Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

What are the Duties of Charity Trustee?

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Charities do a benevolent act of helping underprivileged communities and people around the world. Government support alone would not be sufficient to uplift the lives of poor people, combat diseases and preserve the environment where they are threatened without the assistance of these non-profit charitable organizations.

The role of private groups is always important where basic needs have to be met. In the U.S., more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations are registered based on data from the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS). These are public charities, private foundations, fraternal organizations, civic leagues and chambers of commerce among others.

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Who Makes Up a Charity?

A charity is made up of trustees or officers who make sure that the goals of the organization are met. These officers include the directors, board members, governors and committee members. [Read more…]

Originally posted on February 20, 2015 @ 3:05 pm

Abandoned Animals: What Are Charities Doing To Help?

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A scared dog named “Theo” was rescued after a year of living on the streets of Los Angeles. The images of Theo, from the Mutt Scouts website, shows his before and after pictures. Underneath all the matted hair and dreadlocks was a frightened little dog. He was rescued by Eldad Hager, founder of Hope For Paws, was able to lure the pup to safety with treats and a little love. With the help of Jf Pryor, founder of Mutt Scouts, Theo was able to get help. Shortly after he was taken into custody, he was treated to a haircut and relocated with a foster family.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where this is the reality for many abandoned pets. Luckily for Theo, he was rescued. Many innocent animals face the cruel reality that many people neglect their pets with heart wrenching outcomes.

Why Are There So Many Homeless Pets?

  • Their families relocate to new places that don’t allow pets
  • Sometimes animals accidentally get loose or lost
  • Some people abandon their pets when they can’t handle the responsibility
  • Many cities and towns are banning certain breeds of animals

Numerous people forget that pets are not equipped to fend for themselves. They often assume that animals will be able to find new families or survive off the land. The number of abandoned pets is a serious problem affecting many cities and their pet populations.

What Can People Do To Help?

  • Adopt a shelter animal
  • Protect your pets with appropriate identification or microchips
  • Foster animals for rescue charities
  • Raise awareness about abandoned animals
  • Support local pet rescues by volunteering or donating

Theo managed to get a his happy ending, because of compassionate people who care about abandoned pets. Stav Ozbada, Theo’s foster parent, gave Theo a new leash on life. The small dog is now sporting bowtie collares instead of matted dreads. His soft hair curls and remains clean. Theo’s days now consist of playing with his new pawed friend, Beastly, and his adopted family.

 

Originally posted on September 23, 2014 @ 2:37 am

Common Fraud Involving Charity Organizations

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Charity organizations do a valuable job for underprivileged people and communities. They find ways and go the extra mile to raise funds to launch campaigns that are aimed at helping the poor and underprivileged and improving their lives even if only for a temporary basis.

Unfortunately, there are people who are using these charities for their personal gain. There have been numerous cases around the world involving individuals swindling other people to support their own personal causes.

charity fraud

On the other hand, there are also organizations that are not true to their mission. In the U.S., for instance, the worst charities have been discovered after a year-long investigation done by CNN in collaboration with the Center for Investigative Reporting. [Read more…]

Originally posted on November 7, 2014 @ 1:27 pm

Fashion Events Guaranteed to Raise Funds for Charity

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A growing number of people are now becoming more aware of their responsibility towards charitable giving. Developing this attitude is a good example especially to children and young adults.

There are a variety of ways a group or startup can raise money for charitable giving. One sure way is to organize a fashion event. But what particular types of events would it be? We share some of the most popular you can choose from.

Designer Auctions

designer auction

Fashion designers often come together to do auctions that can help non-profit organizations such as charities. Luxury items that command a price are normally put up for auction. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 13, 2014 @ 12:10 am

8 Charities Where You Can Send Your Help For The Nepal Earthquake Victims

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The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Nepal on Saturday, April 25, 2015 has more than 5,000 people dead and eight million badly affected, as of the latest count. These grim figures are expected to rise rapidly as rescuers continue to dig through the destruction. Nepal’s Prime Minister says the death toll could be as high as 10,000. Reports reaching the world say entire villages have been flattened and almost three million children are in urgent need of assistance.

The earthquake is Nepal’s deadliest tragedy since 1934, when a powerful earthquake also struck the region. Aftershocks and avalanches followed, widening the scope of devastation beyond imagination. And Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. If one in four of its people lived on US$50 cents per day before the earthquake, think how they are faring now and in the days and months to come.

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It’s not enough for us who are in safer lands to commiserate with the people of Nepal by watching the news on cable television or through the internet in the comforts of our homes. Our donations will help alleviate the conditions of the Nepalese and sent immediately, is more valuable. The Better Business Bureau has a list of accredited charities that are assisting in the relief efforts in Nepal.

Or, you can choose from any of these organization you can send your donations to, via their links.

UN World Food Programme

The organization was quick to respond to the disaster in Nepal. It is transporting food and relief supplies to the area and will welcome your donation.

Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has one of the largest teams on the ground in Nepal, distributing emergency supplies and assessing conditions. You can send your donations for Nepal through them here.

World Vision

The organization’s staff were in Nepal immediately to bring food and emergency supplies. Its priorities are providing clean water and sanitation, shelter, food and protection and care for children. Its aim is to raise $3 million and provide relief for 100,000 people across Nepal. It also aims to help the children recover physically and emotionally from the trauma. Send your aid for Nepal through World Vision.

International Medical Corps

The organization, composed of doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, are in Nepal to provide emergency medical care and supplies for shelter, water purification and hygiene kits. A bonus to donating here is, Facebook will match your donation dollar for dollar. Give now.

Catholic Relief Services

CRS is on the ground in Nepal with its partner Caritas Nepal to bring emergency relief to 10,000 families. The package includes tarpaulins for shelter, blankets, water treatment kits and hygiene kits. You can help provide these supplies by donating now.

Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters (SARAID)

SARAID is a British charity whose mission is to save the lives of innocent victims of disasters. A team is now in Nepal and is working as part of a UN-coordinated rescue operation. They are checking destroyed buildings for possible entrapped persons and have brought an electric generator and power tools to cut through concrete and steel.

SARAID is composed of volunteers and does not accept government funding. Donations are highly appreciated.

Oxfam America

Oxfam America aid workers are in Nepal to assist in providing clean water, toilets and shelter to the affected people. Your donation will help them in their mission. Donate now.

Tzu-Chi

The world’s biggest Buddhist aid organization has sent its Disaster Survey and Medical Team to Nepal to help in emergency medical relief and assess the situation for setting priority assistance. Here’s a note from their website:

【Send Love to Nepal】 Donations from public are welcomed. Please channel your kindness to: Account name: Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Account number: 512491125872 Malayan Banking Berhad Remark: For all donations made, kindly indicate on bank-in slip, “Send Love to Nepal”, donor’s name, contact number and address; and send the bank-in slip to Tzu Chi KL & Selangor Branch for issuance of receipt. Contact details for Tzu Chi KL & Selangor Branch: Phone: 03-6256 3800 Fax: 03-6256 3801 Email:[email protected]

Read more about charities and donations

How to Choose Charities in Asia that Help Poor Children

Originally posted on April 30, 2015 @ 10:14 am

Putting Excess Food And Clothing To Good Use

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donating food

With the economy treating so many people roughly these days, there are a lot of families who could use a helping hand. Food, clothing, and other general use items are at the top of the list of things impoverished families tend to need. Also, by cleaning out your closet of unwanted wears, you will be making additional room for those designer furs you always wanted. As you take a look through your pantry, canned and boxed food items are generally the most useful items to donate. these items generally have a longer storage life than the food in your refrigerator. They are often the easiest for poor and homeless people to store — especially if a person does not have a refrigerator of their own. Although that is hard for some to imagine in our modern age, it is a situation that is more common than people might expect.

Giving to Churches and Food Banks

A lot of people would like to get involved, providing food items to the poor and needy, but are not sure where to begin. Generally, the poor and homeless obtain their food from shelters, food banks, and churches. In some cases, food that makes it into these centers is derived from the USDA surplus and other food redistribution projects. Though the redistribution of food from such sources is helpful, it generally does not satisfy the great need that exists. Most food pantries and food bank services still rely on other community members to donate to their cause, which helps to support the many efforts made to keep economically challenged people fed. If you have ever wondered how great the hunger problem in America truly is, according to the Feeding America website, approximately 49-million Americans struggle to obtain adequate food each day. [Read more…]

Originally posted on December 8, 2014 @ 9:06 am

How to Encourage Teens to Donate to Charity

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It’s a fact that children learn from example. As such, they get to imitate the things they see their parents, teachers and older siblings are doing.

Yes, role modeling is still an effective way of teaching children the right way to do things. This is despite the modern techniques people and psychologists now use to raise kids. Even the teens can still be influenced by what they see their mom or dad are doing inside and outside their homes.

donating to charity

This being the case, parents need to instill in their children the value of giving to charities while they are growing up. Not only should this be done in their early years but even in their teens. [Read more…]

Originally posted on October 23, 2014 @ 9:28 am

Should Charities Issue Receipts for Donations?

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Giving to charity is an admirable act and one that should be taught even to small children. Some kids exposed to charitable giving at an early age find it worthwhile to donate part of the monetary gifts they receive when they reach the age of 16 or 18. Some adults, however, start out in this endeavor at a later age.

There’s no age limit to the act of giving to charities and regardless of when you start donating, what matters is you are sincere in what you do. It’s a different kind of personal fulfillment if one is able to share his or her blessings, particularly hard-earned money.

dollar and Donation Box

But the question is, “Do you need to ask for an official receipt every time you donate money to a non-profit charitable organization?”

Ideally, a charity should issue receipts to donors. It is a legal obligation of a non-profit group to do so. Also, people who have donated money will need official receipts in order to make a claim on their annual income tax returns. [Read more…]

Originally posted on August 20, 2014 @ 9:52 am

7 Ways to Help Children’s Charities Through Blogging

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There seems to be a blog for everything: food, wrecked cakes, living abroad, and TV shows. However, blogging can also be used for good deeds, such as helping children’s charities get some well-earned funds.

If you’re a blogger looking to do good, this might just be the ticket you need for some great karma points. Even if you’re not a blogger, platforms like WordPress make putting together a professional blog easy. Just follow blogging best practices such as engaging readers, link exchanges, and committing to blogging at least three times per week.

Here are seven ways you can make a difference. [Read more…]

Originally posted on September 5, 2013 @ 5:41 am

Everyday Charity Works Anyone Can Do

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Charity can sometimes seem like too much of a lofty purpose for any ordinary person to participate in. For extensive devastation , it might appear so. However, anyone has the power to do everyday charity works without large funding or long-distance travel. Most of the time, charity can be given to people near us.

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Charity is defined as the voluntary giving of help or assistance to people in need. There are many ways this can be done as it is not simply limited to giving money which ordinary people would likely be in need as well. Some of which are:

Donating Surplus Things

Surplus refers to things that people may have two or more of and in which people can live happily with one. Donating surplus removes the typical obstacle of lack of funds since there is nothing to be bought. People will just be giving away things they already have. It is however true charity if the things being given are still useful. Giving things that are long overdue for throwing because of their poor condition is hardly charity.

Providing Services for Free

Each individual is bound to have at least one skill that can be useful in the service of others. Professionals  like doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers, and others can provide their services for free at regular intervals such as once a month or once a year. Other people who have no similar professions to speak of can still provide services by being part of charity works such as organizing fund raising activities, packing relief goods, or helping in the clean-up after a natural disaster.

Give Blood

Blood is such an important commodity in times of disaster because of extensive injury to people. Healthy people can perform a charitable work by donating blood to those who need it. This act has to be coordinated though with medical personnel and hospitals.

Care for the Sick and the Abandoned

So many people are suffering in hospitals and other health establishments alone and abandoned by their loved ones. Providing physical care to them is a difficult charity work to perform. However, it can provide hope and healing to the hopeless.

Listen

Listening is a very simple act of charity that does not take much from the people who give it except for time. Anyone can hear but it takes one who truly cares to listen. Sometimes, all a person needs is someone to listen or talk to.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information to offer to her readers. She currently maintains four personal blogs.

Originally posted on June 24, 2013 @ 10:54 am