What charities do you give to? Which are you involved in?
 

I was curious what causes people are involved in and which they donate money to (outside of the philanthropies through your GLO, unless you're really involved).

I've been watching to get involved with some sort of charitable organization in my area but haven't yet decided which would be right for me. So i'd like to hear what others are involved in.

Last night I read the new issue of Marie Claire, and it had a lengthy feature about the lack of food in Africa and all the starvation. That pulled at my heartstrings and put some things in perspective for me.

Of course, several pages later there's a fashion spread featuring $5000 skirts and $1600 tops... but that's another debate.

So, what do you give your time and money to?

This is an easy one for me - I had to get a list together for my company yesterday of the volunteer work I've done over the last year. :)

Keep in mind that until a few months ago, I made peanuts, so the only way I could give to charity was with time (vs. donations.)

The trick - for me - is to pick something you're emotionally invested in. Then it doesn't feel like just another thing you have to do.

These are the groups I've been involved with over the last year - most I just see once a month or so, but a few I invest time in every week.

• HART, although if I still lived near Richmond, I'd be volunteering at the shelter where I adopted my dog
• the county police department
• various stuff through FM (it changes, but usually something like CMN, a homeless shelter, a local 5k, etc.)
• reading to an older sister at a local nursing home
• tutoring 4th graders at my mom's elementary school

I used to work with Civil Air Patrol, but I wasn't a good fit with the people they have there right now - I wasn't enjoying it, so I figured I'd move on to something else and try back in a year or so. I did CAP in high school and it was really, really good for me.


eta links

I did a lot for Special Olympics before I became a member of ASA. We had a huge lighted parade in my hometown, and we would pack up many of the floats and transport them to Special Olympic awards ceramonies, and have a parade for them.

The professional group I'm involved with NAWIC - National Assoc. of Women in Construction - does Habitat for Humanity, and donates many items to women's shelters.

Habitat for Humanity is pretty great. I'm a big fan.

(Although now it makes me think of that scene in Wedding Crashers where Rachel McAdams describes meeting her frattastic fiancee while on a mission with Habitat.)

I did a lot with Habitat in college, I was an officer in of our collegiate chapter and went on 2 spring break trips with Habitat, so it's one that i'm thinking of getting involved in. But I know I got frustrated with the Pittsburgh area chapter for awhile, so i'm iffy on it.

I remember an ad for Habitat awhile ago with a lady saying something like "They're just keys to you, but for me..." and her describing how great it was to have a house of their own. That got to me. NAWIC does women's build habitat houses - all women crews...it's pretty cool.

This sounds ridiculous, but....

I loved church in high school and did a ton of church-related stuff. Something that I heard over and over again was, "The greatest argument for Christianity is Christians. The worst argument against Christianity is Christians."

Meaning - I assume - people are only going to be as impressed with your group as they are impressed with the people. And I've seen that a LOT - like with the Civil Air Patrol thing.

I know firsthand it's a GREAT organization. But if you just have a few bad apples.... or bad management... or just a bad attitude as a group... you really turn off the flow of volunteers. Nobody wants to be a part of that. And then you're missing out on people who could've provided a lot of expertise, enthusiasm, a fresh outlook, etc., etc.

Just think it's sad that you really can have GREAT groups that don't get to do great things because they have not-so-great people working for them/managing them.

Clean Water Fund
ASPCA
local policeman's fund
Hogar Crea (local women's shelter)

There's more I can't think right now.

Childrens hospital of Orange County, as well as Hoag Hospital.


ANd one day when I am rich enough, any gala event that the Playboy mansion throws.

I'm on a couple boards. Maybe I've made a difference. Who knows?

-Rudey

Rainbow Village is an organization that provides transitional housing for families that are trying to get back on their feet financially. Most of the families consist of women with small children who are fleeing abusive relationships. My alumnae chapter adopted RV as its local philanthropy several years ago, and I've gotten pretty involved with it over the past two years.

I also do quite a bit with Anysoldier.com, which is an organization that provides support to our military men and women currently deployed overseas.

I do receptionist work and peer counseling at a local pregnancy care center. I also choose to donate there. It is extremely emotional but also immensely rewarding. It's definitely not for everyone- but I've been called!

I donate money to:
-The Pittsburgh Project (a mini Habit for Humanity)
-Project Grace (funds a small town in WVa, in all ways)
-Caris (Chicago)

I donate my time and money to:
-Fresh Start Divorce Seminars, Inc.
-Women's Center & Shelter
-South Hills Crisis Pregnancy Center
-Ronald McDonald House (through ADPi)

Plus, I tithe (give 10%) to my church, and click on several computer sites that donate money towards different charities (Animal Resue, Breast Care, Crisis Pregnancy, Bibles Overseas, Missionaries, etc).

How did you get involved in those boards? Did you start off volunteering and worked your way up, did you know someone, etc?

One had an established Senior Board. They wanted to get younger professionals involved because they really cared about it (and wanted others to) and I joined when the Junior Board was being established. Since I joined so early on I was exposed quite a bit to how the Board chose to define its mission. I'm happy that board had such an excellent President to lead it and dedicate so much time to it.

Another board I guess I could say I worked my way up in. Board membership for this is a formality but I don't think I'm different than any long-term volunteer or donor.

I think a major component to board memberships is how much money you can bring in. A lot of board members volunteer or raise awareness, but what separates you from the volunteers is if you can bring in that cash. Usually it's written into the bylaws how much you are responsible for and some people may want to stick to volunteering for that reason. Someone asked that I join a Senior Board but I couldn't afford it. And I've seen a lot of people just drop out of these boards which shows they didn't really think about it when they joined.

And a lot of board members usually serve with other boards so I guess once you get going with one, the next thing you know you're asked to join another and another and another. You start getting emails about fundraisers every week and have no idea which of your friends is in which or why half of these charities even exist.

http://www.boardnetusa.org/ may have something you might be interested in. A lot of charities have Junior Boards for people our age if you're interested but it's not the same as volunteering or donating to.

-Rudey

Thanks, Rudey. Ultimately I would like to serve on a BOD of an organization someday, but as you said, being young and not being able to bring in the $$$ isn't going to work. I'm fairly familiar with how nonprofits are run from a legal standpoint thanks to a class in nonprofit orgs. Many people who get involved don't really realize what it entails.

I'll have to check out that message board, thanks.

I'm gonna cosign on this one. BoardNetUSA is a GREAT resource!

I completely thought you meant message boards and I laughed out loud. Then I read Dani's reply. D'oh!

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

-Rudey

Officers' Wives Clubs and Junior Leagues of everywhere we lived. Girl Scouts since the daughter was a Daisy, Boy Scouts since the son was a Tiger.

I spend time helping to review scholarship applications and interviewing for scholarships at my alma matter. I also do a BIG push to raise money for AIDS and Breast Cancer every year. Every year I give to my niece and nephew's school, when they have a walk a thon.

I usually give to the following: Red Cross (hurricane relief, sunami, etc...), Special Olympics as my cousins are very involved in it. Also, JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) not only because of Alpha Gam, but I have cousins who were diagnosed with it as kids. I do their Walk a Thon andthis year I will volunteer at their Gala Night (auction fundraiser). I also take my clothes I don't wear anymore to the local womens' shelter

Pittsburgh Project is AWESOME. I went to high school w/ the founders daughter (who was also awesome). My high school (Perry High..north side!) did a ton of stuff with them for volunteer day.

My personal favorites are
-American Diabetes Association (gotta help myself here!)
-Western PA Humane Society (see signature! They gave me the best friends a girl could ask for)
-MS. Any of you with a bike, get your butts in gear and do an MS150 ride in your neck of the woods.
or sponsor a rider. There's always a healthy Corporate competition too (last year there was Comcast,Dicks, and FedEx (I think FedEx alone raised close to a million for the western PA ride)
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/MS%20Bike%20Tour.asp
Best 2 days of my life!!

I believe...
 

Time spent in service to others is not charged to your ledger of life...

Over the years I have consistently supported with time (in too numerous positions to list) and/or money the following

Girl Scouts of the USA
Boy Scouts of America
American Red Cross
PTO
Operation Christmas / Toys for Tots / Helping Hand Food Pantry
Planned Parenthood
CASA (Court appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem)
Wee Care (respite nursery for parents of young children)
Blank Children's Hospital
Community Information Networks

The charity I've focused on lately is the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Instead of purchasing gifts, I've made donations instead.

Re: I believe...
 

Have you ever heard Albert Schweitzer's quote? "Service to others is the rent you pay for the space you occupy on earth."

We were raised on a daily dose of that! :)

Family wise:

A Denver Women's Shelter
La Leche League International (Mrs. DA is a former international board of directors member)
Y-Me Breast Cancer charity

Give to:
North Shore Animal League (dog rescue)
Cystic Fibrosis (our philanthropy)
Local Mission which provides food and shelter for homeless

Donate loads and loads of time to:
Junior League
Homeowners Association Philanthropy Chair - Blood Drive Captain and other lesser projects

Denise

Give to:

Humane Society of the United States
AOII Foundation
Red Barn Alumni Association (with specific donations to adult/continuing student scholarship fund, a cause very near and dear to my heart)
Boy Scouts of America
Blue Jackets Foundation
Local youth sports organizations

Volunteer with:

Cub and Boy Scouts
Various schools/PTOs
Destination Imagination

I donate money to the Sigma Nu Foundation.

I volunteer doing Kinship Assessment Home Studies and initial interviews of children who have been recently taken into the foster system for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services through Oklahoma Lawyers for Children.

In addition to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation:

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
Girl Scouts
Boy Scouts
Red Cross
First Step Women's Shelter
American Lung Association
American Heart Association
numerous breast cancer charities
American Diabetes Association
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation

and.. hmm, donate clothes to Purple Heart or Salvation Army, donate food to a variety of churches and assist in making up the Thanksgiving boxes for the needy.

I have negative free time these days, so the only organization where I volunteer my time is my synagogue.

I donate money annually to my synagogue (over and above dues), AEPhi Foundation, my alma mater, and the local police and fire departments. I've also donated when natural disasters such as Katrina have occurred. I also donate clothes and books when I clean out my closets (which I don't do as often as my husband would like :p ).

I typically donate to Elon, Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, the Humane Society, and just recently the children's museum where I now work. I wish I had more to give, but I give a little to each. Hopefully once I have a decent income I can do more.

I give money to

American Cancer Society
and The humane society

I actively volunteer with my local Humane Society,including fostering puppies. The lastest one is a Pit mix who I've had for 3 mnths and has had no good applications on her, she may end up being a permenant resident at my house.

Lambda Chi Educational Foundation along with The NAFD, and My Chapters Events.

American Childrens Cancer Foundation.

Have worked in the Special Olympics.

All are very desearving know matter which one. But remember, one can only deal with so many.