ChatGPT: Responsible charities

Casey Jones said:

Someone should start a thread on this - on responsible charities.

I have some Estate Planning due. I have no dependents or offspring, so it's charity or feed the insatiable appetite of Goobermint.

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Please list charities in reverse order by the percent of donations that pay for salaries and operational costs (ie. list by charities that put the highest percentage of donations towards the actual charitable purpose).

Sure thing! When it comes to evaluating charities based on their efficiency in using donations for actual charitable purposes rather than operational costs, you might want to consider the following list of some well-known organizations:

1. **Direct Relief**: Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization that provides health services in crisis situations. They have a very high rating when it comes to cost-effectiveness. A significant portion of their donations goes directly towards providing medical assistance and supplies to those in need.

2. **MAP International**: MAP International works to provide medicine and health supplies to people in need around the world. They are known for using a large part of their donations towards their programs rather than administrative costs.

3. **Water.org**: Water.org is focused on providing access to clean water and sanitation services to communities in need. A considerable portion of their donations goes directly towards funding water projects, making them an effective charity in terms of impact per dollar donated.

4. **Heifer International**: Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty by providing livestock and agricultural training to communities in need. They have a good reputation for using donations efficiently to support their programs.

5. **Givewell's top-rated charities**: Givewell is an organization that rigorously evaluates the impact of charities and recommends those with high effectiveness. Their top-rated charities often have high standards for cost-effectiveness and transparency in their operations.

These organizations prioritize using donations effectively to maximize their impact on the causes they support. Remember, it's essential to do your own research and find charities that align with your values and causes you care about when selecting where to donate.

You might also consider:

• ij.org - Institute for Justice litigates court cases for liberty
• EFF.org / epic.org - Watchdogs for digital privacy / liberty
• saf.org / gunowners.org - 2nd amendment lobbying and litigation
• tenthamendmentcenter.com <- *not* a 501c3 org - not tax deductible -> they help draft and promote legislation in State governments for all kinds of States rights issues including sound money, anti-CBDCs, etc.
• pmbug.com <- *not* a 501c org - not tax deductible -> a public space for bugs

I just got mail soliciting for donations. Seems like a great cause.

“URGENT: Help feed elderly Jews struggling to survive
Just $.83 a day can help Fill a Pantry and feed a Holocaust survivor for a month.”

Actually, when I looked into this in the past. The Salvation Army came out on top for the money actually going to those in need.

Edit: Holy Shit. After posting I just read that old thread being bumped. Did not know Salvation Army went “Woke”!!!


If anyone is looking for a worthwhile cause to donate, I’m starting a “Home for Wayward Women.”

Sadly, Salvation Army is still your best bet even with the woke crap.

I asked Grok (Ai on the X platform) the same question as in the OP:

Grok said:

Here is a list of charities ranked based on the percentage of donations that go towards their charitable programs versus administrative and operational costs, in reverse order (from highest program spending to lower):

• Direct Relief - Known for its high efficiency in providing medical resources, Direct Relief spends a significant portion of its donations directly on its programs. They have received a 100% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes and are ranked highly by Charity Navigator for their effectiveness.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - St. Jude spends about 73% of its income on its programs, with only 27% on fundraising and administrative costs. This makes a large portion of donations go directly to treatment, research, and support for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
• GiveWell's Top Charities - Charities like the Malaria Consortium, Against Malaria Foundation, and Helen Keller International, which are recommended by GiveWell, often have very high program spending. For instance, GiveWell's analysis suggests these charities can save lives at a cost-effectiveness rate where a significant portion of donations goes directly to program costs.
• United Way - According to their own reporting, 85 cents of every dollar donated goes towards their mission, which includes education, health, and income stability programs, suggesting a high percentage of funds are used for direct charitable work.
• Charities from Charity Navigator's "10 Best Charities Everyone’s Heard Of" - While the exact figures vary, these charities are often noted for spending at least 75% or more on programs, which includes organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Feeding America, and more. Charity Navigator's criteria include financial health, accountability, and transparency, ensuring a high percentage of donations go to the cause.
• CharityWatch Top-Rated Charities - These charities generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs. CharityWatch's list includes a broad spectrum of causes, all of which are noted for their low fundraising and administrative costs relative to program spending.
• Charities with 99% of Donations to Cause - MarketWatch highlighted 20 incredible charities where 99% of the money goes to the actual cause. While specific names weren't listed, this indicates there are charities where nearly all funds are allocated to programs.

Please note, the exact percentages can fluctuate year by year, and these rankings are based on the most recent data available from the cited sources. Also, while some charities might have higher administrative costs, this doesn't always reflect inefficiency but might be necessary for operational scale or the nature of their work. Always check the most recent evaluations from charity watchdog groups for the latest figures.

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I know a lot of folks don't like Glenn Beck, but his charity (Mercury One) gives 100% of donations directly to the cause.

If the donor does not cover the credit card fees the fee (typically 3%) is deducted and goes towards administrative costs to cover the fees

Fatrat said:

Sadly, Salvation Army is still your best bet even with the woke crap.

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Back in 2019, we lost our house to the floods here in Nebraska. The Salvation Army was at the front of providing assistance to those who lost homes or were otherwise displaced. For the record, the Red Cross didn't do $#!7.
Woke, unwoke, or otherwise is irrelevant when you are displaced or hungry. The Salvation Army seems to do a good job providing for those in need.

Viking said:

Actually, when I looked into this in the past. The Salvation Army came out on top for the money actually going to those in need.

Edit: Holy Shit. After posting I just read that old thread being bumped. Did not know Salvation Army went “Woke”!!!


If anyone is looking for a worthwhile cause to donate, I’m starting a “Home for Wayward Women.”

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I donate money to single moms - one dollar at a time.

Depending on where you live local food banks are usually in need of food and volunteers. And you know where your donations and time are going.

St. Johns in Philly is a place I will personally recommend for a cash donation.

Don't forget: pmbug.com <- *not* a 501c org - not tax deductible -> a public space for bugs

Edit to add:

searcher said:

Depending on where you live local food banks are usually in need of food and volunteers. And you know where your donations and time are going.

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This is probably one of the best places, if not THE best, for charitable contributions. Local food banks are close to the need, and are able to allocate resources very effectively.

Another option is that cemeteries are often short of resources for upkeep. Some may not think of this as a worthy option, and that is fine. There may well be better options. But I know that the cemetery where my parents, grandparents, and many uncles and aunts are buried is always in need of maintenance and upkeep funds. They get a few dollars from me from time to time.

Viking said:

If anyone is looking for a worthwhile cause to donate, I’m starting a “Home for Wayward Women.”

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I used to use a motel, for wayward women.

No way I'm bringing one of them home.

Casey Jones said:

I used to use a motel, for wayward women.

No way I'm bringing one of them home.

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You won’t be allowed to take one out of the facility.

Viking said:

You won’t be allowed to take one out of the facility.

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They call them "Ranches" in Nevada.