Irish or foreign charities

Passport · 04-04-2007 5:05pm #1

A Poll is on its way

If you were to donate to a foreign or national charity which would it most likely be and why?

I never donate to Irish charities as I believe that if they got no funding the governmen would eventually step in, and that is not the case in some african countries where people are dying needlessly.

I also don't understand why people would donate to Irish cancer research (as if we would be the ones to figure it out)

patrickc · 04-04-2007 5:07pm

Irish charities more often

Irish because i'd rather help our own first and foremost, also high percentages of what you to donate to some foreign charities goes in admin etc...

arseagon · 04-04-2007 5:14pm

Meh, I'm too mean to give my money away.

admiralofthefleet · 04-04-2007 5:56pm

Irish charities more often

patrickc2006 wrote:

Irish because i'd rather help our own first and foremost, also high percentages of what you to donate to some foreign charities goes in admin etc...

seconded

The Real B-man · 04-04-2007 6:00pm

neutral

Its hard to decide theres children dying around the world and yet theres alot of poverty & disadvantaged kids in Ireland

Ruu_Old · 04-04-2007 6:01pm

Both Irish, charity begins at home (still consider it my home even though I'm abroad at the moment) and all that jazz and foreign charities get my support once a year.

Crucifix · 04-04-2007 6:02pm

foreign charities only

More foreign. However there is a personal avenue open to me which insures none of the money is going on admin.

Catari Jaguar · 04-04-2007 7:42pm

Irish charities more often

I mainly give to Irish charities like the ISPCC, ISPCA, the Lifeboats and Irish Cancer Society (I used to volunteer in one of their shops).

I'm more of a doer than a giver. I've sold the Holly and the Daffodils and have packed bags/ sang carols etc.

That said, I'm going to teach in the slums in Kenya for 6 weeks this Summer. IMO, as long as you give time and help instead of money (that'll probably be pocketed by corrupt fcukers) it's positive.

Frank Grimes · 04-04-2007 8:20pm

Foreign charities more

Red Cross, sometimes for the foreign appeals so I picked neutral.

CathyMoran · 04-04-2007 8:40pm

neutral

I tend to donate to Irish charities more. The main charities that I tend to support are Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Oesphageal Cancer Foundation, The Irish Cancer Society, The Simon Community, Brainwave, SVDP...

I have personally used the Irish Cancer Society support line in the past year and the help that it provides is amazing, you never know the day when you or a relative will experience the horrors of cancer and they are there as a supporting hand. There is a lot of research going on into cancer in Ireland, a lot of pioneering work has been done here - I would not be alive today had it not been due to research done.

trout · 04-04-2007 9:14pm

neutral

i have modest direct debits for two Irish charities each month ... both working on behalf of people with mental handicaps. I just think these guys deserve my money more.

My fear for foreign charities is corruption at the end points, based on stories from people I know who have volunteered their time & skills in various African states.

I do like to support childrens charities and local efforts in the kids schools and so on, and I like to support Daffodil day.

I really don't like the bucket janglers who waylay you on the street like modern-day highwaymen. I have crossed the road to avoid them ... I know it's not rational, but I often feel they are on commission, and have no empathy with the charities they are representing.

patrickc · 04-04-2007 9:39pm

Irish charities more often

as someone who works on the streets most of my time in Dublin city centre I cannot stand so called "chuggers", even when you say you already have a donation with them (probably a lie on my behalf but anything for peace) they still want to sign you up for more.

kizzyr · 04-04-2007 10:12pm

neutral

I have a huge thing about Focus Ireland, I think its dreadful that in this country in 2007 there are still so many people living on the streets and think it is a very deserving charity. I also support Amnesty International, in particular their bid to stop FGM as I find that a horrifyingly barbaric practice. I donate to the Irish Cancer Society too as many of my family members have been affected with cancer and my older brother died from it.
I give a significant enough amount of money to each of these charities on a monthly basis and leave it at that. I know many people disagree with me but I firmly believe that 3 charities is enough.

Oman · 04-04-2007 10:18pm

neutral

Mainly irish charities like trocaire and Bóthar

patrickc · 04-04-2007 10:32pm

Irish charities more often

kizzyr wrote:

I have a huge thing about Focus Ireland, I think its dreadful that in this country in 2007 there are still so many people living on the streets and think it is a very deserving charity. I also support Amnesty International, in particular their bid to stop FGM as I find that a horrifyingly barbaric practice. I donate to the Irish Cancer Society too as many of my family members have been affected with cancer and my older brother died from it.
I give a significant enough amount of money to each of these charities on a monthly basis and leave it at that. I know many people disagree with me but I firmly believe that 3 charities is enough.

just as a matter of interest why focus over other homeless charities?

kizzyr · 04-04-2007 10:46pm

neutral

patrickc2006 wrote:

just as a matter of interest why focus over other homeless charities?

To be honest I don't really know. When I left college and started working and bought my house it really affected me when I was making my way to work in the morning and was passing so many people sleeping in doorways and Focus was the first one I became aware of and so started donating to them.

daveirl · 04-04-2007 10:55pm

This post has been deleted.

patrickc · 04-04-2007 11:06pm

Irish charities more often

kizzyr wrote:

To be honest I don't really know. When I left college and started working and bought my house it really affected me when I was making my way to work in the morning and was passing so many people sleeping in doorways and Focus was the first one I became aware of and so started donating to them.

just wondering, cos i work for another homeless charity... it's all good all goes to the same cause

beans · 05-04-2007 10:28am

Irish charities more often

OP, do you mean charities that work in Ireland vs charities that work abroad, rather than Irish vs Foreign charities?

Concern, for example, is an Irish charity that works abroad.

Personally my preference would be for charities that work at home.

Mrs_Doyle · 05-04-2007 10:35am

neutral

patrickc2006 wrote:

Irish because i'd rather help our own first and foremost, also high percentages of what you to donate to some foreign charities goes in admin etc...

Well I can't speak for all Irish Charities, but I know that there are people working for one particular, reputable, Irish charity, (the one I work for) who are earning six figure salaries.
(Sadly I'm not one fo them)

I sponsor concern, but aside from that, when I do decide to donate money, or fundraise for a charity(Women's mini marathon, etc), I tend to do it for a smaller charity, like the Jack and Jill foundation, or a community programme, for example.
The smaller charities have less outgoings and you can actually see how they benefit directly from your contribution (depending on its size, of course).

phantom_lord · 05-04-2007 11:33am

Irish >> foreign charities

Irish or foreign charities

I donate to... 28 votes

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