Charity Navigator - Your Search Results

Out of these 1,000 separate Habitat for Humanity's listed, which one are you referencing?

Many responses have said that they do not give to charities that pay big salaries, especially the national (or international) charities.

So I ask you:
What is an appropriate salary and benefit package for the head of a large national (or international) organization with multiple departments, locations across the country (or globe), and multi-thousands of clients?
What is it worth to know that the money is accounted for accurately? That the conditions and restrictions of each gift have been followed?
How much should you pay a sales rep (fund raiser) who brings in most of your annual budget?
What about the grant writer who applies for money from foundations and United Way and the government? And write reports back to those grantors?
And the staff to support these people?
And don't forget the other overhead costs: insurance, rent, utilities...

Yes, some spend excessively on salaries. But I want to know that the people managing the charity are experienced, capable people who can give me confidence that best practices are being followed and my donation is being used well.

People like that are not inexpensive.

Coats
 

Thank you everyone for the great information. Are there any charity groups this year collecting coats for those in need? I would like to donate them to someone who needs them rather than the thrift stores.

We give to the Elks National Foundation (ENF) which supports youth and veterans (Charity Navigator info) and some hospices in Maryland.

Sheriff's Boys' (and girls) Ranch

St. Jude's CEO makes over a MILLION DOLLARS a year in Salary. Also St. Jude's has a Board of Directors with each making HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS a year. Also they have a very large "EXPENSE" of paying for COMMERCIALS. (Good cause though. Love Danny Thomas. Wish more CELEBRITIES did this type of thing.)

Generally Large Charities are Businesses. They just happen to deal in the areas of Charity.

My idea is to give to individuals in need identified by your church, local charities and local officials like police, etc. It makes more of an impact than going into a MEGA CHARITY and 100% goes to help.

My answer is that organizations like St. Jude's should be headed up by a Committee of Caring Retired Professionals that "VOLUNTEER" their time. There are zillions of RETIRED MEGA WEALTHY DOCTORS AND CEO's.

Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations - Consumer Reports


Here's another excellent source, to ensure donations are well spent.

For many years I have donated monthly to three charities, St Jude; for children with cancer. ASPCA; for Animals and Purple Heart Foundation; for Veterans.

M i a
 

my choices are st jude's and unicef to fight world hunger
what amazes me about this thread is
" where are all of the usual suspects" ?

I “adopt” children from very needy areas of the world. One recent adoption was 2 young sisters in Tamil Nadu. They stay there, I just pay for their shelter, food, and education to grade 12. Just trying to give them choices they might otherwise not have.

Strange that the well known charities are not mentioned at all

I look at charities where expenses and fun raising are less than 20% of amounts raised.

Some well known charities keep sending me "gifts" like calendars, pads and address labels that we do not need or want and they get ignored.

I remember the discovery that Boys Town had accumulated a lot of wealth. Some wag came up a twist on the inscription on their iconic statue "He ain't heavy, he's my broker." Boys Town Has an Embarrassment of Riches - The New York Times

As for me I like to donate items I no longer use to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to sell in their thrift stores. One time when I was moving I was getting rid of almost all my furniture, beds, TV and more and found a local church which was helping a local family who had lost their home to fire. They took everything. My father donated to The Salvation Army. My mother preferred Goodwill which I later learned enough about to not donate. An aunt donated heavily to American Indian charities as she was a public health nurse and had seen their needs up close and personal. Most of my cash donations are to extended family members in need as well as my church. When smoking in restaurants, on planes, in public buildings and more was a huge problem back in the 1960s and 1970s I contributed as much as I could to ASH, Action on Smoking & Health founded by a GW Law professor by the name of John Branzhaf in 1967. I was in the DC area at that time and knew first hand about him and his efforts. His accomplishments running that charitable organization are remarkable! About ASH – ASH > Action on Smoking & Health

My USPTO coworker and law school classmate, Clarence Dittlow, went on to become the executive director of The Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit founded by Ralph Nader and Consumers Union that has saved countless lives. Clarence M. Ditlow III, Auto Safety Crusader, Dies at 72 - The New York Times
Home - The Center for Auto Safety

Interestingly he drove a Corvette in the late 1960s when I knew him.