What Charity to support & why???

Twiggy69

Hi, I've decided to make a contribution of €21 per month to a worthy charity. I just discovered because I pay Income Tax at the higher rate, the charity in effect gets €35.59 per month, once my annual contribution exceeds €250 per annum!

Now, the question is what charity & why?

My partner is currently donating this amount to Focus Ireland, so I am considering something like Trocaire. I like the idea that this contribution could be used to provide water facilities & or seeds to provide for a family.

The reason I am posting here is that I want to ensure that as much of my money as possible goes to the people in need, not be swallowed up in administration or corruption. So, if you can advise me in relation which ones are going to give best bang for my buck or flag the ones to avoid, this would be a huge help to me & the needy people that will benefit.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Twiggy69

DadaKopf

Personally, I would give to both Focus and Trócaire. Concern is a good alternative. Both Concern and Trócaire are among the best in Ireland for the percentage of your donation that goes to administration; also, Trócaire do not do on-street fundraising, and Concern hire their own on-street fundraisers. By contrast, many other charities use a third party, usually Face2Face who take a cut for the first 6 months (AFAIK).

Personally, I would not give to Goal; they do not engage in development work, they work in emergency humanitarian assistance. I'm also unsure how accurate their 'administrative' costs really are.

My belief is to give to charities that treat the symptoms of poverty/hardship, but also work hard to eliminate the causes.

Your best bet is to go to the charity websites and look through their material (e.g. UNICEF very publicly states how much goes where). There are other alternatives depending on your own personal priorities: Plan, Barnardos, UNICEF, Threshold, Oxfam etc.

Twiggy69

Thanks DadaKopf,
You seem to know your stuff. I'll go for Trocaire, as other half is supporting Focus Ireland.

Appreciate your input.

T

Dades

What about Sightsavers International?

I've always liked the idea that you are helping to do something that enables somebody to actually live their own life, rather than just extending somebody's life by a bag of rice.

Bottle_of_Smoke

There's only around 700 highland gorillas left in the world - try and help them somehow. we have plenty of people!

WindSock

If I bothered with a charity, I would do that sponsor a child thing. At least you know one person that is benefitting from you semi-personally and you can see their progress in the form of a colourful scribbling that you can stick on your fridge door.

irish_bob

DadaKopf wrote: »

Personally, I would give to both Focus and Trócaire. Concern is a good alternative. Both Concern and Trócaire are among the best in Ireland for the percentage of your donation that goes to administration; also, Trócaire do not do on-street fundraising, and Concern hire their own on-street fundraisers. By contrast, many other charities use a third party, usually Face2Face who take a cut for the first 6 months (AFAIK).

Personally, I would not give to Goal; they do not engage in development work, they work in emergency humanitarian assistance. I'm also unsure how accurate their 'administrative' costs really are.

My belief is to give to charities that treat the symptoms of poverty/hardship, but also work hard to eliminate the causes.

Your best bet is to go to the charity websites and look through their material (e.g. UNICEF very publicly states how much goes where). There are other alternatives depending on your own personal priorities: Plan, Barnardos, UNICEF, Threshold, Oxfam etc.

i thought GOAL were a good one , i gave a grand to them a few yrs ago

DadaKopf

Dades wrote: »

What about Sightsavers International?

I've always liked the idea that you are helping to do something that enables somebody to actually live their own life, rather than just extending somebody's life by a bag of rice.

WindSock wrote: »

If I bothered with a charity, I would do that sponsor a child thing. At least you know one person that is benefitting from you semi-personally and you can see their progress in the form of a colourful scribbling that you can stick on your fridge door.

I understand this point of view. But think of it this way: a child is a member of a family, a family is part of a village or neighbourhood, these form communities, economies, marketplaces, schools etc. Places where people live, work, learn, play, fall in love. Children themselves depend on communities to prosper. Sponsoring one child is a morally right, but is it contributing to the sustainable development of the community?

If Ireland was still a poor, backward country, and British people were sponsoring children, what would Ireland be like today?

I'm not saying don't do it, but it's worth giving some thought to these questions. Some NGOs market as if you're sponsoring a child, but actually, you're funding a much wider range of activities.

tallaght01

DadaKopf wrote: »

I understand this point of view. But think of it this way: a child is a member of a family, a family is part of a village or neighbourhood, these form communities, economies, marketplaces, schools etc. Places where people live, work, learn, play, fall in love. Children themselves depend on communities to prosper. Sponsoring one child is a morally right, but is it contributing to the sustainable development of the community?

If Ireland was still a poor, backward country, and British people were sponsoring children, what would Ireland be like today?

I'm not saying don't do it, but it's worth giving some thought to these questions. Some NGOs market as if you're sponsoring a child, but actually, you're funding a much wider range of activities.

My understanding of the situation when you sponsor a child, is that usually the money goes to either the village or the family, as opposed to kitting some uganding teenager out in Nikes while his siblings are starving. BUt you cans end the kiddy presents etc directly.

There's nothing wrong with GOAL. There's a need for emergency work, just as there's a need for long term development.

Twiggy69

Thank you all for your worthwhile well reasoned points of view. I have elected to go down the Trocaire route, plus I like the idea that my €250+ per annum allows them a further tax break so it's a WIN, WIN for them.

Best wishes to you all.

T

mickydi

Thought bothar pretty good too.... am thinking of donating to a charity instead of a gift for a birthday 50th dunno how much tho ..amybe 100. I was thinking of bothar.