Aid agencies?

[Glen]

A question someone on here may know something about. Continuing on from Christiand, Birddogs and others here thoughts. A day after the tsunami was announced on world news I made a donation. Now looking at the size of the tragedy, I believe I can dig a little deeper. My question is which tax deductible (very important) aid organisation gets the most of my dollar to the victims? I am sure this question is of great interest to all here. Thanks

[christiand]

yes.

a donation is deducatble.
You need to get a receipt and file the thing.

cheers
CD

[Kristine]

Hi Glen

I am not sure if you have to donate to a specific aid agency. I guess if you just get a receipt that is ok. If you make the donation via credit card - keep a copy of your statement for tax purposes.

Cheers
Kristine

[Glen]

Thanks guys, my main question is who is best to give it to? ie who has the lowest overhead or cost structure. While I know some voluntary organisations have zero overhead (such as the Sri Lankan Aus organisation, who have just stated the can erect a two bedroom house in Sri Lanka for a $1,000 - How good is that!) I was wondering which of the tax deductible organisations can get most to the victims of this and not eat it up in cost structure?




A little bit like when a large org (involved in this effort) didn't pass the Bali donations on and used them for different projects. I would like to know who will get 100% of someones donation, or close to it, to the people in need.

[Werewolf]

Glen, we did quite a bit of research into this and out of all the major aid organisations we went with Care. Supposedly 95% of the total donated actually gets to where it's intended. With some of the other charities this figure is considerably lower, some as low as 75%!! I guess someone has to pay for those shiny new 4 Wheel Drives and 4 star accomadation.

As others have said, all donations are tax deductible as long as you keep receipts.

[Matt. K]

Werewolf
Some as low as 75 cents in the dollar? I believe some as low as 5 cents in the dollar! Take care with whom you give your donation to.

[brembo]

To check if it's tax deductable, they have to be a listed "Deductable gift recipient" on http://www.abr.gov.au and you'll need the receipt in the event you get audited by the ATO.

[Glen]

Thanks all just the sort of info I was after

[birddog114]

Generally speaking all charity organization allows to use/ spend up to 40% of the total fund they raised during the campaign,
So far, I've learned from what I'm doing for the last few years in this field
Red Cross from 1% -5%, CARE 5%-10%.
Some of other charity organizations 35% - 40%
And some worst buggers used up to 75% as Matt.K said, to fund for their Audi & BMW fleet cars, flying first class, stay at Hilton, Inter-Continental, Limousine on arrival, or 5 star resort + conferences, dinner.
Hard to think who's genuinely and have a good heart to the needies

[bago100]

Skynews has a list of charities that donations can be made to

http://www.skynews.com.au/index.asp

The Salvos are missing though

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/national/

Read the links and you'll see that each organisation states what percentage of your dollar will aid the victims. On the Salvo website you need to click the donate button and then specify what fund you want your money to go to. The Salvos are there if you read the world site at

http://www1.salvationarmy.org/

But the Aussie site needs urgent updating

For what it is worth, we donated to Red Cross but each can donate to their own.

Graham

[Glen]

Thanks all, just downloaded Care Aus annual report, seems 93% gets to the other end, 3% fundraising, 3% admin and 1% other. Thanks everyone for their contribution.

The reason I ask is only 3 weeks ago my daughter was conned by a so called volunteer for a NSW based charity. They had her sign for $30 per month but wouldn't let her put student as occupation ($30 is 10% of her income). Told me about it after 2 months as she couldn't afford it, got it stopped, then 2 days later an article appeared in the SMH about "Good Cause" a Britsih based company which does fundraising for charities but has high commisions. After that didn't want to get caught twice. Thanks

[Onyx]

Glen, that's a horrible way for you & your daughter to find out about the darker side of "charities". I didn't read the SMH article, but I have seen classifieds published by them offering positions vacant with 50% commission!

[Glen]

Onyx, that sounds like these guys and their high pressure tactics. Thing is, I now don't trust that charity and never will. Bummer because they are probably a good cause

[goodrich62]

Glen,
I usually go with the Red Cross. Not only do they give a good return for the $ but they are in a group that coordinates the allocation of funds to prevent duplication of or under allocation of funds for a given need or area. I lot of the adhock or smaller are specilized to the point where things don't go to where they are needed the most.
In a case like this I like to give to the people that have the most experience dealing with disasters

[Glen]

Thanks Goodrich for the advice. In Aus the management had a slight brain snap after Bali when aussies naturally donated for a just cause and then they decided to use the money for something else. That was not well received. Then people found out that someof the blood they were donating was being sold. Both of these tarnished their reputation somewhat. I initially chose Care for my first donation, then after Werewolf's suggestion went for Care for my bigger one. They get 93% to the ones in need, after 3%admin, 3% fundraising, 1% other, but after speaking to the girls on the phone they said it will be a much higher percentage in this case as the funds came in so quickly, with volunteer and employed phone operators, so overhead will be down. Nice to see people worldwide pulling together for those in need.

Have a look at Care Aus website, you can even download their annual report: http://www.careaustralia.org.au/index.asp

[Kristine]

This thread has been a great source of information - I have used the links to inform friends and family of the organisations for donating, as well as the percentage that the organisation forwards on in actual aid.

In the end, my husband and I chose Care Australia; I chose to delay the new lens(es) that I was considering and use the funds to donate instead.

[Glen]

It was great source for me as well Kristine, to learn from all here, nice thought is we all help each other make a choice which results in a better outcome for the unfortunate victims.

Plus it keeps it in our minds while lusting after new glass. I have actually given money away I dont yet have, so I am hoping 2005 is good for me.

[goodrich62]

Thanks Kristine
Sometimes we all need a wakeup

Glenn,
The US Red Cross can also be very political so I gave to the Red Cross, Red Cresant Foundation in Geneva, the parent, at this time I try to put religon and politic behind.
I just want to help and if they kneal to Jesus or face Mecca 5 times a day I don't care as long as they get the help they need.