I'm trying to pin down a local charity that has been force for good in Tulsa for a charitable gift. I've heard of a number over the past year but haven't taken notes and now I can't remember or find their names. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Here is a good article on giving...
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080124_1_E4_spanc03336
Charities rated for efficiency
By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Published: Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dear Action Line: I'm looking for an article that told how to evaluate the efficiency of charities -- the percentage of contributions they spend on administration and fund raising. -- M.McC., Tulsa.
The issue of "percentage of contributions spent as overhead" are best covered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Charity Seal Program, www.tulsaworld.com/charityseal , pioneered by the council's Wise Giving Alliance.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability, www.tulsaworld.com/charitystandards , are 20 requirements strictly monitored by the alliance. Organizations complying with the standards have provided documentation showing they meet basic standards: how they govern their organization, ways they spend their money, truthfulness of publications and willingness to disclose basic information to the public. These apply to publicly soliciting organizations that are tax-exempt as "nonprofit, religious or educational" organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code but not to foundations not seeking public donations.
Standards 8 and 9 deal with percentages of money spent: 8) "they must spend at least 65 percent of their total expenses on program activities" and 9) "they may spend no more than 35 percent of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include
donations, legacies and other gifts received as a result of fund-raising efforts."
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers national charities meeting these standards the option of applying for the BBB national charity seal for display online and in materials.
Only charities meeting the standards may apply for the seal and pay a sliding-scale fee, ranging from $1,000 for charities raising $1 million or less annually to $15,000 for those receiving $100 million or more.
Participation in the seal program is optional, and the alliance continues reporting on national charities named in recent inquiries by the public, regardless of participation in the seal program. It reports on charities meeting and not meeting its standards.
Visit the program site for a list of charities with seals (only about 180, out of 1,700 charities monitored, have the seals), sample license agreement, seal-holder fee schedule, information on applying for a charity seal, and questions and answers about the seal.
Efficient charities spend at least 75 percent of their budgets on their programs.
Other watchdogs: Two other charity watchdog groups are American Institute of Philanthropy, www.tulsaworld.com/charitywatch , rates 500 major charities and Charity Navigator, www.tulsaworld.com/charitynavigator , claims to be "America's premier independent charity evaluator" working "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace, evaluating 5,300 of America's largest charities."
We write small checks to many local charities and are frequenters of banquets that are fundraisers for local efforts.
Some of my favorites are:
Habitat for Humanity
Up with Trees
GetFitTulsa
Day Center for the Homeless
Family and Children's Service
Emergency Infant Services
Toys for Tots
My only advice to people giving is to look up their charity on various websites (we may differ on causes, but certainly you want to see your donations used to the best effect). Too many have administrative costs and fund raises expenses that are way, way too high. It might sound cold, but many charities are either not properly managed or simply not properly oriented (read: wasteful or corrupt). You have to know not only what purpose your money is going towards but HOW each dollar will be used:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/ is the best source I have found.
In Tulsa, they would NOT recommend:
John 3:16 (36% of revenue goes to fund raising and admin, 2 star - surprised me)
Oral Roberts Ministries (a staggering 28% to admin expenses, drawing a 1 star ranking)
Tulsa Day Homeless Shelter
Also most of the Sheriff/Police/Firefighter fund raisers are borderline scams (in GENERAL, I have not seen specific ratings for any force). The ones that often call you on the phone have up to 90% (NINETY) fund raising expense. Meaning 90% of what you donate will be spent on call centers to call you back.
I give to:
University of Tulsa (scholarship fund, 4/4 star)
Tulsa Zoo (3 star)
Oklahoma Aquarium (not rated)
University of Northern Iowa (scholarship fund, not rated as a charity because it is State run)
My son's school
Tulsa United Way (4 star) http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4590
The Nature Conservancy (top 10 charities in the nation for efficiency)
Another that I intend to give to is Disabled American Veterans Trust - the highest rated Veterans charity:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=7589
96% of funds donated go to the cause and their effectiveness is greater than 100% (they get services discounted/donated so each dollar donated goes further than a dollar should).
Anyway... hope that allows you to find out what you think would be the best use of your giving.
Interesting info on the Day Center for the Homeless...
We gave to them because they were filling a unique hole in society. They are the only provider who offers shelter during the day. All the other ones give you a place to stay at night, but send you away during daylight.
I work downtown and see homeless people milling around when I work during the day. I leave at night and don't see the problems that I am sure still exist. I like the fact that they are providing shelter during the day, but never did the research on their use of the dollars.
I still like them as a charity. So many of us are just a few paychecks away from joining them. In America, we can be both proud of the rich and ashamed of the poor.
It's not tax deductable but you can contribute to the Tulsa Bark Parks: http://tulsabarkpark.com/donate/ (//%22http://tulsabarkpark.com/donate/%22)
Edited: Just checked the site; donations to the bark parks ARE tax deductible.
I did some work for Tulsa PC Power one summer.
They refurbish used PCs (usually corporate lifecycled PCs) and give them to poor and indigent students in the Tulsa area.
www.tulsapcpower.org
Meals On Wheels is always favorite of mine, they could use donations of cash and especially volunteer drivers.
All of the local Tulsa food banks can always use donations, either goods, cash, or volunteer labor.
Tulsa CARES. Social, education and support services for those living with HIV/AIDS, their friends and families. www.tulsacares.org
Those last two are good choices.
My company loves Tulsa PC Power. They are good folk.
My wife used to deliver meals once a week for Meals on Wheels. She would come home and tell me stories about the people she delivered to. They can always use drivers as well as money.
*cough cough* United Way
Any non-profit that can fit a $284k CEO into their budget is not one that needs my money.
Cannon,
Apparently they lost a star since you posted your link.
I'm guess I was in error. They are a 3 star.
Whatever the CEO salary is fits into the administrative expenses. Tulsa United Way has 4% admin expenses, which is simply outstanding. If he is getting $250K is definitely deserves it. (ORU 28%, Philbrook 7%, Tulsa Zoo 7.8%, Utulsa 8.6%...).
Having a volunteer run the organization would be the bigger mistake. The best cost money, if the net effect is greater efficiency in the groups mission they have done well.
United Way was started with the best intentions, an evolution of local "community chest" charities. I have no objection to United Way in concept, but I do not always agree with the philosophies of the various United Way beneficiaries. Therefore, I choose not to support United Way, but to give my donations to individual charities as I see fit.
What I object to most about United Way is how businesses use it for PR, publicity, and bragging rights, and coerce employees to donate through not-so-subtle intimidation, so they can claim 100% employee participation. I have seen this all too much over the past 30 years. I never gave into that pressure.
I suggest the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. here's a blurb:
"The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is a private, nonprofit organization located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that distributes donated food and other grocery items to 440 Partner Programs in 24 counties of Eastern Oklahoma. These programs include food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after school programs and senior citizen centers. In turn, those programs collectively feed 50,000 people each week, the equivalent of 539,000 meals per month. In Fiscal Year 2006, the Food Bank distributed over 9 million pounds of food."
they have a fact sheet that goes into detail about how the money and goods are dispersed and which groups they help support. less than 4% of donations go to administrative costs.
http://www.tulsafoodbank.org/documents/kit.pdf
http://www.cfbeo.org/
Generosity Counts, Inc, is a local charity that is all volunteer(no admin fees) and has programs helping local children that would otherwise not receive assistance. Programs are based on working with school counselors to find children that are under-priviledged. Many children do not receive assistance because parents or guardians do not apply for assistance programs. These children should not be left behind. Visit www.generositycounts.com for more information about their upcoming Holiday Need Program.
A friend showed me this video recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU
Not a local charity, but since we're in the spirit...
I just thought it was cool.
Good tidings to you all.
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
I'm trying to pin down a local charity that has been force for good in Tulsa for a charitable gift. I've heard of a number over the past year but haven't taken notes and now I can't remember or find their names. I would appreciate any suggestions.
There are 250+ non-profit agencies in the Tulsa area, most of which are probably worthy of your gift. If you gave us an idea of what type of agency you had a passion for, we might be able to name a couple of groups for you to target.
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
United Way was started with the best intentions, an evolution of local "community chest" charities. I have no objection to United Way in concept, but I do not always agree with the philosophies of the various United Way beneficiaries. Therefore, I choose not to support United Way, but to give my donations to individual charities as I see fit.
What I object to most about United Way is how businesses use it for PR, publicity, and bragging rights, and coerce employees to donate through not-so-subtle intimidation, so they can claim 100% employee participation. I have seen this all too much over the past 30 years. I never gave into that pressure.
+1 on the workplace intimidation - don't like it one bit
I typically donate to the local Community Food Bank or sometimes participate in their fund raising events. For big international groups, I like the Heifer Project.
www.heifer.org
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown
I'm trying to pin down a local charity that has been force for good in Tulsa for a charitable gift. I've heard of a number over the past year but haven't taken notes and now I can't remember or find their names. I would appreciate any suggestions.
There are 250+ non-profit agencies in the Tulsa area, most of which are probably worthy of your gift. If you gave us an idea of what type of agency you had a passion for, we might be able to name a couple of groups for you to target.
Thanks for asking. I've gotten some really good ideas from this thread that have already made my list, but when I started it I was picturing a non-profit that supports Start Ups or Entrepreneurs in the Tulsa Area. Something that would help build our local economy.
The Little Lighthouse of Tulsa - Great Charity, does not take govt. money, only works on contributions
quote:
Originally posted by jne
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
United Way was started with the best intentions, an evolution of local "community chest" charities. I have no objection to United Way in concept, but I do not always agree with the philosophies of the various United Way beneficiaries. Therefore, I choose not to support United Way, but to give my donations to individual charities as I see fit.
What I object to most about United Way is how businesses use it for PR, publicity, and bragging rights, and coerce employees to donate through not-so-subtle intimidation, so they can claim 100% employee participation. I have seen this all too much over the past 30 years. I never gave into that pressure.
+1 on the workplace intimidation - don't like it one bit
I used to work for Citgo in Tulsa and they were real big on MDA and the Jerry Lewis telethon. Contributing to MDA was practically a requirement for employment. I don't question the worthiness of MDA, but no one could ever give me a decent explanation of why Citgo was so involved with MDA. I always figured it was for the cheap publicity and so the company bigwigs could be on national TV with Mr. Lewis, have the Citgo logo splashed on the TV for free, and tout what a great "corporate citizen" the company was.
One more question please. What Tulsa charity does the most to help save stray cats and dogs?