Who do you give to?

[Leatherneck]

Apology for the bad headline grammar, but what charity do you like to donate to?

We've done the usual (1% to Combined Federal Campaign--some of it toward gun-friendly "charities") and donated used goods--clothing and stuff--to the local church-related charities. But at this time of year I feel a desire to stop spending on my people and donate what's left in the budget to charities oriented toward people really in need. Mostly local. Salvation Army has always gotten most of this end-of-the-year giving.

Who do you like for such?

TC

[Ben]

Salvation Army for me. They've always impressed me in the efficient way they use the money donated to them.

[Unisaw]

I usually contribute some money to the Special Operations Warriors Foundation.  Per its website:

"For more than 28 years, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation has provided full college scholarship grants, not loans, along with financial aid and educational counseling to surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident."

The special ops community has suffered an especially high rate of casualties since 9/11, and this charity seems to do a good job helping out the surviving kids.

[charby]

Salvation Army for me. They've always impressed me in the efficient way they use the money donated to them.

Same here, local food banks also. I also donate time and some money to a couple 2nd amendment type groups.

[MicroBalrog]

My family gives to the Israeli Society for the War on Cancer. I give to the Methushelah Foundation and the Cato Institute.

[Lennyjoe]

NRA civil defense fund, Rocky Mountain Elk foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation to name a few.

[Grandpa Shooter]

Local orphans or state placement kids.

[Leatherneck]

I trust the Salvation Army. I trust the others less.

the Methushelah Foundation and the Cato Institute.

I don't know the Methushala Foundation, but I include CATO every year via CFC.

TC

[MicroBalrog]

I trust the Salvation Army. I trust the others less.
 I don't know the Methushala Foundation, but I include CATO every year via CFC.

TC

http://www.methuselahfoundation.org/

[Leatherneck]

Thanks, MicroB. They research aging issues?

TC

[MicroBalrog]

Thanks, MicroB. They research aging issues?

TC

Essentially they give grants to medical research on a variety of issues, from cancer to Alzheimer's to more arcane stuff I don't understand, but with the ultimate goal of eliminating natural aging. It's fairly controversial, but I am of the belief that even if it doesn't work out, more research into cancer and other diseases like that is a good thing.

[BlueStarLizzard]

the local chapter of the spca.

they need it this time of year, because in a few months all those cute puppys under the christmas tree are going to get big, wild and thrown out, because stupid people didn't relize that puppies grow up. i give what i can (which isn't much) but at least its something.

[charby]

NRA civil defense fund, Rocky Mountain Elk foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation to name a few.

I forgot about all the loot I spend at DU banquets. I joined Pheasants Forever last spring, so I'll probably be spending equal amount of coin there too.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

I forgot about all the loot I spend at DU banquets.

Charby is George Soros.

[charby]

Charby is George Soros.

I wish.. the women I could fool around with his money and the cars I could drive, planes I could own.

[K Frame]

NRA and Salvation Army primarily.

[S. Williamson]

I wish.. the women I could fool around with his money and the cars I could drive, planes I could own. [/quote

I read that as "planets I could own." 

I give to those whom I see in need.  No organizations.  A friend here, a classmate there.

[Don't care]

Depending on their respective fiscal positions and projects undertaken, my contributions are all over the place.

However as a rule, throughout every year, I do buy a few cases of canned and dry goods and donate those directly to local food banks.

This past year, I've given to my church ministry; various Masonic charities within the Blue Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, and the Grotto; Goodwill; as well as a destitute family in town that had not even furniture.

In any case, I try to give to reputable charities directly. The reason is given the example that there is a telecollection firm here in Indiana that takes contributions for the Indiana State Police Foundation, but the ISPF only receives something like 5% of all monies collected.

[Jamisjockey]

Red Cross, wife's church, Toys for Tots.

[El Tejon]

Kiwanis, Toys for Tots (I give $ and I help with the toy drive), NRA, and Lafayette Urban Ministries (a soup kitchen in downtown Lafayette, Indiana).

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

doing something different this year  using craigs list and actually seeing the folks i give to. so far no scammers. been hitting freecycle to get more things to give.  works slow so what the heck. sides what goes around comes along

[Balog]

My church. I was helping support my sister-in-law who's a single mom, but she couldn't hack being an adult and ran crying back to her parents. 

[BridgeRunner]

Not much.

A bit to our parish church, from time to time to an organization that offers advanced classes in math and ancient languages to home-schooled children.

Of late, we have been giving significantly of my time to people in need of legal services, which is helpful to them,but the primary reason is for my own experience and networking.  In the past, we've mostly helped our friends and co-workers in need on an informal basis when things were tight, and we've received the same kind of help from time to time.

[bk425]

I give to to the NRA's charitable foundation:
http://www.nrafoundation.org/  specifically my local committee; East King County friends of NRA
( committee events can be found here http://www.friendsofnra.org/National.aspx?cid=0 )
And also, as I can, to the top notch Seattle cancer research organization Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
http://www.fhcrc.org/

[Balog]

I give to to the NRA's charitable foundation:
http://www.nrafoundation.org/  specifically my local committee; East King County friends of NRA
( committee events can be found here http://www.friendsofnra.org/National.aspx?cid=0 )
And also, as I can, to the top notch Seattle cancer research organization Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
http://www.fhcrc.org/

I used to deliver drinks to the cafe at the Cancer Research Center.