Category: Charities

There are so many out there who work tirelessly to ensure you and your loved ones are safe and secure in your environment. They range from the police force to fire fighters and so many others. You might want to show them your gratitude and support – and one way you can do that is by donating towards fund-raisers or any such initiatives organized by them. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) insists that the following be taken into serious consideration before making a donation:

-Remember, that the words ‘fire fighter’ or ‘police’ in the name of an organization does not necessarily mean it is part of either. Claims to have ties with or work with the local police force or the like does not mean the money you give them will be used for public safety measures. Do not hesitate to request for written information that you can peruse through to ensure that your donation will support programs that you endorse.

-Organizations like fire fighter service organizations and the police force engage paid professional fund raisers to solicit on their behalf.

-While donations to labor unions, fraternal organizations and trade associations are tax deductible, the police force and fire fighter units are not.

If you are still unsure of where exactly your donations are going to, you could take the following measures to ensure the contribution you make, will actually help others in your community:

-Ask for identification. Fund raisers should be able to identify themselves and name the organization they represent.

-Enquire as to how your donation will be utilized and the percentage of your contribution that will actually be used towards the relevant organization you choose.

-If unsure of the fundraisers legibility, call the organization to verify their claim. If it cannot be verified, then report them to local law enforcement officers.

Every year you probably contribute towards certain chosen charities. Have you ever stopped to think though, that some portion of these contributions does not go towards charitable purposes? It is a possibility that you must consider. Keep in mind that there are over 700,000 federally recognized charities. Therefore, being cautious about where you donate your money is important.

Paid Fund-Raisers
Charities employ professional fundraisers who find them to be a far more efficient tool, as opposed to using their own staff and volunteers. They make money for the charity, while a portion of the money collected goes to them. When putting your money towards a charity, there is no harm in your asking if the collector is a paid fundraiser, and what percentage of your donation he pockets. Consider these factors before you decide where you want to donate your money.

Reducing Telephone and Direct Mail Solicitations
Direct mails requesting for donations can be sometimes overwhelming. Therefore, here are a few things you can do to make these requests more manageable. Firstly, contact the charities you usually donate to and request that they do not share your information with any other organization. Another thing you can do is to ask charities to limit their requests to perhaps once or even twice a year.

Concerning donation requests received over the telephone, you could take a quick look at the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule. They not only restrict calling times, but also require quick identification of the charity they represent and other relevant details. People, who do not wish to be on calling list, can opt to move to the ‘do not call’ list – if the fundraiser ignores this request, fines can amount to $11,000. The Federal Government’s National Do Not Call Registry is also worth looking at.

Everyone wants to volunteer; to help in any way that they can. For some, the challenge lies in the ‘how to’. How do you find what you can do to help? How you can best put your talents to use and help out a charity that needs it? Like so many other issues, the Internet is the best place to start.

Author adminPosted on November 28, 2009December 2, 2009Categories Charities

Anne Frank’s quote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” embodies our readiness to serve the community and less fortunate and help to develop it. A recent survey by Gallup revealed that four out of ten adults claimed to be likely to set aside time to help people in their communities. Close to 51% expressed the likelihood to help youth, most these respondents being college graduates.

Argosy University/Washington DC is one good example. Its psychology students have put their education and skills to good use by performing practicum work, internships and other project within the community itself. During 2004, the students recorded around 160,000 hours of public service.

Dr. Cynthia Baum, President, Argosy University/Washington DC said, “Argosy University has a long history of contributing to the community. The hours of service provided by our students fill a much-needed gap to primarily underserved and low-income groups.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Barrett, Chairman of Argosy University/Washington DC’s clinical psychology program said, “There are over 170 sites to where the school sends its students to do pro bono work and provide much needed services to people who normally couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to receive these services.”

Apart from this practicum program administered as pro bono, the students also volunteer at other institutions such as the Kennedy-Krieger Institute of Child and Family Therapy and the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C.
Students like the ones at the Argosy University/Washington DC have raised the bar, their dedication towards the community is exemplary and has helped them to not only develop an interest in the community’s development, but has also enabled them to improve their academic performances as well.

There is no better way to occupy your children and contribute to society as the same time, than encouraging them to take on volunteer work. Take the advice of 14-year old Sondra Clark, who is the author of five books. Her latest book ‘You Can Change Your World’ takes you through 150 volunteer projects, which are simple and easy to follow. Here are a few of them:

Bedtime Snack Sacks – children in homeless shelters almost never get snacks, let alone bedtime snacks. Take a few lunch bags, decorate them with colored markers, sequins, and glitter paint. Fill each bag with a juice tetra pack and nonperishable items such as granola bars, packaged crackers and even dried fruit. To make the snack sack even more interesting, drop in a little toy as a surprise. Drop them off at a women’s shelter, and they will do the needful.

Dog Walking Fun – A few local humane societies look out for volunteers to walk their dogs. If you feel that you have the time to contribute, simple walk in and register your family as dog walkers. Your children can also help collect old towels and newspapers, which you can give to animal shelters.

Fancy Flowers – if your school or local charity has flowers growing around its entrance, why not offer to water and weed the flowers every month?

Outdoor Clean-up – if you and your children are into gardening, perhaps you could contact the local Parks and Recreation Department and check if they need any help on trail cleanups. Your children can even volunteer to help staff pick up litter and help preserve park facilities.

Entertainment – if your children have dramatic or musical talents, encourage them to round up a few friends and put together a skit, song or even a little concert, which you could present as a benefit show for a local charity.