topic Re: Red Cross - And Donations in Community Chat

Red Cross - And Donations

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:04:36 GMT

I give money to various organizations (most locally) all through the year.

I'm hoping that with the trillions of dollars being donated to Red Cross they are expected to give an accounting to some agency to account for to whom and what the money goes to.

I sincerely hope that down the line we never hear that the money donated by well meaning people has been put in other people's pockets and not used for the purpose donated.

We all know that this has happened before. I'm just saying it's a lot of money and I hope a very large agency is overseeing it, other than just the Red Cross.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Noel7 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:12:17 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

I read a report a few days ago about others worried, also. I know it was common some years ago, but apparently still goes on. I hope not, but there should be some accountability which is made public.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:16:58 GMT

I will never donate to the Red Cross."Fool me once shame on you.Fool me twice shame on me"!!

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Kachina624 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:19:38 GMT

I read last week that the Red Cross takes the first 9% of every donation for "administrative costs". Can you imagine how much this would be with the recent donations? I haven't donated to them since the Haitian earthquake when they held and didn't distribute desperately needed funds.

I've found this website helpful in determining what charities to which to donate.

https://www.charitynavigator.org

rrRe: Red Cross - And Donations

henderson — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:22:12 GMT

Go to charitynavigator.org for info on the Red Cross and other organizations.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Snowpuppy — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:26:33 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 Red Cross will tell you that a donation to them for 'disaster services' is used nationwide. I don't believe you can specify a certain area.

Of the nationwide charities Salvation Army's Kettle Drive during the holidays does stay in your community. The change you put in the kettle pays for operating their local office.

Have a good friend who is a social worker with SA, has been for 20+ years. She has a modest offiice (I once donated a coffee pot when they couldn't buy one) and she makes those funds stretch thru the year.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Noel7 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:25:32 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I read last week that the Red Cross takes the first 9% of every donation for "administrative costs". Can you imagine how much this would be with the recent donations? I haven't donated to them since the Haitian earthquake when they held and didn't distribute desperately needed funds.

I've found this website helpful in determining what charities to which to donate.

https://www.charitynavigator.org

@Kachina624

Just awful and so sad. I haven't donated to them for years, either. This time I went with Wings of Rescue for the immediate need to save dogs, cats and other animals. We can add on as needs of the people in Florida and Texas continue.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Katcat1 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:26:24 GMT

I donated to QVC w/Red Cross and Hand in Hand yesterday. I do hope the monies goes to the people of Houston and Florida. I understand it is good to donate to Salvation Army as they always help people. Next time I will change my course.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Kachina624 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:31:22 GMT

@Noel7 I just checked out the much touted Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah and they don't rate so high either. They pay their chairman and CFO over $200K annually and rake in huge amounts of money. I don't know where they came from or how they got there but they sure get funds from somewhere.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

phoenixbrd — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:36:59 GMT

I won't contribute to the Red Cross....due to high administrative costs. Currently looking for an animal fund that will not go into the pockets of overhead, but rather benefit the animals directly.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Noel7 — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:37:50 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Noel7 I just checked out the much touted Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah and they don't rate so high either. They pay their chairman and CFO over $200K annually and rake in huge amounts of money. I don't know where they came from or how they got there but they sure get funds from somewhere.

@Kachina624

That's sad, too. This is all so heavy, making money off of the sorrow of animals.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Sassealassea — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:39:32 GMT

Through the years I have donated to the Red Cross and various other organizations via direct giving. I feel that self direction to the cause of my choice is more meaningful for me.

i don't understand why QVC is labeling their fundraising effort as a "Partnership in Giving" to the Red Cross. There is no indication on the FAQ page that QVC plans to match contributions. A partnership suggests together.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:47:05 GMT

I stopped donating to the Red Cross after 9/11. I heard they invested in a new computer system out of the money they collected for the victims!!

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Snowpuppy — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:52:06 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
I won't contribute to the Red Cross....due to high administrative costs. Currently looking for an animal fund that will not go into the pockets of overhead, but rather benefit the animals directly.

Look into your local no kill shelters.

I added my local shelter to my planned giving. They do a great job of placing animals and have no 6 figure staff.

Whether cash, food, blankets or good used towels, they all stay at the shelter.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

drizzellla — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:07:25 GMT

That is why I was glad to see that Reels TV Channel asked that you give to Salvation Army.

It is sad that Red Cross seems to have many companies collecting for them. Everywhere I shop they are collecting as you check out. I always say yes - and every stores is collecting for Red Cross.

Red Crosses Administrators seem to be well compensated.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Teacups — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:12:45 GMT

I donate to Samaritans Purse

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:14:41 GMT

Every month I have money automatically donated to St Jude then at different times I give money to a local shelter that takes care of cats that need operations, etc.

I adopted my two cats from them so I know they're not money grabbers.

I also give money (checks) to friends who've lost their animals. What I do is give them a check all made out and they write in their favorite animal charity. It's just a few people I've known since I was in high school through face book.

There are friends who go to different Churches and I give their church money every Christmas.

In addition to that I have a friend who posts of facebook amazing beautiful pictures of birds, bugs, everything. She's amazing! She has cats and dogs and writes about them for us to enjoy. I send her animals gifts and donate to her favorite animal charity.

All of these things I know exactly where the money is going. GOD has been good to me and i enjoy sharing but my late husband worked very hard for our money and I'm not just giving it to anyone.

That's the way I look at it. I think it sounds like many of you feel the same way. I have to wonder how many people check out where they're donating to?

It's sad that other's profit from the misery of some isn't it?

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

MacDUFF — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:19:19 GMT

For the past 20 years, I donate almost exclusively to Samaritan's Purse (once in a while, I'll donate something to our local homeschooling community and to the Salvation Army)...I like what they do, how they do it, and their message. I split my yearly donation 50% international relief, 50% national.

I like that I can earmark certain amounts for special needs...once I purchased everything necessary for a family to start a chicken/egg business and once contributed to purchasing some kind of water system for a small village.

I'm very pleased with Samaritan's Purse. They are first responders. They have an excellent rating with Charity Navigator (overall rating = 96.32).

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

Moonchilde — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:25:48 GMT

I find telling people who to donate to (my charity is more worthy than your charity, my charity is more fiscally responsible than your charity, ewww I would never give them my money, you're throwing yours away dum*y) to be disgusting, frankly.

No one on these forums can resist dissing and trashing what they don't do/think/believe, or choices different than theirs. Hosts. Vendors. News media. Reporters. Now charitable organizations.

Can't wait to see who y'all go after next.

Re: Red Cross - And Donations

momoftwo2007 — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:26:06 GMT

I agree with many of the fellow posters, Samaritan's Purse and Salvation Army are much better choices than the Red Cross. Also, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is also another great choice. The donations (disignated for Hurricane Response) will be used entirely (100 percent) for direct response.