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- Personal Account: Danielli, Part I
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- On Becoming a Financial Grown-up
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- Personal Account: Gabrielle's Reflection on Worth
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Donate Now, but How?
By MP Dunleavey Friday December 11, 2009
'Tis the season of giving on many fronts—personal and charitable—but in an economy like this one, it's hard to open your wallet. Some ways to let the spirit move you:
- Don't feel pressured to give $100 to public radio or any organization if you can't afford it. "While a small donation might not seem like much, each one absolutely makes a difference, both in the aggregate as well as by themselves" says Marty Lipp of the Harlem Children's Zone. "Even ten dollars can buy two days of breakfast and lunch for one of our charter school students."
- Not sure where to give? Check out Change.org, GuideStar.org or ChangingThePresent.org and browse their directories of non-profits to see what sparks your passion this holiday season.
- Think small. Many charitable groups today help channel small amounts toward a common end, as with Kiva.org (which distributes micro loans) and Heifer.org, which bundles contributions to make a bigger donation to a family or community.
- Your money can only go in so many directions, so think like an investor. Create a modest, balanced giving portfolio that includes contributions to local, global and personal causes.
- Donate in different ways. Many organizations need your time, goods or abilities more than cash. Sites like WorkInCulture.ca (for Canadians) and Idealist.org (for those in the U.S.) help volunteers find projects that need their skills.
- Do two good deeds at once! “Many people are combining their holiday shopping and their charitable giving through programs like OxfamGifts.com," says Marc Ruben, vice president at M+R Strategic Services (www.mrss.com), a consulting firm that specializes in online fundraising for nonprofits. “It’s a great giving option if you’re on a tight budget.”
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Written by Laura, December 11, 2009
Great suggestions! You can also volunteer a few hours in your local soup kitchen, and give away unwanted clothes and toys to the Goodwill.
Written by M., December 13, 2009
Thank you for highlighting the fact that a little bit goes a very long way. As the director of a non-profit in Orange County, CA, I run camps for adults and children with disabilities and we are completely volunteer supported. Thats right, even the directors donate their time so every penny we receive goes directly to our campers, so the smallest amount makes a very big difference! Thank you for touching on all aspects of finance!
Dream Big.
M.
website: www.ReCreationCampOC.com
blog: www.ReCreationCampOC.wordpress.com
Dream Big.
M.
website: www.ReCreationCampOC.com
blog: www.ReCreationCampOC.wordpress.com
Written by Aimee, December 13, 2009
Coincidentally, I just gave my friend of 25 years a gift from Oxfam America: I planted 50 tress for $30 in her name. She LOVED the idea--as someone who wants for nothing, prefers to give and cares about the environment. Thanks for introducing more people to the idea, Daily Worth! : )
Written by samsstuff, December 13, 2009
Thank you for posting these great ideas. I wish that I could donate more money & check off those boxes on donation forms for what are large amounts. I always feel that I'm not giving enough if I don't. I'm glad that you've reminded us that every little bit helps! I had not heard of Heifer before & I like Kiva's model of loaning money to women around the world to start their own businesses. These both seem like great organizations. Thanks for the ideas.
Written by Chloé, December 13, 2009
Love this post.. but Oxfam sucks. Here's why:
Heifer International, MercyCorps, Oxfam and other nonprofits have programs that ship animals overseas to poor families in underdeveloped countries to use for meat and dairy products. This is a nearsighted attempt to solve a far more complex problem (world hunger) and poses several risks for the animals, the environment, and the people whom these programs purport to help.
If slitting defenseless animals throats or taking milk meant for their babies is appropriate, then I’d support Heifer, unfortunately Heifer is NOT helping these people by giving them animals to abuse. You want to HELP people in Africa – it would by going veg . All their grain (which could TRULY be feeding them) comes to the US to feed OUR cattle. I have African friends who have watched grain grow (whilst STARVED) across the field that was meant for US cattle. Absurd.
Taking animals away from their mothers, shipping them thousands of miles to far off lands, and then subjugating them for dairy products and ultimately slaughtering them for food, flies in the face of my personal mission to lead by compassion. All animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways, whether they are on factory farms or used for personal sustenance. Cruel procedures such as dehorning and castration without painkillers, restrictive conditions, and extended suffering due to illness and injury are commonplace. If a family is struggling to provide for themselves, how can they ensure adequate conditions, nutrition and veterinary care for their animals? Providing another mouth to feed and care for seems to be the last thing one should be doing to fight world hunger.
Farm animals drink a lot of water and graze a lot of land -- particularly cows, pigs and goats. These animals contribute to desertification, particularly when living in environments that are not natural for them, and environments at risk for desertification. Many of these recipient families already live in desert climates and have a hard enough time getting water and resources for themselves, much less their animals.
Residents in Asia and Africa, two of the continents targeted by Heifer and other organizations of its ilk, have the highest levels of lactose intolerance in the world -- upwards of 90% of these populations are unable to properly digest milk. Sending dairy cows to areas with a mostly lactose intolerant population defeats the purpose of these organizations' missions.
Finally, we find it particularly disturbing that many of these programs show images of happy children hugging and holding these creatures to lure people into making a sympathetic donation. These images fail to reflect the hard, cold reality that these animals are doomed for slaughter.
The following organizations are working to reduce human suffering through programs that are sustainable and animal friendly:
• Sustainable Harvest International
• Food for Life
• Trees for Life
• The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
• Women's Bean Project
Heifer International, MercyCorps, Oxfam and other nonprofits have programs that ship animals overseas to poor families in underdeveloped countries to use for meat and dairy products. This is a nearsighted attempt to solve a far more complex problem (world hunger) and poses several risks for the animals, the environment, and the people whom these programs purport to help.
If slitting defenseless animals throats or taking milk meant for their babies is appropriate, then I’d support Heifer, unfortunately Heifer is NOT helping these people by giving them animals to abuse. You want to HELP people in Africa – it would by going veg . All their grain (which could TRULY be feeding them) comes to the US to feed OUR cattle. I have African friends who have watched grain grow (whilst STARVED) across the field that was meant for US cattle. Absurd.
Taking animals away from their mothers, shipping them thousands of miles to far off lands, and then subjugating them for dairy products and ultimately slaughtering them for food, flies in the face of my personal mission to lead by compassion. All animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways, whether they are on factory farms or used for personal sustenance. Cruel procedures such as dehorning and castration without painkillers, restrictive conditions, and extended suffering due to illness and injury are commonplace. If a family is struggling to provide for themselves, how can they ensure adequate conditions, nutrition and veterinary care for their animals? Providing another mouth to feed and care for seems to be the last thing one should be doing to fight world hunger.
Farm animals drink a lot of water and graze a lot of land -- particularly cows, pigs and goats. These animals contribute to desertification, particularly when living in environments that are not natural for them, and environments at risk for desertification. Many of these recipient families already live in desert climates and have a hard enough time getting water and resources for themselves, much less their animals.
Residents in Asia and Africa, two of the continents targeted by Heifer and other organizations of its ilk, have the highest levels of lactose intolerance in the world -- upwards of 90% of these populations are unable to properly digest milk. Sending dairy cows to areas with a mostly lactose intolerant population defeats the purpose of these organizations' missions.
Finally, we find it particularly disturbing that many of these programs show images of happy children hugging and holding these creatures to lure people into making a sympathetic donation. These images fail to reflect the hard, cold reality that these animals are doomed for slaughter.
The following organizations are working to reduce human suffering through programs that are sustainable and animal friendly:
• Sustainable Harvest International
• Food for Life
• Trees for Life
• The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
• Women's Bean Project
Written by Miah, December 21, 2009
Right on, sister. Love the last post. Misguided charity is not the answer to poverty.
Written by MP Dunleavey, December 22, 2009
Thanks for these interesting thoughts. I agree that world hunger is complex. That said, as director of content here on our humble site, I have to caution DW readers that ALL COMMENTS are the opinions of those who post them. We neither verify nor endorse the information in other people's comments. It's always wise to investigate whatever cause you choose to send your money to. Chloe's analysis of Heifer's flaws may be correct--or biased. For example, to her point about dairy cows and lactose intolerance, I simply checked the website myself. Heifer provides many different types of animals for different regions: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/
Only one dairy cow is on the list. The also offer goats, chickens, water buffalo, pigs, bees, trees. Thank you, as always, for your posts. Our message is simply that for those of us who want to give, there are easy, inexpensive ways to do so.
Only one dairy cow is on the list. The also offer goats, chickens, water buffalo, pigs, bees, trees. Thank you, as always, for your posts. Our message is simply that for those of us who want to give, there are easy, inexpensive ways to do so.
