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LUVMBDiesels · #35 01-17-2010, 08:55 PM

As a conservative who does not belong to a church (yes there are some of us out there) I give to charities. I also make sure that the charities I give to are going to USE the money to help people and not for the salaries of their staff, big media campaigns, etc

One charity I am giving to now is Kiva.org It is a micro finance orgainization that gives small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries so that they can either set up or expand their businesses. The recipient has to give the money back in a certain amount of time. This money is then loaned again and again. I donate every month to them to increase the amount I am personally lending out.

I also give to Heifer International. This is a charity that gives animals such as goats, oxen, pigs, bees, etc to people so that they can farm them and benefit from the products these animals produce. Again, the recipient is expected to take part of the increase in their herds and pass them along to others thereby helping more people.

I stay away from the United Way and other ones of that ilk as they have huge overheads.

As far as Haiti goes, I want to donate there, but I am afraid my money will be sucked up by the corrupt government down there or diverted by the charity here - Take for example the Red Cross. I called them to ask if I donated say $100, would it end up in Haiti or in the general budget. Guess what the answer was? That's right the general fund! They do not have a way to allow people to allocate where their donation goes!