Giving to one charity - home or abroad?

NIMAN

There are so many adverts in the media these days looking for money and I was thinking of donating something for Xmas, I was wondering who to give to.

The choice is endless.

Should I give to an Irish or a 3rd world charity?
Should I help my own people or people on the other side of the world?
Would an Irish donation make more impact than trying to donate to the 3rd world problem?
Should I be asking these questions?

What would you do?

TanG411

Keep the money.

/scrooge

Duggy747

You could donate to the DuggyCorp Inc. Ltd. foundation?

Ellie2008

Fistly that's v good of you, I would be inclined to say an Irish charity but also be mindful of overheads I refuse to give to a charity where the CEO is paid a massive salary, this crosses out a few - UNICEF, Concern. You can probs confirm just with a bit of googling or maybe someone here knows - the Peter McVerry trust is a good one can't imagine he s paying himself 250,000 a year.

smash

charity starts at home.

Wibbs

Local every time. Well for the last decade anyway. After watching the rinse and repeat cycle of third world aid over the last 30 years, I've got third world aid fatigue TBH.

Ellie2008

Wibbs wrote: »

Local every time. Well for the last decade anyway. After watching the rinse and repeat cycle of third world aid over the last 30 years, I've got third world aid fatigue TBH.

I feel guilty thinking this with all the people being murdered in the Sudan etc but I agree.

starbelgrade

I only ever give to local causes such as sports clubs or to the likes of emergency aid for natural disasters.

There is no need for any other types of charity to exist - the fact that they do exist show that there is a fundamental flaw in how we look after those who need our help. For the most part, by supporting charities, we are relieving governments and ourselves of our social responsibilities by throwing the needy a few crumbs from our tables.

Charity to me, is a vile, condescending concept that does little to help in the long term, but only prolongs major social problems & makes beggars of those who need our help.

hondasam

Charity begins at home and we have lots of charities who need help. I would donate to a few charities.

Edit: same as star I would donate to local charities.

Ellie2008

starbelgrade wrote: »

I only ever give to local causes such as sports clubs or to the likes of emergency aid for natural disasters.

There is no need for any other types of charity to exist - the fact that they do exist show that there is a fundamental flaw in how we look after those who need our help. For the most part, by supporting charities, we are relieving governments and ourselves of our social responsibilities by throwing the needy a few crumbs from our tables.

Charity to me, is a vile, condescending concept that does little to help in the long term, but only prolongs major social problems & makes beggars of those who need our help.

I'm not sure I understand what social responsibilities are you referring to? There is only so much an individual can control do do we just sit back and wait for social change and meanwhile people starve....

I don't give to sports clubs either, nothing wrong with sport of course but I fail to see why I should help pay for others to do it unless you re talking about little kids in a badly offer area, but full grown men playing football they can pay for it.

i71jskz5xu42pb

The Human Fund is a good choice

Orando Broom

Lions Clubs are very good too.

NIMAN

Thanks for all the feedback folks.

Think I will stay local. To be honest I asked the question because I do think my donation, although small, will make more of an impact at home than in the Third World. I too think I have a bit of fatigue of 3rd world problems. Money doesn't seem to be helping them at all, and their Gov's really need to tackle the problems themselves and stop begging. Less tanks and guns and more food I say.

At least if I drop money, food and toys into say the SvP I know that it will help people here for Xmas.

hondasam

NIMAN wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback folks.

Think I will stay local. To be honest I asked the question because I do think my donation, although small, will make more of an impact at home than in the Third World. I too think I have a bit of fatigue of 3rd world problems. Money doesn't seem to be helping them at all, and their Gov's really need to tackle the problems themselves and stop begging. Less tanks and guns and more food I say.

At least if I drop money, food and toys into say the SvP I know that it will help people here for Xmas.

I always donate to the food appeal and we do santa appeal at work and give it to a local charity. That way we know it goes to children who need it.

jack presley

Whichever charity you choose, try and find out how much of the donation goes to salaries and other overheads and how much actually goes to the cause

Ellie2008

jack presley wrote: »

Whichever charity you choose, try and find out how much of the donation goes to salaries and other overheads and how much actually goes to the cause

I could rant about this all day, how is it morally right on any level that the head of these organisations in some cases is paid as much as 250,000, the argument that you have to pay for the best people only goes so far surely unless these people are miracle workers they are replacable.

Shenshen

A local Animal charity

biko

Local homeless shelter.

starbelgrade

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand what social responsibilities are you referring to?

We have a responsibility as a society to look after the poor, the sick & the needy.. basically anyone who is unable to help themselves. That would include the old, the sick & inferm, the homeless, children, people living in poverty, etc.

The fact that so many charities exist in all those areas show that we have failed in our responsibilities.

Ellie2008 wrote: »

There is only so much an individual can control do do we just sit back and wait for social change and meanwhile people starve....

People starve anyway & those who need do not always get what is required because charities only have limited amounts of funds & resources. It would take a great move in attitudes as to how we address the needs of society before any of this changes.

It's a sad reflection on ourselves that it would actually take a large amount of deaths for something like this to happen & for people and governments to own up to the fact that throwing a few quid in a box every now & again is simply not enough.

But people are mostly unwilling or unable to accept that charity is anything but a good thing, instead of what it really & truly is... a lazy & immoral response to our problems designed to make us feel a little less guilty for having more than our fair share.

Ellie2008

starbelgrade wrote: »

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand what social responsibilities are you referring to?

We have a responsibility as a society to look after the poor, the sick & the needy.. basically anyone who is unable to help themselves. That would include the old, the sick & inferm, the homeless, children, people living in poverty, etc.

The fact that so many charities exist in all those areas show that we have failed in our responsibilities.

Ellie2008 wrote: »

There is only so much an individual can control do do we just sit back and wait for social change and meanwhile people starve....

People starve anyway & those who need do not always get what is required because charities only have limited amounts of funds & resources. It would take a great move in attitudes as to how we address the needs of society before any of this changes.

It's a sad reflection on ourselves that it would actually take a large amount of deaths for something like this to happen & for people and governments to own up to the fact that throwing a few quid in a box every now & again is simply not enough.

But people are mostly unwilling or unable to accept that charity is anything but a good thing, instead of what it really & truly is... a lazy & immoral response to our problems designed to make us feel a little less guilty for having more than our fair share.

Ok, I don't completely disagree with you, but what is the answer - i.e. How do we implement this society in a reasonable length of time?

K-9

NIMAN wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback folks.

Think I will stay local. To be honest I asked the question because I do think my donation, although small, will make more of an impact at home than in the Third World. I too think I have a bit of fatigue of 3rd world problems. Money doesn't seem to be helping them at all, and their Gov's really need to tackle the problems themselves and stop begging. Less tanks and guns and more food I say.

At least if I drop money, food and toys into say the SvP I know that it will help people here for Xmas.

For all the waste, third world charities can obviously make a big difference when it saves lives.

I've even heard people giving out about SVdP and waste there, "undeserving" people getting it, so it's a very personal thing.

ISPCC or RSPCA for me.

gurramok

With the six figure salaries of the top staff at charities obscene, it does put off donating.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfgbidgbqlgb/rss2/

FinnLizzy

Pavee Point?

starbelgrade

Ellie2008 wrote: »

Ok, I don't completely disagree with you, but what is the answer - i.e. How do we implement this society in a reasonable length of time?

It would be quite easy to negate the need for charities by increasing taxes and spending them on the required social services.

jack presley

starbelgrade wrote: »

Ellie2008 wrote: »

Ok, I don't completely disagree with you, but what is the answer - i.e. How do we implement this society in a reasonable length of time?

It would be quite easy to negate the need for charities by increasing taxes and spending them on the required social services.

Yes, tax increases. There's plenty of scope for them!

doyle61

Local hospice and council for the blind for me
Absolutely no way will I give to the likes of concern; large "admiresteration" costs = no money from me

Lady Chatterton

Local Hospice - "Light up a Memory"
Local Children's Charity
SVP - Toy Appeal
RNLI
Concern Christmas gifts

starbelgrade

jack presley wrote: »

Yes, tax increases. There's plenty of scope for them!

There's a lot more scope for increasing taxes than most people would have you believe.

If this were not the case, then how do you explain the multiple millions of euro that Irish based charities take in every year through donations?

Two of the biggest institutions in Ireland alone - the Catholic Church & the GAA - rake in vast sums of money each year between them. In 2009, the diocese of Dublin alone took in a whopping €90 million.

With figures like that, you have to wonder if at the very least, would a tax on charitable donations be not a more equitable method of sharing surplus wealth?

sardonic

Share, The Simon Community and Vincent de Paul are the only charities I support.

IrishZeus

I personally donate to ISPCC or Barnardos. I did the whole child sponsor thing for until I realised how little of my money made it that far.

So now I just stick to the local two. (Toy donations for SVP would be great also though)

Ellie2008

starbelgrade wrote: »

jack presley wrote: »

Yes, tax increases. There's plenty of scope for them!

There's a lot more scope for increasing taxes than most people would have you believe.

If this were not the case, then how do you explain the multiple millions of euro that Irish based charities take in every year through donations?

Two of the biggest institutions in Ireland alone - the Catholic Church & the GAA - rake in vast sums of money each year between them. In 2009, the diocese of Dublin alone took in a whopping €90 million.

With figures like that, you have to wonder if at the very least, would a tax on charitable donations be not a more equitable method of sharing surplus wealth?

Because...if you tax people excessively you remove the incentive to work, particularly the lower paid. Also whilst unfortunately there are a huge amount of highly skilled people on the dole who would give anything to work, quite a high number of people who are long term unemployed do not want to work in low paid jobs and they shouldn't be rewarded for it.

c_man

Home. Never give to Trocaire or the likes. You'd have to be demented to think your money will make it to Africa!

Benny_Cake

Fair play to you OP. Whether you give at home or abroad,try and pick a charity that isn't spending vast amounts on Admin.That,for me would also include organisations that use "chuggers".I'll be giving a few quid to the Capuchin centre in Dublin,the provide meals,showers and food parcels to the homeless and needy.They need more help than ever now,a sign of the times.

starbelgrade

Ellie2008 wrote: »

Because...if you tax people excessively you remove the incentive to work, particularly the lower paid.

That's not necessarily true. If taxes are high but are spent equitably on the provision of top class services to the public, there is less of a need to earn more as the costs of education, health, housing, childcare, roads & other social infrastructures becomes less expensive.

There are ways of taxing - but more importantly ways of spending tax - which don't reduce people's disposable income & actually increase their overall standard of living.

The problem with Ireland is that our governments constantly have low tax rates & provide crap and expensive public services. People are happy enough when taxes are low and they have money, but when higher taxes are required, we are unhappy to pay them as we know that we don't get value for money on them from the services they go towards funding.

If the opposite were the case, you would see very few charities dealing with social problems in this country as there would be little or no call for them.

old hippy

Hmmm. The last charities I've given to were for Japan tsunami, Haitian quake and a local gig to raise money for people affected by the riots.

NIMAN

Thanks again, plenty of good ideas there.

I think I will stick with local charities.

Only ones I don't agree with would be Japanese tsunami (Japan is one of the worlds wealthiest countries) and anything to do with animals. To be honest I like animals, but I'm afraid all humans would have to take precedence for me.

My name is URL

If you're going to give to an international charity then consider MSF. They do some fine work

old hippy

NIMAN wrote: »

Thanks again, plenty of good ideas there.

I think I will stick with local charities.

Only ones I don't agree with would be Japanese tsunami (Japan is one of the worlds wealthiest countries) and anything to do with animals. To be honest I like animals, but I'm afraid all humans would have to take precedence for me.

As Japan has played such a major part in my life, I wanted to give something back. It's a personal thing.

(Japan may well be wealthy but it's been in a recession since the 90s)

Shenshen

NIMAN wrote: »

... anything to do with animals. To be honest I like animals, but I'm afraid all humans would have to take precedence for me.

That what most Irish people seem to think... I think that was one of the biggest culture shocks I ever suffered.

Freddie59

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand what social responsibilities are you referring to? There is only so much an individual can control do do we just sit back and wait for social change and meanwhile people starve....

I don't give to sports clubs either, nothing wrong with sport of course but I fail to see why I should help pay for others to do it unless you re talking about little kids in a badly offer area, but full grown men playing football they can pay for it.

Do you not realise that these 'fully grown men' are running, in some cases, several juior teams, providing for these young people out of their own time? One to ponder as you look down your nose at them. And so what if they're collecting for a 'badly off area'.:mad:

Freddie59

NIMAN wrote: »

There are so many adverts in the media these days looking for money and I was thinking of donating something for Xmas, I was wondering who to give to.

The choice is endless.

Should I give to an Irish or a 3rd world charity?
Should I help my own people or people on the other side of the world?
Would an Irish donation make more impact than trying to donate to the 3rd world problem?
Should I be asking these questions?

What would you do?

Gave to Trocaire recently. Then found out the CEO is on €120k a year, with two others on €100k a year. Never again. That's SIX THOUSAND EURO A WEEK to pay three people's wages. it's nuts.

In future I will be checking on the salaries of these people before donating.

Ellie2008

Freddie59 wrote: »

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand what social responsibilities are you referring to? There is only so much an individual can control do do we just sit back and wait for social change and meanwhile people starve....

I don't give to sports clubs either, nothing wrong with sport of course but I fail to see why I should help pay for others to do it unless you re talking about little kids in a badly offer area, but full grown men playing football they can pay for it.

Do you not realise that these 'fully grown men' are running, in some cases, several juior teams, providing for these young people out of their own time? One to ponder as you look down your nose at them. And so what if they're collecting for a 'badly off area'.:mad:

I think its clear enough from my post that i meant that I wouldn't donate to adults playing football with eachother. I was absolutely not looking down my nose at anyone so I am sorry if you mistook the tone of my post. All I meant by badly off area was that if a rugby team from Blackrock college or wherever were fundraising I won't donate frankly they don't need it.

I have great admiration for people who give up their free time to coach kids so please do not accuse me of looking down on anyone.

Freddie59

Ellie2008 wrote: »

I think its clear enough from my post that i meant that I wouldn't donate to adults playing football with eachother. I was absolutely not looking down my nose at anyone so I am sorry if you mistook the tone of my post. All I meant by badly off area was that if a rugby team from Blackrock college or wherever were fundraising I won't donate frankly they don't need it.

I have great admiration for people who give up their free time to coach kids so please do not accuse me of looking down on anyone.

Apologies to you likewise. There are so many people giving of their free time for young people it is unbelieveable. And then a substantial amount of the Lotto money goes to fee paying clubs like Golf Clubs, etc.

Freddie59

NIMAN wrote: »

Thanks again, plenty of good ideas there.

I think I will stick with local charities.

Only ones I don't agree with would be Japanese tsunami (Japan is one of the worlds wealthiest countries) and anything to do with animals. To be honest I like animals, but I'm afraid all humans would have to take precedence for me.

The country may be wealty, but these are normal human beings like you and I. Every bit helps.

gigino

jack presley wrote: »

Whichever charity you choose, try and find out how much of the donation goes to salaries and other overheads and how much actually goes to the cause

+1. I googled a well know charity which helps kids in eastern europe etc at xmas time, and saw on their website accounts which show their staff get an average of 50k a year. There is even mention of the charity making payments towards their staff pensions too. Thats a lot more than most people in Ireland earn, yet they are looking for charity off us ?

Charity should begin at home anyway, instead of sucking money out of the country. The government is borrowing 700 million or so a year just to give to " charities" abroad anyway. ..thats more than enough.

old hippy

gigino wrote: »

Charity should begin at home anyway, instead of sucking money out of the country. The government is borrowing 700 million or so a year just to give to " charities" abroad anyway. ..thats more than enough.

Yeah, I was going to send money home to Ireland this year but as my home is now outside of Ireland... feck it.

On a personal level, I find the type of person who says charity begins at home are usually the biggest tightwads you could wish to meet.

seanknowsall

gigino wrote: »

jack presley wrote: »

Whichever charity you choose, try and find out how much of the donation goes to salaries and other overheads and how much actually goes to the cause

+1. I googled a well know charity which helps kids in eastern europe etc at xmas time, and saw on their website accounts which show their staff get an average of 50k a year. There is even mention of the charity making payments towards their staff pensions too. Thats a lot more than most people in Ireland earn, yet they are looking for charity off us ?

Charity should begin at home anyway, instead of sucking money out of the country. The government is borrowing 700 million or so a year just to give to " charities" abroad anyway. ..thats more than enough.

I never give to foreign charities. We have always had enough needy causes at home. I sorry but Africa is not of any concern to me. St. vincent de paul and local cancer hospice gets my donation ( sadly not alot). I was watching a news report on rte news the other evening about the shoebox appeal for children in.....uganda etc. I was so angry to see the well off do gooders packing boxes for children in foreign places. What about charity starting at home??

Dudess

Yeah, where does "charity begin at home" come from? It's presented as fact, but it's just an opinion.
I'd send money to a charity that needs it most urgently - a disaster far afield is more worthy than a local club IMO. Not that I wouldn't support a local club either, but if it was a case of either that or the disaster-afflicted place, well, no-brainer for me.

old hippy

seanknowsall wrote: »

I never give to foreign charities. We have always had enough needy causes at home. I sorry but Africa is not of any concern to me. St. vincent de paul and local cancer hospice gets my donation ( sadly not alot). I was watching a news report on rte news the other evening about the shoebox appeal for children in.....uganda etc. I was so angry to see the well off do gooders packing boxes for children in foreign places. What about charity starting at home??

What an ugly sentiment, indeed. Fortunately, some of us do gooders care about the welfare of fellow human beings and can see the bigger picture.

foxyboxer

I give 10% of my earnings to the church first thing each month.














http://lolmart.com/files/2011/07/Laughing.png

Benny_Cake

seanknowsall wrote: »

I never give to foreign charities. We have always had enough needy causes at home. I sorry but Africa is not of any concern to me. St. vincent de paul and local cancer hospice gets my donation ( sadly not alot). I was watching a news report on rte news the other evening about the shoebox appeal for children in.....uganda etc. I was so angry to see the well off do gooders packing boxes for children in foreign places. What about charity starting at home??

What is it with people complaining about "do-gooders"?. We should help out to the best of our abilities - there are good organisations working at home and abroad which are deserving of our support. Suffering,wherever it happens,is everyone's concern.