Who should get My Money?

September 5th is International Charity Day. There are thousands and thousands of charities all vying for your hard-earned money. And then there are the pseudo charities that operate without the benefit of a tax break. So, how do you decide who gets your money? There are a few websites that do some of the hard work for us; rating organizations based on a number of criteria. Adherence to its mission statement, fiscal health, transparency, and the amount of money that actually goes toward programs versus advertising and administration.

Here are links to some of the top charity rating sites.

1. Charity Navigator - Your Guide To Intelligent Giving | Home

2. GiveWell | Charity Research

3. Nonprofit and Charity Reviews and Ratings | Donate, Volunteer, and Review | GreatNonprofits

4. GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers, and businesses

5. Nonprofit and Charity Reviews and Ratings | Donate, Volunteer, and Review | GreatNonprofits

And last, a blog that lists some charities you may not have heard of. Free Donate Button - Donorbox Nonprofit Fundraising Software.

Most of the above sites rate organizations that take in over $50,000.00 a year. But there are many organizations that do good work in the communities they serve. Some of the organizations We support fall into that category.

Pet Food Pantry | Keeping families and pets together (petfoodpantryenc.org) in Greenville, NC

Home Page - House with a Heart in Maryland

All About Rabbits Rescue in Queens, NY

I am sure that there are some great organizations in your own community

that do not get the funding they deserve because they cannot afford to promote themselves and do the good work they do. It is not always true, but many of the charities that can afford tv time do more lobbying than rescuing.

If you want a gift in return for your donation, remember those blankets and mugs,

and t-shirts all get deducted from your donation.

If you are passionate about horses find a charity that helps save horses from glue factories. If you are passionate about homeless cats, Alley Cat Allies is a wonderful organization. I have given you some tools, but it is important to do some of your own research. I would start by searching for example "Dog rescues near me", then do a little reading and see if there is one that you like. Also, remember that local ASPCAs and Humane Societies do not generally receive funding from the national organizations. So, if you want to give to one of those, give locally. Lastly, in some communities, the pound runs programs for low-cost or free spay and neuter. Just because it is a government-run facility does not mean it doesn't need more funding to keep those programs going.

Wild Serenity Cat Rescue Fund

gladly accepts all donations

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