and quit giving some years ago. (I won't go into here) These days it's to my local volunteer fire dept, local shelter and food banks.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I give to some health care organizations, but mainly to community arts organizations. They were hit hard by the pandemic.

 

[gamboolman]

We established an Endowment in honor of our son (who died at age 34) at his Alma Matter at a Christian University in East Texas to provide Scholarship assistance and monies to Students. We contribute annually and upon our passing a % of our Portfolio will go to the Endowment.

We also give monies to selected Charities on One Off basis - but as others have said, we're careful to select Organizations that we feel that most of the monies is actually going to use/support of Charity, e.g., Annual monies to our Cemetery, 501 PIR Newsletter for the 101st Airborne for ms gamboolgals father who was in it for the entire war and survived. There not but afew of them left....

We gift monies to Relatives and close friends as we feel led - but this is only when we feel moved to do so. Admittedly, this one opens up all kinds of potential for being took advantage of by Sob stories. We try to watch this and it is not a regular thing. The last thing we want to do is to enable/support a "lost cause".....

#1 Daughter and Grandbaby(s) are took care of in our Will and Trust. We also help out now so we can see the benefit and good the monies provides while we alive.

If we see someone, or perhaps a young family eating out, we will sometimes anonymously pay their bill if we feel led to do so. I'll tip the Bathroom attendants when we're at the Casino's and I'm playing the Pokersszzzzz.... those guys are always so appreciative. We also tip ahead of time when we go out to eat if the Waiter/Waitress is nice and friendly and we still tip at the end when the bill comes. We also like to tip the Bus Boys and others directly - and they always light right up with a big smile - ha. Or if a steak or meal is especially good, we'll send some Cash to the Cook.... fun stuff !

One thing living in Africa for near 20 year taught me is that tipping generously can be very helpful for you - besides helping out folks who really need the help and monies.

That said, I like tipping in Cash when we can. That's just me.

We also go out of our way to buy made in USA and to shop with local Vendors if possible, e.g., local Farmers Markets, fancy B&B's, etc.

It is good to be able to help out selected Folks and Organizations at this stage of life for ms gamboolgal and I. We was poor and "Living On Love" for a long time.... ha

gamboolman.....

 

[Markola]

Pretty sure the final beneficiary of CRT has to be an actual charity. I'd verify that before going too far down this path.

I’m a long way from implementing but thank you.

 

[rodi]

Our 'estate' will go to our two children.

In the meantime we give to various charities... they have changed as our lives have changed.

When the kids were younger we donated to local foundations that support the school for programs not covered by the district or PTA. We give smaller donations now that our kids are out of the schools, but it's still our neighborhood and community.

We've generally given to vet programs, especially those that help injured vets and their families like Fisher House.

We give annually to an international medical charity. (MSF)
We give annually to a food program that goes to disaster areas (World Central Kitchen)

We give to some 'help those who help themselves' programs like Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.

I also volunteer locally on city planning issues, library book sales, and various community events.

 

[brett]

Two of the charities that we stopped giving to had admin costs of 62 and 54 percent respectively. Exec salaries were out of line. As were fund raising costs;

There is something wrong when only net 22-26 percent of donations go to the actual cause/research or clients of the charity. So we stopped donating to those. We asked questions about this and got very 'fuzzy' answers.

We decided that we wanted our money to work as hard as we did to get it. So we voted with our feet and with our money.

DW became very particular as to what her church donations were specified for. None of the esoteric touchy feely business in favor of support of the church homeless outreach shelter.

I learned long ago in business that it was folly to support consistently poor performers. You only encourage mediocrity and failure.

 

[COcheesehead]

We are very simple.
We created a scholarship in both our names at my alma mater and we fund college tuition for students every year in the area of business administration. 100% of our funds go to directly to the students. No fees. Upon death, the scholarship will be funded in perpetuity.
We also give a small amount to an animal charity and a cancer charity.

 

[brett]

I am looking at creating a scholarship in my mother's name. B ed or M ed.

Same...funds directly to the student.

Early days yet.

 

[COcheesehead]

I am looking at creating a scholarship in my mother's name. B ed or M ed.

Same...funds directly to the student.

Early days yet.

We get letters from the students who receive the funds. It’s not why we did it, but talk about hitting home. My gosh. Probably the most direct connect of any charity we have been involved with. Complete transparency.

 

[RetireBy90]

DW and I are both retired military, so we have a special place for veterans. We do
USO
Tunnels to Towers
Am vets dogs
Fold of Honor Foundation
Disabled Vetsrens
Workshop for Warriors

We also give to our church, and target food ministries

Blessed to be able to support these all.

 

[Zen of Conscious Living]

Redsledsanta foundation and Small Animal Rescue organizations

The Redsledsanta Foundation really helps those who pre-teen and teenagers that "Fall through the Cracks" especially older children because everyone loves, caters to and gives to the young ones. These older kids have deeper feelings than the babies, and they cater to them. And work with the kids at risk (Pals) with the police department. ALSO< Animal Welfare assistance. You have no idea how many neglected and abused animals that are out there. And the smaller caregivers that really care for them. These are two that I focus on and I am very generous to both and reap many rewards from it. Spiritual and Following what all is done with my money donated. I Love Giving to Both. You should also. Both are small and focus directed, no corporate waste of funds there. Total dedication to created results with what they do.

 

[meleana]

Our son will be our charity. If we have any money left! Lol!

 

[indiajust]

Both Motley Fool and Ray Dalio spent time soliciting their members and followers for donation advice. They rank order by community interest and contribute directly while offering the conclusions to their community so that others can match.

I donate to local home school organizations, Education Freedom accounts.

My parents contributed to capital campaigns for their uni's. Plus some architectural restoration projects and a church camp.

 

[Koolau]

I suppose you would call most of mine "religious" because the funds come from churches, but the thrust is to help those in need no matter religious beliefs (or not.)

African mission hospital. Helps with Aids treatment and education. Delivers (safely) hundreds of babies per year. Provides "routine" surgery care such as hernia, appendix removal, gall bladder, etc. Can't do things like transplants of course or brain injury. Also provides medications of all kinds with treatment for pretty much all infectious diseases. I don't think they have dialysis. The country supposedly provides health care, but in reality, the hospital receives a mere fraction of the costs from gummint. Most comes from USA churches and individuals who care about such things. I went to school with the director as he was getting his pre-med degree so I've known him personally for 45 years.

Polish relief. Currently helping Jews get to Israel and caring for many refugees from Ukraine. I've known the director since he went to school in the USA when I was about 11.

Medical Missions: My particular medical mission charity supplies donated equipment to medical missionaries who meet the needs of people mostly in Africa - the one above receives stuff from them. So one month they might have used/refurbished x-ray machines. Another month they might have 13 tons of hospital linens. (I was specific about the 13 tons because years ago I helped sort some of the 13 tons by sizes of scrubs, piles of draping, sheets/pillow cases, etc.) The bags of linens filled a poll barn. It was interesting to get subsequent pictures from the field seeing doctors and nurses in Africa wearing white coats or scrubs with the name of my local hospital still embroidered over the pocket! I know personally one of the directors on their board. I trust her to monitor the money the charity receives.

There are other similar charities. I will not mention all of them. If you notice anything it would be that I KNOW someone in virtually every charity. I know them personally. I've met with them many times. I understand their philosophy of the charity. I've been convinced that funds they receive are spent well. YMMV

 

[MaxFIRE]

I'm a volunteer firefighter at a small local department. I intend to donate a significant portion to that. Others likely will be to local organizations and to establish engineering scholarships. Hopefully we still have several decades to sort this out!