- Welcome Guest |
- Publish Article |
- Blog |
- Login
Are your donations going to the propounded recipient?
An article, to which I have added a link on this article, had my blood a boil when I read it. The fact that not all money donated to a worthy cause reaches the very establishment for which it collected. Enrichment of others and the spending to advertise and drive for more donations actually receiving almost three-quarters of the donated money.
What has happened to human kindness, to the genuine concern of one for the other, is another’s demise seen as a way to enrich oneself? Hell, if our concern for others less fortunate, reach such a low-level of importance, then lets start the next world war, the reason? To wipe out those that we feel are taking up too much of the air that we breathe. For that matter why share anything with others, lets just keep eradicating those less fortunate than us till one man is left on earth, then I hope for his sake he's healthy.
How sure are you when donating money to a thought of worthy cause, that it is not a scam by some wise person to enrich his or her own pocket? Some institutions propounding collections of funds for a cause have titles such as “foundations” or “institution” attached to their titles. These by their very title will have administrators of the funds, and not all of these administrators are donating their services. These will have departments to make payments, write letters begging for funds and book keepers to make sure that embezzlement checked, donations counted and tax laws adhered to. Are all these admin staff donating of their own time? The answer to that is no, and these staff have to receive a salary.
It is not them at which I aim my discontent, after all people need to eat, but the donation givers need informing, are they paying for salaries or for the purpose to which they are donating? Of all the monies donated the first recipients will be the salaries, then the advertisers for more ads to encourage donations and if any left over, sent to the worthy cause for which it originally collected. Was this the reason for you making your donation, to help someone else to make a living or to aid the advertised recipients?
The “for .......... research” or “Save the.........” campaigns might have good intentions, but should they not by law have to declare their costs for collecting and publish the amounts collected and how much actually given to the cause? Would this not make it more transparent, and let the person wishing to give be better enlightened to what he is actually donating? The American Cancer Society , propounded to only give between 15 and 26% of money collected to the real researches. This fact seems ludicrous, why did so many give to the cause that must rank high by women as the most feared diseases, mind you also in men but in far fewer numbers. For that matter there are probably more women giving of their own free time and will, collecting for this disease, and yet do not know how little is actually reaching the very place they collect it for?
Why can donations not be made direct to the research institutes? At least in this case one would know your donation is actually going for the cause.
I am strongly of the opinion that collection institutes be made transparent in their undertakings with declarations of expenditure.
Before donating to any cause ask questions, I don't mean the old people standing on street corners collecting for their own old age homes, the SPCA boxes and other like collections, but those that have the slightest referral that might in some way make you suspicious of their intentions.
You should find out who administers the fund and how much actually reaches the person to whom you donate. You might be surprised how much goes out on administration and how little reaches the intended source.
Thanks for the comment C4rmen, once again Rob on his soapbox, I just hate the fact that I have given so much to cancer research after Linda's cancer and yet so little is actually reaching where it should.
Rob, I committed myself to some specific causes for the next few years. I know where each dollar will go! Guess I didn't realize how much other places spend. Hey! Now I appreciate "mine" all the more. blessings, Cynthia
__1410811268_cropped_thumb1.jpg)
As a member of a 501C charity organization, I have first hand knowledge of this. We must hire agencies to garner funding for us. They take a big percentage. Some are better than others but the nature of the beast is that we all don't have the time to fundraise. We are concentrating on getting our dogs to the level they need to be to find people. Funding for our training seminars and travel to and from deployments take a big toll on our own pockets. Any donations are appreciated but it would be nice if all of the donations actually reached us.
thanks C. Hughes, so we that are voicing our opinions about this very subject, are not off on our beef. It would be interesting to know how much tax the agencies pay on the collections. It seems a pity that should happen to so many good causes that only get as little as 15% of the monies collected.
I am so encouraged when I see so many people concerned about the 'transperancy' of our beloved charities. Maybe we really can start a revolution and make a real difference. Thanks, Rob. Keep stirring the pot!
Dr. you can rest assured this will be going as far as I can spread it. I hope you saw I linked through to your article so that readers can see it is not just me on my soap box again. Keep it coming.
When I choose causes, I try to cut out as many middle men as I can, and go direct to the person needing the help. The Salvation Army is a good one. My alma mater is always hitting on me for their scholarship fund. I would rather take just one student and help them directly. I received a crass, but hilarious letter from my alma mater suggesting that alumni leave their money in a trust to the school. Letter said it wouldn't be painful, because you'll be gone anyway when it goes into effect. Couldn't believe my eyes. I guess family's don't count as heirs. I'm very suspicious of the cancer research groups who are collecting funds. I've done a lot of research on cancer. There is magnificent work being done, and has been done by independent scientists and doctors. There is much out there, where smart science has been successful treating cancer, even curing it. They are not the ones being funded by the research organizations. Makes one wonder if the powers that be, are honestly interested in any real cure for cancer. Cancer is very profitable, after all. I'm feeling a little cynical on that topic. Thanks Rob for yet another provocative article.
Thanks Joan, I'm still laughing at the letter you received, "you won't feel a thing you'll be gone" I've got to remember that one and compose a letter now to all the rich friends I have who might go before me and leave their moneys to me instead of their families. I even feel an article there somewhere. To get back to the subject I am very weary of the cancer collectors, their agenda is not as open as it should be. We will not donate to causes like that where so small a portion of the money actually reaches the cause. One we do give to and we know where every cent goes, is one where all the ladies that support the cancer patients receiving chemo, with tea and cake etc feet rubs and as much support they can to make the patients comfortable. Linda's chemo refill as I like to call it took 5 hours, these women all volunteers are angels and keep them comfortable the whole time. I inquired where all the cakes etc came from and most was out their own pockets. This started a charity that has now spread, they loan out wheel chairs to the less fortunate cancer patients etc, a wonderful organisation.
How true, the problem being so many are unaware of where their money is actually going and transparency would allow them to make a choice. So many differing institutes collect for the same cause, if one knew who gave what to whom one might just channel ones donations differently.
Article Views: 2643 Report this Article