December 9, 2008
I don’t know about you, but my mail box, this time of year are filled with two sources. The first are catalogs from stores of all sorts. Boy do they fill up the box. The second most source of mail doesn’t take up as much room, but we get just as many as catalogs. We receive a multitude of opportunities for charitable giving. The question arises, “How do you decide which one?”
1. Where to give? - When choosing what charity to give to, my first and most important advise is to give according to your passion(s). What are you most passionate about? What area touches your heart? Some are concerned about relief and development in neglected areas of the country or world. Others are concerned about foreign missions, education, community development, Christian growth, or even advocacy programs. Ask yourself, what touches my heart the most? What causes the most emotional distress for me?
2. Is the Charity Effective? - At this point you will need to research which charities are most effective at carrying out their stated mission. When doing this, you may call the charity and ask probing questions. Scrutinize annual report. Obtain IRS Form 990.
3. Is the Charity Efficient? - Most charities should spend 75% of their budget on programs with no more tha 25% on fundraising and overhead. One way to determine if they charity is efficient is to discover if they have goals that are achievable, and spelled out well.
4. What Is the Charity’s Capacity? - Does the charity have the ability to carry out it’s vision? Is it stable? That is particularly important to discover in difficult economic times.
5. Are the Charity’s Truth Claims Factual? - Rodney Pitzer is the Chief Operating Officer for Wall Watchers, which runs MinsitryWatch.com. He says” Donors might be surprised to discover that an organization they think is Christian is actually not and is just marketing to Christians.”
Choosing a good charity is important for many of us. If you wish to give to one this Christmas Season, please think through these 5 questions. There are several reliable websites to explore: quidestar.com, minstrywatch.com, charitynavigator.com. You may find these helpful.
Pastor Dave
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