Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Looking for a Charity-Know one?

RT Wolf · 01-27-2008, 09:39 PM

I'm looking for a charity to donate to.

So far, the best candidate is the Acumen Fund. Talk by the CEO of it is here at TED.

My only concern is that while there are various claims of using money efficiently, I have no data to base that on. I haven't seen anything like a balance sheet or income statement or cashflow thing, like you might see with public companies, I'd like to see something like that. In any case, they seem to be doing good work.

Anyhoo, a few criteria for charities that I have:

1. They invest in the "goose that lays the golden egg". Ie, give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime. Thus, I really support things like education and sustainable business (which, as incomes improve would also lead to the next generation or current generation becoming educated). More info here.
2. I would prefer something in third world countries, particularly Pakistan. I could support charities here in Canada, but think that every extra dollar does more good in third world nations than it does here. This is not a hard-fast rule, though.
3. I like this idea of social entrepreneurship, and combining market forces and charity, but, again, not a hard-fast rule.

This isn't a criteria, really, but Acumen Fund is heading up my list because I've gotten teary after reading/watching them.

More info and a list of other social entrepreneurship here:
Social Capitalists: Acumen Fund

So, anybody know a charity like that?

01-27-2008, 09:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
RT Wolf Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto, Canuckland Posts: 1,737	Looking for a Charity-Know one? I'm looking for a charity to donate to. So far, the best candidate is the Acumen Fund. Talk by the CEO of it is here at TED. My only concern is that while there are various claims of using money efficiently, I have no data to base that on. I haven't seen anything like a balance sheet or income statement or cashflow thing, like you might see with public companies, I'd like to see something like that. In any case, they seem to be doing good work. Anyhoo, a few criteria for charities that I have: 1. They invest in the "goose that lays the golden egg". Ie, give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime. Thus, I really support things like education and sustainable business (which, as incomes improve would also lead to the next generation or current generation becoming educated). More info here. 2. I would prefer something in third world countries, particularly Pakistan. I could support charities here in Canada, but think that every extra dollar does more good in third world nations than it does here. This is not a hard-fast rule, though. 3. I like this idea of social entrepreneurship, and combining market forces and charity, but, again, not a hard-fast rule. This isn't a criteria, really, but Acumen Fund is heading up my list because I've gotten teary after reading/watching them. More info and a list of other social entrepreneurship here: Social Capitalists: Acumen Fund So, anybody know a charity like that? Last edited by RT Wolf; 01-27-2008 at 10:17 PM.