There are also questions about the kinds of charities Perry donates, with some arguing that almost all of them have some personal tie to him. Tax returns from 1996 show Perry donating $100 to his old alma mater at Texas University, while other organizations benefiting from his charitable giving included $50 given to children’s charity Helping Hand Home for Children. Additionally, in 1998 records show that Perry donated $10 to the school his children were attending. This figure did increase in 2002 and 2003 to $50 each year.

More questions are arisen regarding a pay raise Perry received in 2008 on the declaration that he was going to donate the extra $35,000 dollar to charity. His salary was increased to $150,000 p.a. from $115,000 p.a. and indeed in 2008 Perry did give away $34,998 to charity (he gave an additional $2,850 to churches at the same time). However, over the years this figure fell; in 2009 he gave $20,000 to charities, while in 2010 his donation was just $12,500 – his salary at this time was $217,447.

However, there are pundits who back Perry by saying his donations are in line with other politicians. Michael Nilsen, the head of the Association of Fundraising commented that “Perry’s giving is about average from what I have seen” while Ken Berger of Charity Navigator, the watchdog authority for charities, stated that “Most of this is not showing a great philanthropist and also not showing anything significantly out of the norm”. Despite this, one thing is clear – if Perry wants to put these rumours that he is uncharitable to bed then he will have to dig a little deeper when next donating to charity.

Have a Reason for Volunteering

In a hospital setting, it is highly likely that the volunteer will go through an application, interview and training process. During this time, the volunteer may be asked exactly what their reason is for volunteering. For some, it may be to gain experience while working on a medical degree. For others, it’s the sheer joy of helping those in need while taking time away from the computer, eBay, Presta, and other distractions in life. Whatever the reason, it is important for the volunteer to know exactly what they hope to achieve from the experience.

Always Ask, Never Guess

When volunteering at a hospital, it is important to always ask questions when in doubt regarding any type of situation or issue. Never guess or make assumptions, as this can have a huge impact. Not using the right cleaner for the floors may seem like it’s not a big deal, but the wrong cleaner could promote the unintentional spread of germs. Always ask

Be Prepared for a Set Schedule

For the most part, a hospital runs on a schedule. They will likely have a volunteer schedule that may coincide with different healthcare professionals who may need additional help throughout the day. Volunteers who begin at a hospital should be prepared for a set weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule depending on how much time they can donate. The volunteer needs to be prepared for the schedule and include it into their life, as there are people who will depend on them to be there.

Use Your Talents

Hospital volunteer-work is not necessarily all about changing bed pans or mopping floors. There may be filing, computer work and other tasks that may need to be performed. Volunteers should find something that uses their existing skill set or talent, as this will lead to a successful and productive experience for both the volunteer and the hospital.

Remember, It’s Not Personal

A hospital is a stressful environment for many people, including patients, doctors, nurses and other staff members. Volunteers should remember that if they get snapped at or otherwise, to not take things personally. Hospitals are high-stress, so don’t take anything personal; chances are, they didn’t mean it.

While volunteering can be a rewarding experience, it’s important to also have a reason for doing so. Asking questions, sticking to a set schedule and remembering not to take things personally is key for doing volunteer work in this high stress environment.

Who can win? The President’s Volunteer Service Award is open to individuals and groups, and to anyone age 5 or older who has donated time and energy to a charitable cause.

What are the award categories? There are different award levels – gold, silver, and bronze – that are based on the number of volunteer hours served over a 12-month period of time (anywhere between 50 to 100 hours for kids and 200 to 100 hours for groups). Additionally, the President’s Call to Service Award is presented to people of all ages who have served more than 4000 hours of community service or volunteer work over a lifetime.

What do award recipients win? Awards include a lapel pin representative of the specific award given, a letter of congratulations from the American President, and a personalized achievement certificate.

How are award recipients identified? Official certifying organizations, which are responsible for logging and verifying volunteer service hours, can nominate qualified volunteers for the President’s Volunteer. You can also get involved by creating a record of service on the www.presidentialserviceawards.gov website.

If you are interested in volunteering, or if you know of a volunteer you think deserves some recognition, then you should definitely head over to the President’s Volunteer Service Award website and get involved. Volunteering doesn’t have to put you in debt to the point where you need Mobiloans, nor does it have to take up all of your time. We need to appreciate and help those who devote themselves to helping others, as we are certainly helped by them in more ways than we can even imagine.

When looking to find a job in the non-profit world, the first step is to ask around. Network by telling people you know ( family, friends, colleagues) and consider doing some unpaid volunteer or internship work to get your foot in the door, so to speak.

Although most internships are not paid (or paid very little, perhaps just covering food and/or transportation expenses), it can be a wonderful opportunity to also discover your strengths and become aware of the roles and environment when working in the non-profit industry.

The next best resource for work in the non-profit world is obviously the internet. Nearly all of the non-profit organizations and groups have websites which post career opportunities and volunteer positions, and job sites are also useful as many of them have sections featuring jobs in the non-profit sector.

Not only does online research make sense financially (it costs nothing to email!), but it also allows you to learn about the various organizations to discover what suits you best.

Other good places to look are local newspapers, non-profit organizations magazines and newsletters, and bulletin boards at your community center or church.

Remember that only 20-25% of jobs use advertising, so it pays to think out of the box and be resourceful. Perhaps after finding organizations which interest you, you could contact them directly to know first-hand if they have any possible openings. Their websites should also have some useful information and contact details.

And lastly, don’t give up! Always check up on your resources often as new jobs and openings appear daily. Keep on researching, and don’t be afraid to apply even if you are worried that your qualifications won’t suffice. If you have passion and commitment for the job, you could be the best person for it.

However, we have to face the stark reality that not all charities and fundraisers give everything they raise to their clients – those in need. And no, I am not talking about scams. In fact, we have to realize that fundraisers and other similar events cost money. As such, part of the money that people give for charity goes to operating costs.

Now the question is just how much do organizations use for expenses and how much of the money raised actually goes to those in need? The answer varies depends on the organization, naturally. I just saw some figures at the Yakima-Herald relating to this:

To that end, check out the Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report, compiled by the office of Secretary of State Sam Reed. The report, which is available online, tracks third-party, paid fundraisers who operate in the state. There are some 8,800 charities registered in Washington, of which nearly 600 use paid fundraisers.

The 2009 report found that an average of 58 percent of contributions were returned to charity clients. However, while the top 10 fundraisers gave back an average of 89 percent to charities, about a third of the paid fundraisers returned less than 20 percent to their clients.

Less than 20 percent?! It is outrageous, isn’t it? That is why, in my opinion, it is so much better to give directly to causes that you support. Fundraisers are great, but only if you can get assurance that most of the money will go to the deserving.

When we hear of solicitations, chances are our mindset would be to give away old clothes or canned goods just to say that we made a charitable act. But while this is something generous of us, it may be wise for us to use logic at times. Old clothes still have categories and this includes “still usable”. These days, people forget about this important necessity. We stock up old clothes and put them in sacks since we cannot use them. But before we placed them there, we already have an idea on whether they can still be used or not.

Old clothes are a big help to the needy. But apparently, we cannot discount the possibility of giving away clothes that are good as trash. Since we donate them, people receiving them do not have a choice of selecting and make do with what we can give. But personally, we should take out the clothing that are no longer usable.

Canned goods can be in any form. The normal ones we give out are the cheap ones such as sardines. For a couple of extra bucks, perhaps we can add something different like perhaps milk or something healthy. If all the poor people had to live on sardines, imagine at the level of help they can get.

All I am saying is that when you give to charity, mean it. It is not about taking something out of the closet or the kitchen cabinet to say you did a good deed. We are giving to people as well. Just imagine how you would feel if you were in their shoes.

Big charities have web sites, offline newsletters, and all sorts of other ways to get the word out. They have the means and resources to do so. For small charities, however, it might not be so easy. This does not mean that you cannot come up with your own newsletter, however. Here are some things that you can consider as you come up with your newsletter.

Determine your recipients. The more the better. Everyone who is in your contact database should be included in your list of recipients. Of course, do not forget that your database should not be static. It should grow as time goes by.

Determine how you will send out your newsletter. You can do this through e-mail or through printed copy. I would suggest using the latter, especially for starters. Electronic newsletters will not cost you anything.

Determine the contents of your newsletter. This will change from issue to issue but the bottom line is the same – you have to tell your recipients about your core values. You have to tell the recipients your regular activities. You have to share your continuing programs. Tip: don’t over do it. Two pages should be enough to keep them reading.

Determine how often you should send one out. This could be tricky. You do not want to send out issues too far and few in between. Do make sure however, that you do not send newsletters out too often, as your resources may not be able to sustain it.

Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause – especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

Technorati Tags: Charity tips, investigating charities, questions to ask charities, donation tips

Aside from the lower wages, non-profit jobs can also be as stressful as any other job. The issues to face are often tremendous (and emotional), and having to deal with red-tape bureaucracy and legalities can be more than frustrating.

Non-profit organizations were created to provide a public service. This can be in a variety of fields – from economic development, arts, environment, culture, society, science, disasters, troubled areas, and so on. Businesses on the other hand, exist to make money for themselves through selling their goods or services.

There are a massive number of non-profit organizations around the world, in nearly every country as well as internationally (there are referred to as nongovernmental organizations or NGOs), and in the US alone, there are over 11 million people working within the sector.

People are varied and interesting in the non-profit sector, and always passionate. If you are seriously considering a job here, think about the type of non-profit work that would suit you best. Would you prefer administrative work or be out in the field? Are you interested in research? Advocacy? Or perhaps policy?

Being clear about the kind of work that interests you will help you be more selective when you see all the positions that are available in the nonprofit sector.

With Halloween just around the corner, it also means that the season of giving is practically upon us, so many of us are starting to think about ways we can give.

Well, without wanting to sound like a Scrooge, the fact of the matter is that there unfortunately are many scammy operations out there, or even simple red tape or massive overhead costs that makes it more difficult than ever for your money to actually reach those in need.

So my next few posts will be dedicated to some easy advice on how we can do the best we can to make sure what we give goes to those who really need it.

To start off, here are 4 simple tips when giving to charity:

1. Double check NAME of the charity. Some may just be named that way to confuse you to think it is a well-known charity with a similar name. Check their credentials online and visit the place yourself if possible. Other good ways to check out a charity is through your local charity registrar and or with the local better business bureau.

2. Remember that giving to charity is tax deductable. Keep records of all your charitable donations as well as costs you may have incurred while volunteering.

3. Always give by cheque – and make it payable to the charity, never to an individual. Stay away from cash donations.

4. When receiving an appeal in the post – check to see if there is the name and address of a reputable charity, and what they are already doing to solve the problem. Be wary of sob stories.

Technorati Tags: charity tips, investigating charities, donating tips