Organisations that need donations have got me thinking...

[bagheera86]

Hi, a particular photo on the Soi Dog fb page prompted me to donate. I can't donate much.. But I did and I hope it helps. But it got me thinking, animal charities and people charities for whatever have me thinking.

'What's the point? They'll always need money forever and ever and my measly bit of change will hardly put a dent into what they need.' and that kinda thing.

Which makes me wonder there are probably thousands of different organisations for the same disease/cause. Why can't they just make a core organisation and go through that? make we could all give up movies for a year? they put MILLIONS of dollars into those things and make MILLIONS more. or maybe instead of giving up movies, once everyones paid for the work in a particular movie- why not use the profit to split between randomly drawn organisations?

I dunno. Maybe I'm just having a crash from all the sugar I've eaten and I'm looking too much into things x_x;

[kaoskat]

Because most people will never be willing to sacrifice much for others, but most people will give up some of what they have to help. As for joining together, while it may make more money in one place, there are different ways that each organization works that would be lost if they were all the same. Take the diseases for instance, they put the money into "research" but what if the one organization misses the research that would be successful with funding. With many smaller ones, they are more likely to be found. All the problems really could be easily solved in most cases, but the solutions would require a great change in humanity. Our species as a whole has never done well working together or caring about others. Individually? Certainly. But as a group? Not so much. So everyone just has to do the best they can to make things better, whatever that may mean. One person can't change the whole world, but he/she can change the whole world for one person/animal/etc.

An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.
"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."
"But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference."
The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves,
saying, "It made a difference for that one."
The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.

[bagheera86]

b'aaaw that's a wonderful story, I hope its true! And I meant that all the organisations stay the way they are but the funding goes to one place and gets distributed or something originally. But then after reading you're comment I found you reminded me of how well people get along... Our history is not so good >__>;

We'd probably get cranky and get competitive and the people distributing the funding would become corrupt and so on.

Solution= I'll just be fussy with who I donate to from now on I guess.

[melodys_angel]

Need to do your reasearch and make sure your donation goes to where you want it to go.  There are some that will use it for advertising instead of research or helping that animal out.  Its just the way things work, especially with the bigger organizations.

Smaller ones tend to be specialized for the unknown things that arent as common. But thats just something ive noticed.

[kaoskat]

Yes, always research the organization you are donating through. Some are a bit.....ummm.....deceptive about what they are actually doing.

[hyenacub]

I love that story...  :saves it: Thanks for sharing!

[Kiwi]

That story always makes me smile

It's hard to donate to everything, but even a little bit once in a while helps. And there are ways to help without spending money too (ie if you see sponsored ads on say an animal rescue/SPCA site, give those a click - the rescue makes a few cents for every click from their site).

[lovesbabysquirmy]

http:www.charityintelligence.org

[BrightSide]

I work for an organisation (Cancer Research) and although we know our fundraising won't completely eradicate the disease, we know that at least we can work towards improving peoples' lives, both sufferers and survivors. It's not just about collecting change in boxes: we primarily aim to save lives from cancer. We educate patients as well as the public, by providing information and support.

Over the last decade we've raised funds to pioneer new treatments, better scans and tests and for new research centres to open, as well as campaigning for people to support the cause and for those in charge to be aware.

I have to say it's incredibly rewarding. I don't get paid for the hours I do in a week (neither do my colleagues), but it's such a friendly environment, it's actually enriching to us as well as to profits. It's an amazing feeling when someone who has battled / is battling the illness comes to us and thanks us for our work. We take in around £300 in a day, so it's not labour for nothing! We are all working for a cause, and seeing the changes made by our fundraising is fantastic!

As long as we make a difference, no matter the size, I believe it's all worthwhile.

[fiwen30]

I used to professionally fundraise for a number of different charities, from worldwide ones with an incredible amount of weight behind them, all the way down to smaller, more localised ones who helped out 'the little guy'.

There are thousands, and thousands of registered charities, and at a glance there might seem to be many doing the same thing, but it all comes down to personal choice for who you want your money to go to. Supporting a charity is a wonderful thing, and it's even better when you feel a connection to their work. So do your research, choose carefully, and the charity will thank you for it

[littlekelly4587]

I like to give time instead of money because then I *know* I'm doing good. 


Ironically, that said.... please take note of my signature.   

[bagheera86]

I like to give time instead of money because then I *know* I'm doing good. 


Ironically, that said.... please take note of my signature.   

I wish i could but i can't fly to thailand and the rspca rejected my volunteer application. So money is the only thing i can really offer. ;--;

[ButtercreamDream]

Need to do your reasearch and make sure your donation goes to where you want it to go.  There are some that will use it for advertising instead of research or helping that animal out.  Its just the way things work, especially with the bigger organizations.

Smaller ones tend to be specialized for the unknown things that arent as common. But thats just something ive noticed.

This exactly.  I donate to smaller grass roots organisations, because more of the funds donated actually go towards the cause, and less goes towards advertising etc.  I donate to Ferret Rescue, and rabbit rescue, for example, and 99% of the funds go towards vet bills for the pets that have been seized, or abandoned.  At the humane society, I donate time and items, but 50%  of the funds they get go back towards advertising for more donations.