Wise Year-End Giving
Give some thought to which charity deserves your money. You have two weeks to get a deduction this year.
This website can help you. It evaluates the efficiency of over 9,000 large charities.
Another factor to consider: Will your donation make a difference? If the charity has few donors, your donation will be a welcome gift. At the margin, it will be important. A charity that receives money from United Way will not notice your donation.
When looking to make year-end charitable contributions, I ask myself this question:
What organization is doing a really good job that either has little publicity or is very new?The reason why I ask this is so that I get more bang for my bucks. There are large organizations that will not miss my donation. There are small ones that will put the money to unique uses that would not be funded otherwise.
That's why I don't give to United Way or the Salvation Army. These are large, successful organizations that will meet their budgets without me. But some small, struggling organization really does need my money. It is not well known. It is on very few people's list to send $50 to.
For them, a $1,000 or more donation makes a difference.
I give from after-tithe money, which goes to my local congregation.
A good choice is any outfit that has made a big difference in your life or the life of someone close to you. Ask a relative about such an organization.
One that I give to sinks water wells in African villages. One well will provide water for 1,000 people for decades. That's a gift that keeps on giving.
Another great project is Plumpy'nut. It's a peanut- based food given to starving children. The food doesn't require refrigeration. It's high in protein. It's cheap. Some mothers walk for a day once a month to get a container. Others do it once a week. It saves lots of lives. It's well-known now. It wasn't when I first recommended it ten years ago this month.
For the full report, go here.
If you are persuaded, go here: