Donate regularly to one of the national charities?
Stop. Donate 1/2 as much to a local charity with similar goals. The money is more likely to be spent on the real ideals of the charity than lining the pockets of some marketing company and equipping african warlords with new guns.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:12, 32 replies)

Or just keep your money

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:14, closed)

There is that.
But that's not what charity is all about is it?
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:16, closed)

This qotw isn't about charity
When looking to save money, the first thing I do is stop giving it away
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:17, closed)

^Sound advice here^

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:18, closed)

It's about saving money. Not saving ALL your money.
Some people wish to give to charity. I'm just pointing out a more efficient way to spend their money.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:21, closed)

I'll suggest a compromise.
Send it to me, and I'll give some of it to a local charity.
(username failed moderation, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:22, closed)

^what she said^
But with better rates.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:24, closed)

No send to me here in nigeria and i will let you have 25hundredymillion pounds

( fluffybunnykiller Is feasting on the clitoris of life, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:58, closed)

I still think it's highly dubious advice
In some circumstances it'll work - say providing care for homeless people, maybe - but if I want to prevent tigers from going extinct I'd feel happier giving £10 to the WWF to help run their established tiger conservation areas and anti-poaching patrols than bunging a fiver to fat Bob down the church hall who's never seen a tiger in his life and who'll probably just pass the money on to the WWF anyway.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:47, closed)

You have to be realistic.
Of course fat bob isn't going to save the tigers or rainforests and if that was your only care than you'd be right to carry on paying to the WWF.

But what if it was just pet welfare? Your money would best be spent donated to the local cats/dog protection kennels than the RSPCA, for example.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:54, closed)

Are cats and dogs really in danger of going extinct?
I thought we had loads of them
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:59, closed)

I said welfare!
Not extinction.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:04, closed)

Can they put nappies on cats
cause one of them keeps shitting in my garden.

I'd gladly send some of your money to pay for that.
(username failed moderation, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:13, closed)

When giving to charity I save cash by not donating to pet charities in the first place
Spending money to look after animals that we have a huge surplus of is just bad economics in the first place
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:20, closed)

We have a surplus of pensioners too.

( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:49, closed)

Eh, I'm not completely against euthanasia
though I'd prefer higher levels of abortion in the first place
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:02, closed)

you're just a visionary.
and largely unappreciated in your own time.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Thu 17 Nov 2011, 1:06, closed)

what if I live just round the corner from a national charity
and therefore they are my local charity?
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:31, closed)

Move away.
Then donate to the closest local charity that supports your goals *

* You may have to move a long way away if all the closest local charities do not support your goals. **

** Eg anything that looks remotely like it may be run by A Vagabond
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:40, closed)

do you have a clue?
I'm an accountant for a fucking big charity.

Our accounting has to be meticulous and is scrutinised by numerous official bodies as well as being available to the public.

Yes, large organisations have large costs, but like commercial companies they also benefit from economies of scale. So, say we spend 2 of every 10 quid on costs as opposed to the local charitys 50p, our 8 can usually do far more than their 9.50.

Rant over, flame away...
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 15:48, closed)

Fair enough.
Can't argue with an expert.

Unless it's in homeopathy. Or Religion.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:10, closed)

You've still spent
an extra 1.50 on costs.

And I'm not even an accountant.
(username failed moderation, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:14, closed)

you've missed the point.
If it costs the local charity £15 to acheive what the large one can do for 8, your £ is still doing more even though a larger proportion is spent on costs.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:13, closed)

If you accept that the larger charity
can do more with the same money, yes.

I work quite regularly with some very big global charities. I wouldn't take what you say as gospel.
(username failed moderation, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:32, closed)

I can only agree that you have a valid point
All figures can be 'massaged' to meet an agenda, but it's much more difficult to alter those proportions when you're dealing with bigger numbers and there are many more people looking closely at them afterward.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 20:12, closed)

Bring on the science bit

( fluffybunnykiller Is feasting on the clitoris of life, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 16:59, closed)

and how much does your chief exec cost?

(dyllon nice beaver., Wed 16 Nov 2011, 17:54, closed)

I don't know off the top of my head
Just compare the chairperson of the few largest uk charities with those of similar size commercial companies. You'll see it's a fuckload less well paid working for a charity.

And yes, that cascades all the way down. I'm a qualified professional as are many of my colleagues, we would make a LOT more money in the commercial sector. (my last job was much easier than this one and I'm paid 25% LESS than I was 4 years ago there. Gotta fucking love this recession stuff eh?
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 20:21, closed)

Oh, I know how it works OK
A friend of mine worked for a Very Large and Well Known development and relief charity. They boast about how much of their income they spend on projects. Which is true only if you ignore the vast amounts they backcharge the projects for internal admin.

Want to buy a new part for a water pump in Africa? That's fine, Mr Field Worker you can spend the £4. Oh yes, and we'll charge your project £30 for giving you the permission. Have a nice day.

Conniving, lying, greedy bastards. Give your money to Water Aid instead folks.
(ubergeekian, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 18:25, closed)

i'm intrigued
It's not an area I work on, but I may take a closer look.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 20:22, closed)

"[rather than] equipping african warlords with new guns"
But then the news on telly would be really boring...
(MayorBoris, Wed 16 Nov 2011, 18:41, closed)

Never give money to any 'non profit' whose CEO earns more than you do.

(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Thu 17 Nov 2011, 1:08, closed)