charitable thoughts...

[jay]

One constructive thing that I'm doing is filling out my annual CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) card for payroll deduction contributions to charities, with patgreene's inputs. Charities have to meet certain guidelines regarding overheads and accountability to be listed. I will be donating $780 ($30 per paycheck), split among no more than five charities (program constraint). So... I have more ideas than the 5 slots, so I'll solicit constructive advice (smile):

[Poll #378877]

Comments

[geekchick]

I used to donate to the Nature Conservancy but didn't renew this year. You might want to read this before making your decision either way.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Ah. I was wondering why you weren't recommending them in the poll.

[geekchick]

Wasn't recommending HRC either, for pretty much the same reason that tenacious_snail mentioned. The others, I just mostly haven't done enough research on them either way (not that I don't support their causes, just that I haven't looked into them enough to decide whether I want to give them money or not).

[airshipjones.livejournal.com]

I would have said SFF, but I think with the Ansari X Prize and other prizes getting such positive response, that they will do okay for a while. But given the next four years that we will have to endure, the ones I selected, (more human rights, environments related) are what I think is going to need the most help.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

My take is anything that helps people feed and warm themselves (Second Harvest, Habitat) and autism because of David, and then the last two slots... TBD. More human rights or environmental, given the election results...

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I'm going to suggest not contributing to the Human Rights Campaign. I don't quite feel up to explaining why right now, but later I will try to come up with something more articulate than "classist, transphobic assimilationists."

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I didn't know that. Still better than donating to Phyllis Schafly's Eagle Forum...

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

In some ways, it is a hard call. I'm a progressive, not a liberal. And their politics are decidedly pragmatic and, well, liberal at best. On the other hand, they may be the best representative available on certain issues.

NARAL, Habitat for Humanity and Greenpeace are the ones on your list I've given to. I have a connection to the East Bay Community Law Center, so while I support the legal aid idea, I channel my $ slightly differently.