$$ Donations (Page 2): If it costs that much to process a monthly donation, they are an extremely wasteful charity, and I wouldn't give them anything. I give to Tunnels 2 Towers, and...

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

PhotoMono123 wrote:

There are certain rules charities have to abide, and processing small donations often cost them money. If it costs, for example, $16.00 to process a donation, then having a $25.00 donation minimum is a reasonable — and practical — request. From your standpoint, it is just 3 or 4 lattes.

If it costs that much to process a monthly donation, they are an extremely wasteful charity, and I wouldn't give them anything. I give to Tunnels 2 Towers, and they have no problem with $11 donations. More than 95% of the funds raised are devoted to their charitable outreach.

Before giving to any charity, do some research. Some pay their CEO's massive salaries. Some have extremely high and wasteful overhead expenses. Some are outright scams. NEVER respond to a phone solicitation without checking on the legitimacy of the agency in question. Request that they mail some literature to you. If they refuse, or make excuses, they are probably scammers.

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

There is a website called Charity Navigator that gives you all sorts of info.
CEO's salary
% of money raised used for solicitation. This number will astound you!
% of money raised actually used for charitable work
Etc, etc.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Before I donate I look them up. I found some popular ones have expensive employees ( in excess of 1/2 million dollars a year and some 4 people at that rate). On my list T 2 T is one of the best.

rcarol

jerryc41 wrote:

I don't mind donating to worthwhile charities and ... (show quote)

I recently contributed to a fund that was set up in memory of a family friend. The fund was to be used to help veterans obtain a higher education. I received a message from the fund manager thanking me for my contribution and concluding by asking me to contribute more. I responded by telling him that he should be grateful for the contribution that he received from me.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

BebuLamar wrote:

One thing about my local PBS station is that they set a goal for their fund raising campange. And they won't stop until they meet their goal. They kept saying help them to meet their goal so that they can return to the regular programming (they implied if not you will have to continue to suffer from all this)

And yet PBS already gets taxpayer funding from the government!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ecblackiii wrote:

And yet PBS already gets taxpayer funding from the government!

Complete funding or partial funding.
Makes a difference.....

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

Longshadow wrote:

Complete funding or partial funding.
Makes a difference.....

It certainly does. IMHO PBS should get no taxpayer funding at all. If PBS provides a useful and valuable service, it is able to support itself with commercial ads alone--just like the 15,000 other radio station and 1,700 TV stations have to do.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ecblackiii wrote:

It certainly does. IMHO PBS should get no taxpayer funding at all. If PBS provides a useful and valuable service, it is able to support itself with commercial ads alone--just like the 15,000 other radio station and 1,700 TV stations have to do.

Wow, the PBS stations I watch have no ads.......
That's why they require funding of some sort.

So you're suggesting that they start showing ads to acquire operating revenue???

The nice thing about PBS, NO ADS.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

jerryc41 wrote:

I don't mind donating to worthwhile charities and ... (show quote)

By the time administration costs, CEO costs, etc., ad nauseam are consider, most charities are simply a money grab! I don't trust any of them to do any good for their so called causes.

bwa

NDMarks Loc: Dublin, Ca

I am tired of all the ads for different "non-profits" such as "St Judes, etc". They are probably wonderful organizations but I tried to see how I can send direct donations to them and was told they don't want donations, they want credit card numbers so they can take monthly amounts. They know that most people give credit card numbers and then forget about it. I tell them that I refuse to give them credit card numbers so no donations from me. I have not owned a credit card for over 20 years. With my business degree I understand the system.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

Longshadow wrote:

Wow, the PBS stations I watch have no ads.......
That's why they require funding of some sort.

So you're suggesting that they start showing ads to acquire operating revenue???

The nice thing about PBS, NO ADS.

Yes. I do not believe all taxpayers should pay for you to receive ad-free entertainment. If you want ad-free entertainment, you should pay for it yourself.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

NDMarks wrote:

I am tired of all the ads for different "non-... (show quote)

Full disclosure. I support the wonderful work that St. Jude's does. You don't have to if you don't want to. But, St. Jude's is perfectly happy with contributions by checks, and I have done that.

Like everyone else, charities prefer credit card payments because it reduces administrative accounting costs. I don't have a problem with that because it makes more money available for the primary goals. So, I also contribute by credit card as well.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ecblackiii wrote:

Yes. I do not believe all taxpayers should pay for you to receive ad-free entertainment. If you want ad-free entertainment, you should pay for it yourself.

And thus changeth the concept of Public TV.......

There's probably MANY THINGS that the government provides subsidies for that I have no interest in.
And I'll bet you can easily find a few additional ones that you don't care for either.
Does that mean they should stop funding those also?

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

jerryc41 wrote:

I don't mind donating to worthwhile charities and ... (show quote)

For any charity, ask for a copy of their IRS 990 for the previous year. It will tell you how contributions are distributed (for good, or for bureaucracy). If they refuse, don't give them anything.

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

ecblackiii wrote:

And yet PBS already gets taxpayer funding from the government!

PBS and NPR do get government grants and claim they are donor supported but many of the shows are supported by corporate and foundation sponsors. The short acknowledgements are just like advertising. I wish they would just start accepting advertising.

ALSO, PBS and NPR act like they are owned by the extreme liberals. Their stories and reporting are so far from balanced and non-political, that they might just as well come-out and call themselves National Liberal Television and Liberal Broadcasting Service.

I do enjoy some of their dramas, comedies and historical documentaries; but can't stand listening much of their discussion. They would rather die than include anyone with a conservative opinion in their programming.