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belugagirl · 11-13-2006, 05:49 AM

The subject of donating money often makes me anxious in the same way being asked for money by a panhandler does. It's not at all that I don't want to part with the money. I'd be glad to part with a portion of my money if it was actually doing what the solicitor purported it would be doing. But I'm jaded about that. I fear that so much of donated money goes to overhead and/or skimming, that I just don't know who to trust much of the time.

Lately the only "causes" I trust are local ones that I have seen in action: the local humane society, the symphony orchestra, a storefront theater we like to go to, a neighbor kid's cub scout troop. I feel bad turning down organizations who call for donations to help kids with cancer and all that, but I just don't trust that the money is going where they say.

We don't have a LOT of money to spare, and I consider some of our purchases giving money to causes. I shop at a local food coop, and I consider money spent on organic foods, natural cleaners, recycled goods one way of "donating" in a sense. If I can help ethical businesses with environmentally and socially sound practices by buying their products, I'm helping them compete with all of the corporate polluters out there that environmental organizations need donations to help clean up after/ pressure politicians to hold accountable. Maybe that's my way of participating. Or maybe that's my justification to my conscience. Not sure.

11-13-2006, 05:49 AM	#25 (permalink)
belugagirl Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 59	Money Where My Mouth Is? The subject of donating money often makes me anxious in the same way being asked for money by a panhandler does. It's not at all that I don't want to part with the money. I'd be glad to part with a portion of my money if it was actually doing what the solicitor purported it would be doing. But I'm jaded about that. I fear that so much of donated money goes to overhead and/or skimming, that I just don't know who to trust much of the time. Lately the only "causes" I trust are local ones that I have seen in action: the local humane society, the symphony orchestra, a storefront theater we like to go to, a neighbor kid's cub scout troop. I feel bad turning down organizations who call for donations to help kids with cancer and all that, but I just don't trust that the money is going where they say. We don't have a LOT of money to spare, and I consider some of our purchases giving money to causes. I shop at a local food coop, and I consider money spent on organic foods, natural cleaners, recycled goods one way of "donating" in a sense. If I can help ethical businesses with environmentally and socially sound practices by buying their products, I'm helping them compete with all of the corporate polluters out there that environmental organizations need donations to help clean up after/ pressure politicians to hold accountable. Maybe that's my way of participating. Or maybe that's my justification to my conscience. Not sure.