Charity Donations

Many people are moved to philanthropy and those with good hearts and the motivation will do anything they can to help. I am very glad that most charity organizations accept as little or as much as a person is willing to give, because it encourages many to donate. It takes no time, you can send funds from the comfort of your own home, and unless you have the money to spare and a passion for helping others (or need the publicity), you only really have to donate an amount you won't even miss.

The best part is that you can't feel guilty because every dollar counts. I spent a year living in an apartment building in Ottawa where representatives from Red Cross would regularly make their rounds. Their causes vary from International Natural Disasters (like the Pakistan Flood) to Anti-bullying Programs in local schools. I decided to donate $20 a month from then on. The representative informed that one out of five people chose to donate $20 at least once if not monthly. I did a little calculation: 19 floors in my building, 10 apartments per floor making it 190 apartments. Divided by 5, is roughly 38 donations in my apartment building alone. 38 multiplied by 20 is $760 donated by my apartment building, excluding further monthly donations and other superfluous donations people randomly gave.

I thought $20 wouldn't do much but it does make a difference, no matter how small. Also, I'd rather people donate what they can or what they want than not donate at all.

However, I've heard stories about people being scammed by various "charity organizations" who prey on kind hearts. In truth, the way charity donations work you can never truly know where your money goes. If you're anything like me, it isn't good enough that you've given the money, you want to know that it's reached the people you wanted to help.

There are several organizations out there who take it upon themselves to inspect and evaluate charity organizations and release their findings in their publications to help people choose which organizations are trustworthy and worth donating too. I've come across the American Institute of Philanthropy which evaluate organizations on their website: www.charitywatch.org

Anyone looking to donate should definitely look into "watchdog" services like the AIP before donating.

There is one other issue though. Donations sent to the Red Cross and other well-known charity organizations considered "trustworthy" are used for overhead costs, advertising and other fees. I understand that all this is necessary to ensure the programs can be run and that eventually people can be helped, but I'm not sure how I feel about being part of marketing and the commercialization of charity organizations. But that's just me.

I know it's necessary, but I think I'd rather know that my money directly affected a person in need. Then again, in that way I shouldn't be helping by donating through third-party organizations. I would rather establish that personal contact with the person I'm helping. I don't like being a faceless donor, nor do I like them being faceless victims. I suppose that sort of thing is done through sponsorships of orphans etc.

Speaking of which, I was looking up organizations that connects sponsors with orphans around the world and I was surprised to see that most of them ask that you help feed, clothes and educate a young orphan IN THE WAYS OF JESUS CHRIST.

As a Muslim, I understand that the primary goal of believers of missionary-type religions after being admitted to their version of heaven is to welcome more people into their religion, but it seems to be almost self-serving. These children need basic amenities that we take for granted, but it almost seems conditional upon them accepting the religion of the sponsor.

There's something that just doesn't sit right with me about that.

More on the topic of Religion in the World soon.