So Many…

September 18, 2009 in charity with 37 Comments

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There are so many charities. There are so many people that are hurting and that are in need and it all requires money,change, cheese, dollaz, whatever you wanna call it. I could go down the list here, but I won’t. So, here’s the question- With so many organizations and charities, how do you decide who to give your money to?

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http://intensedebate.com/people/Coenraad Coenraad

I would say, pray over it. Let the Lord send you in which ever way, and then go out and actually do it.

Living in South Africa, we have a lot of need and charities, and beggars and the like, and you will never be able to give to everybody. I have learned in the last couple of weeks to really trust the Lord to point out to me who I give to. As far as international charities go, I am being pulled in the direction of getting involved with charity:water.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

awesome
Lemmings

I totally agree with Coenraad – pray, pray, pray…

Along with charity: water, I would add the usual suspects of Compassion International, World Vision, but also H2O Aftrica (h2oafrica.org), American Cancer Society – the list is exhausting…
http://www.RoesGarden.com Courtney

As a Christian, I believe you also have to think about whether or not your gifts are just doing good works or are they fulfilling a need & helping people come to know Jesus better. While I fully support the work of secular charities (and sometimes I give to them as there's no Christian organization filling the void that they are doing), I find a Christian organization that is helping people both physically and to know God is where I try to put my funding & energy.

From there, they are right – pray, pray, pray. God will move your heart for a specific area and then research to find out what Christian group is doing the most in that area and put your funds/time/energies there.

Also, remember that money is not the only thing these charities need but its the easiest thing for most people to give and is a still a need.

HTH.
http://intensedebate.com/people/austinklee austinklee

I work with the financial side of non-profit organizations everyday and I have a practical list of ways to select organizations:

1. Do your homework. Charity Navigator and Guidestar are great resources for information on the financial health of NPO's. Remember that some organizations are not "Christian" on purpose because of the greater amount of work they are able to accomplish without the negative connotation that some people have toward Christians.

2. Select categories. Choose one charity per category and give to each. The broad categories are: Place of Worship, Health/Social, Education, Cultural.

I give in this order: Buckhead Church, http://www.chooseaneed.org, Mars Hill College/Auburn University, Atlanta Opera

For those with larger pocketbooks I would encourage you to contact The National Christian Foundation. They assist in setting up donor advised funds and make sure that your funds go to great organizations. Another option is to contact Calvin Edwards and Company they provide gift planning, research, due dilligence, etc.

3. Get involved. The more you work with an NPO the more you will feel comfortable in giving them money. A good way to decide on an organization is to ask how you can volunteer with them.

4. Tell others. If you have found a great organization tell everyone you know, invite them to volunteer with you.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

good deal. yes there are so many good ones
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

good answer
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

great advice here. u know your stuff
http://intensedebate.com/people/karenb karenb

Thanks for these tips! I'll definintely be checking out Charity Navigator and Guidestar.
http://intensedebate.com/people/karenb karenb

It's so easy to get overwhelmed with all of the options… so much so that at times I end up not giving at all except to my local church. Good advice here though. Definitely going to be taking some of the advice.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

they do sound like awesome charities
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

yep. good stuff. great helps these people are
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http://twitter.com/austinklee @austinklee

[polldaddy 2010232 http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2010232/ polldaddy]
http://intensedebate.com/people/austinklee austinklee

I expanded on this reply and included links to sites at my website: http://www.austinklee.com
http://twitter.com/gidgey @gidgey

Our Friday Night Outreach.

We've been doing it every Friday since 2001.

Ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of those "transitionally homeless" people living in motels in Anaheim.

http://www.pardonedprodigals.com
http://www.gritandglory.com alece

where do you live in SA?

our ministry is in Harrismith (halfway between Joburg and Durban) — http://www.ThriveAfrica.org — wondering if you're anywhere nearby…
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http://intensedebate.com/people/wildcat1998 wildcat1998

My first charity I gave to was the Boy Scouts of America. The reason I gave to them was that I once was a Girl Scout and I thought that the Boy Scouts had more fun. I was in my late teens. Now my reasons are more emotional. American Cancer Society and one or two other Cancer research because my Grandmother and sister died from Cancer, as well as my former Father in-law and my former Mother in-law will be joining our Lord in Heaven any day now. I give to the Heart Association because our family has high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I give to the American Lung because my son as asthma. So it's emotional for me.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

I live in Atlanta, GA
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

very cool
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

good reasons
http://www.gritandglory.com alece

i know YOU do! coenraad up there said he lives in south africa! so do i. well, normally. right now in atlanta…
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

oh wow. what r u doing here?
http://www.gritandglory.com alece

been on the field eleven years. this past year has been devastating personally in a lot of ways, and i'm taking a year of "sabattical". living with friends in kennesaw at least until the end of the year. i'll be stateside till the fall of 2010; just not sure i'll be in ATL the whole time.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

wow. well good luck to ya
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/jasonthebaldguy jasonthebaldguy

I have tended help people that I meet during my daily life. I run into people every day that need help, need someone to care, to stop and take time with them… I believe that we should have a very direct impact on those around us… while there are so many different charities, these days it is best to be careful who you donate to… I would much quicker donate to individual missionaries that are in the trenches serving rather than a large charity full of individuals that may or may not have a vested interest in accomplishing the stated goals of the charity.
^ edit
I agree completely with austinklee above! great advice you got a thumbs up from me!
Laura

i donate to the american cancer society by doing their signature event, relay for life. i started doing it through my school because of all the people i know who have cancer, and was inspired to do it by my friend paul, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

yeah he had some great advice. very good advice from you as well. good to do some research I guess
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

oh wow. great cause and a great reason. thanks for commenting on the blog, Laura. Hope to see ya more on here.
http://zombieskittles.com Zombie_Plan

All you can really do is look at what they do with the money and decide from there. Which cause does what you really believe needs to be done?
An example, is that until recently I've never actually donated money to a charity before, but when I had to decide who to help for my 10CentCharity project, I ended up deciding over Charity:Water and Blood:Water Mission. I ended up picking the latter because they both do similar work, but Blood:Water Mission's quest also focused on making people more aware of just how bad the AIDS crisis in Africa really is.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jackalopekid jackalopekid

good stuff man
http://intensedebate.com/people/MarcoWill Marcus Williamson

Whatever truly tugs at your heart.
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