Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: community, hard launch, local, non-profit, Red Cross, volunteer, website
As a continuation of my last post, I met today with the Information Officer of a local non-profit to discuss a new project that she is launching to connect the community at large to the area’s sundry charities. As she spoke about it and showed me demos of their project I felt that same giddiness arising in me from yesterday. Although I don’t want to speak too much about it just yet until the hard launch, just know that this site will make giving easier and more specific to the charity or individuals that need it the most. It is a very exciting endeavor and I am fortunate to be a part of it.
On a side note, my background check passed (phew!) so I can now start signing up for courses to become a full-fledged Red Cross volunteer. I look forward to sharing those stories with you in the (near) future.
I would have written more but my cat refused to let me type in peace, the smart kitty she is, by walking across the keyboard several times causing me to type nonsense. It’s a darn good thing she is cute or otherwise, I might not be so agreeable…
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: charity, Chile, choosing wisely, Forbes, fraud, Haiti, money, non-profit
Some days are busier than others.
When I started on this journey of giving, I knew that it would be difficult to physically volunteer everyday. Between work, volunteering, teaching yoga and my personal life I am pretty booked until, well, March 2011. So on the days that I cannot get out into the community I will donate a small sum of money to a nonprofit of my choosing.
Before I whipped out my credit card I did a little research online. I found a great article by Forbes on how to choose a charity wisely. They warned of fraudulent charities and those who might spend more on administrative work rather than their cause. Working with different non-profits over the years this wasn’t entirely new information, but I do feel saddened that it continues to be this way.
I clicked on a tab that said “most efficient large charities” and found one immediately that I liked. It is called “Heart to Heart” and they boast an impressive 98 % of money collected goes to the cause, only 2% towards the administrative side. Those are some impressive numbers! Right now they are focusing their efforts on the tragedies in Chile and Haiti, but they work all over the world, wherever there are people in need.
It pays to take some extra time for researching charities, I would be heartbroken knowing that my hard-earned dough had gone to a prankster rather than someone in need. I hope that more people will be inspired to donate money to a worthwhile cause, even if it is just a few bucks, the last few crumpled singles at the bottom of your purse that you are too embarrassed to take out. Someone out there wouldn’t be too embarrassed to accept them for a warm meal.
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