| About Donating to Charities |
There are thousands of non-profit organizations, churches, and concerned individuals that
help the homeless and low income in a variety of ways. Some provide free meals for
anyone coming in, phone use, a mailing address, clothing, bicycles, and various personal
necessities. Some organizatiions provide a place for homeless people to stay, even if only
temporarily and just for the night, and to take a shower.
With all these people seeking donations to maintain their services, how can you know that
your donation will actually help those in need?
help the homeless and low income in a variety of ways. Some provide free meals for
anyone coming in, phone use, a mailing address, clothing, bicycles, and various personal
necessities. Some organizatiions provide a place for homeless people to stay, even if only
temporarily and just for the night, and to take a shower.
With all these people seeking donations to maintain their services, how can you know that
your donation will actually help those in need?
Years ago a person contacted me by email asking if I needed assistance in getting an I.D.
card. I didn't have I.D. at the time since mine had expired and all my identifying documents
had been stolen. I needed to get a new copy of my birth certificate, then a social security
card, and then a state I.D. card.
The person said she was the director of a charitible foundation, and that she could help.
After a number of months she sent me a check for eight dollars. This was nice, and I
thanked her, but the cost of getting the birth certificate alone was about $25, and then the
fee for the state I.D. Meanwhile, another person paid for the birth certificate, which I applied
for myself. The state review process to get it took about a month.
Later on, when checking the internet for my name, I discovered the person with the
"foundation" was advertising that she had taken care of getting me all my I.D., and was
looking for people to donate to her cause. I wrote back to her about it but there was no
reply. I realized that the "foundation" was a phony scam operation. I wonder how much
money she made just by using my name in advertising?
card. I didn't have I.D. at the time since mine had expired and all my identifying documents
had been stolen. I needed to get a new copy of my birth certificate, then a social security
card, and then a state I.D. card.
The person said she was the director of a charitible foundation, and that she could help.
After a number of months she sent me a check for eight dollars. This was nice, and I
thanked her, but the cost of getting the birth certificate alone was about $25, and then the
fee for the state I.D. Meanwhile, another person paid for the birth certificate, which I applied
for myself. The state review process to get it took about a month.
Later on, when checking the internet for my name, I discovered the person with the
"foundation" was advertising that she had taken care of getting me all my I.D., and was
looking for people to donate to her cause. I wrote back to her about it but there was no
reply. I realized that the "foundation" was a phony scam operation. I wonder how much
money she made just by using my name in advertising?
A few years ago a small non-profit organization near St. Petersburg FL helped the local
homeless by providing the use of a shower, some free clothes, free coffee & donuts, and
some lunches. There was no indoor area, just picnic benches outside, and the food and
clothes were all donated. Typically around 20 people would visit each day. Years later,
when checking non-profits on the Internet, I discovered the budget for this little bit of help
was over $70,000/year, mostly from government grants. Where did the money go?
Evidently the "director" was paying herself well. After a couple years the place closed,
aparently since not enough people went there to justify it's existance. With so little real help
being provided it wasn't even worth the walk for most homeless in the area, while some
nearby churches provided free hot meals and clothes with just private donations.
homeless by providing the use of a shower, some free clothes, free coffee & donuts, and
some lunches. There was no indoor area, just picnic benches outside, and the food and
clothes were all donated. Typically around 20 people would visit each day. Years later,
when checking non-profits on the Internet, I discovered the budget for this little bit of help
was over $70,000/year, mostly from government grants. Where did the money go?
Evidently the "director" was paying herself well. After a couple years the place closed,
aparently since not enough people went there to justify it's existance. With so little real help
being provided it wasn't even worth the walk for most homeless in the area, while some
nearby churches provided free hot meals and clothes with just private donations.
There are huge non-profits that have offices and programs of various types all across the
U.S., and take in billions in public donations and government grants. While these
organizations present themselves as helping the homeless and low income, a great deal of
the money often just goes to administrative costs and advertising. There is an "emergency
shelter" in St. Petersburg that offers beds for the night in an expensive building run by a
national organization. Sounds nice, but the beds are for a maximum of three nights per six
month period, if you are fortunate enough to get in at all. To potential donors seeing their
TV ads it sounds good. Those on the street that see what is really happening view it as just
another way to get easy money from generous donors.
U.S., and take in billions in public donations and government grants. While these
organizations present themselves as helping the homeless and low income, a great deal of
the money often just goes to administrative costs and advertising. There is an "emergency
shelter" in St. Petersburg that offers beds for the night in an expensive building run by a
national organization. Sounds nice, but the beds are for a maximum of three nights per six
month period, if you are fortunate enough to get in at all. To potential donors seeing their
TV ads it sounds good. Those on the street that see what is really happening view it as just
another way to get easy money from generous donors.
How can someone who would like to donate money where it will actually accomplish
something sort out the legitimate organizations from the con-artists? There are
organizations that list non-profits, and check the validity of postings. Also, all non-profits
have to register with the state for tax-exempt status, and these are accessable public
records (check with the website for your state). This shows they are real, but not how and
where the money is spent. Those that are registered as churches are not required to show
their finances, so there is no way of really telling how much they get and how they spend it.
If you want to donate to a local charity, it's a good idea to visit them and see for yourself.
There are a lot of small non-profits and church programs that accomplish a great deal on
small budgets. Often volunteers will help out without any financial gain. I have known
several individuals that volunteered their time and effort every day without any pay, and
very little thanks either.
something sort out the legitimate organizations from the con-artists? There are
organizations that list non-profits, and check the validity of postings. Also, all non-profits
have to register with the state for tax-exempt status, and these are accessable public
records (check with the website for your state). This shows they are real, but not how and
where the money is spent. Those that are registered as churches are not required to show
their finances, so there is no way of really telling how much they get and how they spend it.
If you want to donate to a local charity, it's a good idea to visit them and see for yourself.
There are a lot of small non-profits and church programs that accomplish a great deal on
small budgets. Often volunteers will help out without any financial gain. I have known
several individuals that volunteered their time and effort every day without any pay, and
very little thanks either.
In many areas of the U.S. it is possible to dial 211, for
free, and get information on local community services.
It's a good way to find out what local charities are
active in the community, and how to donate or
volunteer where it makes a difference.
Go to 211.org Logo above: 211tampabay.org
free, and get information on local community services.
It's a good way to find out what local charities are
active in the community, and how to donate or
volunteer where it makes a difference.
Go to 211.org Logo above: 211tampabay.org
| email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com |
There is a tremendous need for donations all across the United States to maintain a wide
variety of charitable groups that really do help the homeless and low-income. Often
organizations that are providing real help to the community have to close due to lack of
funding, donations, or volunteers. Sometimes they are forced to close by local government
as a means of "eliminating the homeless problem". If you can help, look around your local
area for those that are making a difference and spending donations where it counts.
variety of charitable groups that really do help the homeless and low-income. Often
organizations that are providing real help to the community have to close due to lack of
funding, donations, or volunteers. Sometimes they are forced to close by local government
as a means of "eliminating the homeless problem". If you can help, look around your local
area for those that are making a difference and spending donations where it counts.
When you donate to a charity, do you
know how your money is being spent? Is it
really helping those in need, or it just
supporting the program director's family in
luxury?
know how your money is being spent? Is it
really helping those in need, or it just
supporting the program director's family in
luxury?
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Just recently (New York Times article 11/24/09) a complaint was filed by the Attorney
General of the State of New York, Andrew Cuomo, against the United Homeless
Organization (U.H.O.) after an investigation into their activity. They had been collecting
donation money at street corner tables claiming that it was for their homeless program.
Apparently those running the tables just paid a fee to the organization and pocketed all the
rest. There were no shelters or soup kitchens. The organization was licensed as a
non-profit, but just having a license proves nothing about how the money is used. It may be
impossible to determine how much money well meaning people gave to this scam.
General of the State of New York, Andrew Cuomo, against the United Homeless
Organization (U.H.O.) after an investigation into their activity. They had been collecting
donation money at street corner tables claiming that it was for their homeless program.
Apparently those running the tables just paid a fee to the organization and pocketed all the
rest. There were no shelters or soup kitchens. The organization was licensed as a
non-profit, but just having a license proves nothing about how the money is used. It may be
impossible to determine how much money well meaning people gave to this scam.
Some websites that list and provide information
on non-profits are:
charitynavigator.org
guidestar.org
justgive.org
After the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile there are new
"non-profits" appearing out of nowhere collecting
money supposedly for the victims. Let the donor
beware.
on non-profits are:
charitynavigator.org
guidestar.org
justgive.org
After the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile there are new
"non-profits" appearing out of nowhere collecting
money supposedly for the victims. Let the donor
beware.
| homelessamerican.com |
| homelessamerican.com |