While having breakfast at a local diner this morning, I noticed a newspaper editorial that said that charitable contributions in the US are expected to total about $200 Billion this year.
Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?
The kicker is that only about 10% of these contributions are directed at organizations that help the needy. The remainder goes to museums and colleges and the like.
I have nothing against donating to colleges or museums. But it seems to make so much more sense to donate where the money is really needed. For example, according to the editorialist, many wealthy people still donate huge sums to Harvard, even though it already has an endowment of $30 Billion.
Donations to museums and colleges and the like also carry the same tax deduction benefit that a donation to an organization like the Salvation Army carries. Just doesn’t seem right to me.
I realize this is a departure from the type of articles we normally have here, but this struck me as something I wanted to share with you.
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capo 10.04.07 at 12:20 pm
I agree with you, but I wouldn’t go so far as to be upset with people who choose to give to other charities. Libraries, museums and such are important too. (Harvard… well, we won’t go there) The thing I wish is that more people would give and not expect “the government” to fix every problem. I have a favorite quote:
“Federal aid is just like a man getting a blood transfusion by taking the blood out of his right arm, putting it in his left arm, and spilling about half of it on the way over. - Sydney Herlong Jr.”
My approach is to do most of my giving to my church. We support local people in need of help as well as send teams out all over the country (Katrina relief, for example) and the rest of the world (Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, the Dominican, Afghanistan, Africa, etc.) and 100% of the money goes to the people who need it. No “administrative” overhead, advertising, or fundraising costs, and none of it goes to charities I would object to supporting.
Bruce 10.04.07 at 12:40 pm
That’s a great quote
I don’t really get upset with people for giving to other charities, I am just upset with the proportions.
As for your church giving, I too think that is the best way to go.