What charity would you give to

CarPark

Hi,
I would like to set up a standing order to a charity, but i don't know which charity to give to. In general, i would give to the third world. I know there are a lot of people who need help in Ireland, but i think that noone dies in Ireland because of lack of food or lack of basic vaccines. Well people may, but they at least have the OPPORTUNITY to get food and basic healthcare.

But i always see the Charity 4x4s and loads of money spent paying chuggers etc., and i think, what a waste. Is there any independent review of charities, that would look at the amount of money they take in and what they produce for that money?

What charity would you give to and why?

Thanks.

MooseJam

I had a standing order for concern, 12.99 a month , kept it going for 3 years before i cancelled it, it totaled to several hundred euro, made me feel all good inside

Owen

I have a direct debit every month for UNICEF for 21 Euro, if you donate that much, they can claim double the amount using tax incentives. Most of the money you give to UNICEF goes directly to the kids, and as I'm planning on not having any kids of my own, it works for me.

biko

I just stick change in the charity boxes at the pub.

Gumbyman

I stuck a wad into St Vinny de Paul today. Call them on 01 8550022 and they'll set you up. They do good stuff. I also have a SO to concern and sighsavers. Can't bring myself to cancel them no matter how broke I am!

hot fuss

Why not go for something local? They often get ignored and overshadowed by the larger ones

bakedbean

Hi Carpark - good move!

I support the Samaritans - people might not be dying in Ireland because of "a lack of food or lack of basic vaccines" but it's pretty awful how many die because the only option they have is to take their own life.:(

Mrs. MacGyver

Marymount Hospice, they did wonderful things for my uncle and his family before he died at the end of June. They definately get my vote!

mikemac

Tbh, If I ever give money to charity, it'd be for projects based in Ireland and not abroad. Even better if it's local-your local Hospice for example probably gets little mention in the media and it's just as deserving as the charities that everyone has heard of like Concern, Goal, etc.

Ruu_Old

UNICEF get most of my charity money as well (travelling on planes alot of the airlines have those change bags too).

Zapp Brannigan

ISPCC, I think that's what the child's one is called. I'd give to them.

UnReg123

PAWS because they get not funding from the government and do great work rescuing animals or else the ISPCA,

G&T

Lifeboat's,search and rescue ect,

They work for free(most of them)the least they deserve is good equipment

NeoRox

I give to the Irish cancer society and the ispca.

JIZZLORD

order of malta ambulance corps. Member
scouting ireland, spent several of the best years in scouts etc
Notrthwest MS therapy centre. My mother suffers from MS.

I find myself giving to more grassroots style organisations. especially ones that i know will benifit the community. i would NEVER give to a clipboard carrying charity, it's not that these charities are less worthy, it's just the skulldugery, a friends housemate used to be one of them guys who worked for a fundraising company, and they'd send him everywhere where they knew they'd get people. he eventually quit and volunteers with another charity doing the same, but as a volunteer.
Cant remember which charities though

allianz

How about The Simon Community? They do a good job helping the homeless in Ireland.

Whatever you do, don't sign up with any of the chuggers you see on the street. Many of them are employed through marketing companies and often only a minority of donation actually goes to the charity.

Demonique

What about population concern? They provide birth control and medical help for women in the third world:

1) Birth control for women which means families can space out their children and not end up with more children than they can afford, which means
2) Families have more money to spend on each individual child they have
3) Proper facilities for women to give birth in order to prevent women dying in pregnancy

s&mbarbie

I have a standing order for the mater hospital care fund to raise money for heart and lung transplant facilities, good if you wan't to start at home..also have one for cancer research.

watsgone

Order of Malta Ambulance Corps- Member
No Name Club- give my time

Irish Cancer Research
Down's Syndrome Ireland
AWARE

billy the squid

Have a standing order with Concern.

When I get a chance I give money to either Milford hospice, Multiple sclerosis (sp) ireland or ncbi

StupidLikeAFox

Charities like Trocaire, Concern etc are businesses, dont be fooled. They have MD's on big salaries, that 700 euro up there is prob equivalent to a chuggers weeks wages (they get 14€ an hour). Goal seems pretty decent, the Jon OShea fella seems like an honest guy.

I remember seeing a fella on the late late one nightwho sold a dotcom company for 400million and set up a charity. But the costs of running the charity are covered by the interest and money made from investing the 400 million, so every penny they recieve goes to help the third world. Himself and the wife oversee the whole operation. Its called over the rainbow or something like that

NextSteps

ColHol wrote:

Charities like Trocaire, Concern etc are businesses, dont be fooled.

Of course they're businesses, and they work in a businesslike way, to get maximum impact from their revenue (your donation). Concern, for example, have a turnover of €120 million. They need a CEO, staff, and an efficient way of fundraising. They spent €14m fundraising last year and they raised €64m - seems sound investment to me. Annual report: http://www.concern.net/about-concern/annual--review/annual-review-2006.php

You don't run a charity like that on well-meaning volunteerism, that's asking for trouble.

I generally give to smaller charities who don't have a very high profile and advertising.
Certain charities are also closer to my heart so they get the cash.

Mr. CooL ICE

ISPCA - call me a hippy, but the thought of innocent animals being brought into this world, treated horribly, inbred, etc really drives me mad. It is rampant everywhere, be it in rural or urban settings, but I just feel especially sorry for those animals.

Other than that, I would keep my donations to local charities that focus on the development of local facilities, e.g. scouts, sports clubs, etc, but that said, I would be slow to donate to G.A.A. call me prejudiced if you like, but they seem to get far more funding than other organisations IMO.

CarPark

Thanks for the replies.
I appreciate all the good work done by local charities, especially the hospice, but for me, i would really like to give to the third world. Does anyone have recommendations specifically on third world charities.

I have given to Bothar in the past. It seems like a good idea, as it is building up sustainability.

Any opinions?

beans

Goal seems pretty decent, the Jon OShea fella seems like an honest guy.

Perhaps, but he's got an unprofessional way about him that bothers me. He's clearly a passionate guy, and I'm sure he's motivated by good intentions, but I'd rather see my money for foreign aid under the control of Concern or likewise, where I know it will be spent wisely. The lad at the top of Trócaire comes across as a very level-headed and intelligent guy on any appearances I've seen, name escapes me.

Closer to home I would support the Simon community and Merchants Quay project.

sonners

RNLI - My father and two brothers are still with me today thanks to the amazing work of these guys.

Also the Order of Malta, Fire Brigade, Mountain Rescue teams etc, are most important to me. The majority of the people involved are volunteers, risking their own lives in a bid to save others.

Crumlin Children's Hopsital - My niece is thankfully alive and well thanks to them. I think the doctors and nurses of this hopsital are of world class stature, they're not just highly intelligent, they also have hearts of gold.

The way I look at it is, I hope I never require the services of any of them again, but if I do, I know they'll be there.

Kinetic^

Charity begins at home............so I tend to give myself the money in order to feed and clothe myself. The money has been put to good use so far.

MementoMori

If you give more than 250 per year to a charity, the charity can claim extra money off the government (as long as the charity is legit)

250 per year sounds a lot but it’s just over 20 quid a month.

A standing order of 20.84 per month to be exact (20.84*12 =250.08)

If you donate 250 and are on the top rate of tax the charity can claim an extra 166.67 [ (250/.6)= 416.67 => 416.67-250 = 166.67] - That’s right a free 166.67

If you donate 250 and are on the top rate of tax the charity can claim an extra 62.50 [ (250/.8)= 312.50 => 312.50-250 = 62.50] - That’s right a free 62.50 (better than nothing)

All you are required to do is sign a form with your PPS number- Any of the charities I’ve done this with will send you the form.

This is also acceptable for once-off charity donations.

OT I also think it’s pretty sh8ty that this is related to your tax rate. Also the level should be dropped to 240
per annum. I wonder how much the charities lose out because of the entry point being just above twenty quid a month.

OT - Also if people set this up it should in theory maybe reduce those goddam chuggers. Hopefully.

CathyMoran

Irish Cancer Society - they offer help and support to those with cancer and their loved ones.

Lollipop day - Oesphageal Cancer Foundation, would not be alive without them as their campaign made me realise that I had oesophageal cancer.