<p>My extended family of 17 still does holiday gifts from/to everyone. I just can’t feel good about spending that kind of money on gifts, so we are going back to our “gave to charity in your name” – funny looks from my siblings notwithstanding. </p>
<p>I don’t like United Way, but am looking for places where our relatively small donations might be appreciated. I have catalogs from Heifer, DOctors without borders, etc… DH, sons and SO’s sit on Christmas eve, go through solicitation mail, and each choose one to donate to — we’ve done this since our kids had jobs (and therefore money to share). We’ve had some neat conversations but I’m wondering what else is out there!</p>
<p>We contribute to a local charity. The money is collected annually and is used to provide winter clothes, and boots to less fortunate children. Money stays local, and serves a needed population. And their administrative costs are very low. It’s most,y volunteers…if not all volunteers.</p>
<p>We contribute to a local family and children’s aid organization. They were a true blessing to us when we needed them years ago. I know the doctor who runs the organization and the wonderful work they do with children and families in our community. We also donate to a local hospice that accepts terminally ill patients without any charges to the patient or families. The new organization on our list is a primate sanctuary that our daughter volunteers with. Our son donates to a local civil air patrol unit to help out the junior cadets. These are places that we support and if there are gift exchanges, we ask that they be considered instead of giving gifts to us. We also donate when a friend or family member asks for donations to local charities in lieu of flowers when a loved one passes away.</p>
<p>Another thing we do with our kids is one of those things where you get a child’s first name, age, gender and general,interests…and play Santa. We enjoy doing this, and making Christmas more enjoyable,for,a family who might not otherwise have much. Last year, we did a combination of gifts, and useful items (like scarf, mittens and hat). We packed it all in a nice Jansport backpack. Honestly, it was so much fun and we are looking forward to our child this year again.</p>
<ol>
<li>library</li>
<li>YMCA</li>
<li>food pantry (give money or food. many food pantries will buy needed items with money given)</li>
<li>scout troops</li>
<li>scholarship fund (ask your local guidance counselor for a list of local groups that give scholies and donate to the one you like the best.)</li>
</ol>
<p>I contribute mostly to local charities that I KNOW the folks on the Board of Directors, the programs they provide, and how they are spending their money. There is a LOT of waste in a lot of nonprofits, sadly, as well as resorting to companies and employees that take the bulk of the money they “raise.” Our AG’s office just told me that the Alzheimer’s Association raised $16,000 from people in our state and only $19 stayed in our state! There are a LOT of professional “fund raisers” and it’s big business.</p>
<p>I contribute a lot by running my non-profit on far less than I should, contributing my time and resources. It is a labor of love. Along the way, I get to know some of the other organizations in our community and only contribute to those that I know have a very long track record of using the money wisely and carefully.</p>
<p>I do contribute sometimes to a few national organizations if I have personal familiarity with how they are spending their funds and what they are doing. There are SO MANY worthy causes in our own neighborhoods that are struggling to stay afloat. Our local United Way passes 100% of donations that you designate using the “donor choice” form directly to the nonprofit, so I contribute to nonprofits I prefer that way as well.</p>
<p>One year I did all “adopted” animals. My favorite was the sea turtle. It had a radio transponder attached to it that allowed sponsors (and the scientific team studying the turtles) to track its movements with their computers at home.</p>
<p>I do not trust any, but we donate in large quantities, got to get rid of books and clothes, boxes upon boxes, bags upon bags every year. But they got so bad that god forbid, the furnuture is not top notch, they would not take it and they woudl not take it from the house, we would have to take it outside, no way it is possible.</p>
<p>Once again, Miami, you have misunderstood the OP. Or did you actually mean that you donate your unwanted junk to Goodwill in your relatives’ names at Christmas?</p>
<p>Miami…again…read the thread before you post. </p>
<p>But since you mentioned it…</p>
<p>I volunteer for a non-profit charity that accepts donations from others. Just remember…if you do at true JUNK (things that are damaged, broken, dirty and can’t be cleaned, outdated (like textbooks or computer things), etc…the non-profit has to PAY to dispose of your junk for you…thus cutting into the profits for their agency. If you really have junk…get a dump sticker, or pay to have it hauled away yourself. Don’t schlep it to someplace like Goodwill, or a local donation place where they will have to pay to get rid of your trash because you were too cheap to do so.</p>
<p>Back to the thread. Honestly I love local charities. The nice thing is that there are plenty of needy folks in ones own area.</p>
<p>If I were donating to a national charity, it would be Habitat.</p>
<p>Why not purchase memberships in museums, botanical gardens, aquariums or other non-profit attractions near the recipients’ homes? Or buy gift certificates to performing arts venues? Then you’d be supporting the non-profit but also giving a gift to the recipients. </p>
<p>You could call your local elementary/middle school and ask if here are any kids in need that you could buy some clothes/coats for Christmas. Our middle school has a list of kids and their clothing needs that teachers and the beta club try to fill each year.</p>