Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Posted on 12/14/2011 10:14:29 AM PST by Kaslin
Dear Dave,
Our financial situation is pretty good now, and my husband and I feel it is time to start giving something back. There are several organizations we’re interested in helping, but how can we know if they’re legitimate and will use our money wisely?
Laura
Dear Laura,
I really appreciate your giving spirit, but the truth is you can never be 100 percent certain about this kind of thing. About the best you can do is put in some serious time researching and digging beneath the surface of various organizations to find some that are a comfortable fit for you.
My wife and I give the majority of our donations to Christian ministries. It’s not unusual for us to take a tour of the place to see what kind of feel we get while we’re there. If they’re secretive or not forthcoming with what we consider to be basic information about how they operate, or if we see signs of opulence or super-luxury, you can bet we’ll be asking lots of questions.
Talk to the leaders and administrators about what they plan to do with the money from your donation. You have a right to know this. I mean, if they’re going to give the money to hurricane victims, you want the victims to get the money, right?
People who work for a charitable organization need to make a decent living just like everyone else. But if they’re ultra-rich, it could be a sign that they’re not being responsible with their donations. Take a look at their administrative costs - what percentage of donations goes directly to the cause - and anything else you feel would help you make the right decision.
Giving is like anything else. It takes time and work to do it responsibly and with excellence!
—Dave
Dear Dave,
What happens to the money that is owed when someone files bankruptcy? Do creditors just have to write it off, or do other people pay the price through taxes or higher interest rates?
Grace
Dear Grace,
In most cases the creditor just loses the money. That’s one of the risks businesses face. Of course, any bankruptcy is also a seriously bad mark against the filer’s credit record.
Chapter 13 filings may be considered a little less severe than Chapter 7 because you’re showing an interest in retiring the debts. They often allow – if you have a regular income and limited debt – to keep some of the property you might otherwise lose. Also, some debt balances may be partially discharged, with the filer agreeing to make monthly payments to the trustee for distribution among remaining creditors.
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is lots tougher on the one who files. It involves liquidating all assets that aren’t exempt. Some of the filer’s property may be sold by a court-appointed official – a trustee – or just turned over to creditors.
It’s really a lose-lose situation, Grace. The business loses money, and the filer suffers the emotional pain of participating in a shameful process.
—Dave
I prefer to give to people I know. Helping young relatives or friends with education, helping repair the car or homes of people you know who may not be as blessed, working at the local church citrus sale to help raise money their programs.... Things like that
You know where the money is going and the impact is greater for yourself and them, than throwing cash over the wall of another organization and hoping for the best.
call in Karma...but I truely do believe in what comes around, goes around...and hopefully someone will be there for us, or my children or my grandchildren.....
I donate to the Augusta Warrior Project and designate my donation to apply to the Charlie Norwood VA Fisher House. And every single penny goes to that. Not a dime is kept for expenses or salaries. Their address is:
1190 Interstate Parkway, Augusta, Ga 30909.
Donations can be earmarked for other wounded warrior needs if the donor so designates...marital counseling, recreation, housing, whatever.
The Wounded Warrior Project, a nation-wide project, is good too but locally we see less than one cent of every dollar. What is not spent on national advertising is shared across the country to assist the wounded warriors.
Fisher House Foundation is also a great charity. And of course Samaritans Purse does an outstanding job too.
First comes my church however. Giving back to my lord from what he has given me.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
I’m with you....we do send checks away, but I really like being helpful to my adult children and my nieces and nephews...it ain’t easy out there.....( my son and his wife bought an older home back in the bubble and it has needed steady repair and replacement, with two babies and going to school and working fulltime...roof,deck,new fridge, and now needs a new furnace...(ugh)
I get calls from March of Dimes, and turn them away immediately. MOD got very involved with amniocentesis which, if the baby shows deformities or a gender that "mom" doesn't want, leads directly to the murder of the unborn.
I agree with your comments. “Keep it close to home...” is probably the best advise you can give.
Help the local community. There are fantastic organizations out there. Volunteer at a few of them. Ask to take a tour. Ask for community references.
I really do like the idea of helping out family, and people you know. I also like the idea of helping out through your church. Churches generally know some folks who could use some help.
My whole life I have heard of service clubs, and have never participated. My wife has in recent years. Fact is, these organizations do some great things. Each has a pet segment that they help out with. Joining those organizations could help you to see some great prospects for your philanthropy.
I prefer to give to people I know. Helping young relatives or friends with education, helping repair the car or homes of people you know who may not be as blessed, working at the local church citrus sale to help raise money their programs.... Things like that
Yes, I do some of those things as well but I like to be anonymous with what I do (except for church and an endowment in my late husbands name.) becasue that makes it easier for someone to accept. It helps them keep their dignity. Years ago someone gave me a gift of cash at a time when it was so badly needed and they said when the time came I could pay it back by giving to another person in need. The time has come and I am able to do that many times over. The lord has blessed me and I love to share those blessings. I promise I get more out of giving than anyone can from getting. It is the most fun I know! You know what I am talking about too.
This isn’t intended for you. PGR88. I’m just using your respond button.
One more thing, a warning.
Folks, be very careful what you donate to with it comes to programs advertised on the television. There are obviously good causes that solicit this way, but there are also bad causes that solicit this way.
You shouldn’t only worry about how much funds are going to make it to the actual cause, you should also worry about whether this is really a grass roots Leftist front organization too. It’s important that we don’t accidentally fund the Left or their efforts.
Thank you Kaslin for posting.....
Dave Ramsey Fan Ping List.
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Thank you Kaslin for posting.....
Dave Ramsey Fan Ping List.
If you would like to be added to the “Live like no one else, so that you can LIVE like no one else” list, feel free to Freepmail me.
I consider it essential to give to those matching my interests and which funnel near 100% of donations to intended recipients. Anything else is theft.
And that means you; UNICEF, United Way, and Red Cross!
Charity Navigator is a good source for seeing how well a charity spends the money it gets.
I give on a monthly basis, but only to local organizations. That way I can keep an eye on them.
Please do not give to the United Way. Donating to them is like donating via the Republican National Committee. After they take a sizable chunk of your donation, they do with the remainder as they please. You lose control.
I’ll donate directly to candidates of my choice after I have vetted them. Same thing for charities.
We donate significantly to our church when they take collections to pay off the mortgage. Helps the church AND is in line with Dave Ramsey’s principles.
I stopped donating to the United Way when they stopped supporting Boy Scouts over its insistence that gays couldn’t be scout leaders.
I never pass a Salvation Army kettle without dropping in some cash.
I usually give to animal shelters — cats and dogs don’t learn dependency, and don’t vote themselves more money from the public purse.
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