What is a good cause to donate my money?

Question

I am 16 and I just got my paycheck and I've got like $500. I want to donate some of said money because I know there are a lot of people that need it more than I do and I know if I keep it all, I'll just spend it on a bunch of bull **** cause that's what I always do. ANYWAY- does anyone know of a good charity that I can donate to and how I might go about doing it?

Answer 1

aw, thats very sweet of you. You've got a big heart! i would donate to feed the children, or an animal shelter.

Answer 2

Help a fellow female in a war torn country.  Women are treated real bad in other countries.  Real bad.  

http://www.womenforwomen.org/

Answer 3

I like Compassion International

it's a religious (Christian) charity, but it feeds and educates children in third world countries, and is very effective and efficient. Every $32 they get takes care of one child for a month.

the full address is:

Compassion International

Colorado Springs, CO 80997

it was strange to me that the address is only two lines and that it doesn't have a street or PO box, but I know it always gets there and that it really helps a lot of people because they encourage people to sponsor a specific child if you're willing to make a monthly commitment, and so I've received and written letters to the person that I'm sponsoring; and my dad and sister have received letters from the kids their sponsoring -- it's a really fantastic organization, and even though it is technically a Christian organization, it will help anyone who needs it regardless of religion. The child I sponsor is a Muslim. His father's a sharecropper and his mom died when he was really young (he still is really young). But it's just an awesome organization, and it's awesome that you care, and I'm sure that no matter where you donate, it will help your area or the world.

just please don't donate it to a campaign... they raise more money than almost any charities and all that candidates do with that money is insult each other in advertisements... other than that there is really no possible way that you can go wrong because it's just a good thing to give in and of itself

Answer 4

to hungry children or to the ASPCA

Answer 5

donate lt to the hungry children

Answer 6

donate locally...if we all do, then the US is going to get cleaned up!

Answer 7

If you want to donate locally, I would flip through a site like United Way or 1-800-Volunteers. There may be something/someone that you're more interested in helping.

Some major charities are:

Goodwill: Deals with helping people to find jobs. Example: A housewife's husband has died. She hasn't worked in 20 years and has no job skills. The Goodwill will give her the job skills she needs to find a job. They may even employ her.

American Red Cross: They don't deal with just blood, they also help military families stay in touch, disaster services, etc. Example: A family's home was destroyed in a house fire. The Red Cross will send out a Disaster Action Team that will provide food, shelter, etc. free of charge to the family.

The Humane Society: These people don't just run shelters, they're active in legislation to help all animals.

That's only three, there are thousands more.

Answer 8

There are waaay more charities than people willing to donate! Great that you want to get involved.

I think you should examine what really touches you. Abused animals? Battered women? The homeless? Even a museum or other non-profit organization, like a church?

It depends on where you live, but there are non-profit places all over. Just make sure they ARE non-profit, and ask what sort of things they do. It's very heartwarming to imagine all the help that you can give, especially when they describe their programs and how they work.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Great what you're doing! I was very much like you when i was 16... take a look at my cause and see if it's worthy of some money... Thanks!

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/gro...

Answer 10

You can find a charity you like through the Local Independent Charities link.

Answer 11

The National Funding of Underpaid Oil Son executives.

Answer 12

God Bless You!!! If you have a local animal shelter,they always need money.

Answer 13

That is a very good hearted thing to do. Most 16 year old girls want to shop. I think St. Judes is a wonderful Children's cancer research Hospital. They help a lot of families, even if the families can't pay. Donations are what helps the Hospital do that. Check out this link. You will have all of the information you need to donate to the Hospital. God Bless you for having compassion for others.

St. Judes is a very well established charity that was founded by the actor Danny Thomas and after he passed away, his daughter Marlo Thomas took over. You can rest easy that your donation WILL go to the children that need medical care. This is a very legitimate charity.

Answer 14

You do have a big heart and I truly applaud you at your age. There are so many charities to choose from and it is confusing to figure out which ones will do the right thing with your money and which ones will just embezzle.  I am not trying to turn you against charities, however I do want to make you aware of them.  

I will tell you what I have done and you can choose to do the same or do it another way.  I go to shelters for women, men,   children or animals and get list of things that they truly need, go buy them and then donate the items.  This way you know that the money really did do some good. Good luck choosing your charity.

Answer 15

the best and most in need charity that i no of is kids against hunger.

i have volunteered there many times and there food is running low.

what they do is make packages of food and send them off into poor country's and save lives.

Answer 16

God bless you for thinking of others.  World Vision (www.worldvision.com) is an excellent organization that allows you the option to give one time of course, or if you'd like to sponsor a particular child you could read about how they appreciate your monthly donation of $30.  The address & phone # :  [phone] : P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716.  

Also, recently world issues/ disasters= Myanmar had a cyclone and China had an earthquake.  World Vision, The Red Cross, or Salvation Army are all involved in helping victims and supplying needs.  

Thanks for being really thoughtful, wise, and generous.  I'm 50ish and I should think about helping others more, too.  A very good organization is Focus on the Family if you ever have questions or needs regarding life, marriage, bringing up children, it's also a radio program I have greatly appreciated to help encourage me daily to be a good wife and mom.  I know you're not there yet, but someday you will be.   Again, may God bless you and meet all your needs according to His riches in glory. Phillipians 4:19

Answer 17

do you belong to a church, you could donate through their affiliates or charities,  you could go to the the local animal shelters, or the local human shelters, ask to speak to the people in charge of donations, they will even give you and idea of how the money is used,

or, you could just keep it, put it in your own charity, and use some discipline, maybe find a nice bank account and put it in some cd,s so you can,t touch it for awhile,

Answer 18

Put your money where your heart is, find a charity that touches you soul, there are probably people right in your neighborhood that need your help, and you can see what your donation is doing.

A lot of people in my town, are sponsoring a pet at the local no kill shelter.

Answer 19

Perhaps that depends on how compromise you want to be about this, so, first you have to decide, is this donation will be one time only, is this donation will be in your own community, do you have any concerns that you would like to participate or help in specific?

some hints:

Churches - helps homeless

Hospitals - always needs resources

Pet hospitals - resources for helping pets in shelters

the list is long... keep that path :)

Answer 20

red cross

Answer 21

NPR

Answer 22

St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital

its for kids with cancer

Answer 23

you should buy a PlayStation 3 and "donate" its processing power to folding@home.  You would also have a blu-ray player and the most advanced video game system for your entertainment!

Answer 24

Take a look at Kiva.org.  Instead of giving money to charity you can make a zero-interest loan to people trying to make a better life for themselves, most of them in third-world countries.

I lent $25 each to three different people, two in Bali and one in Africa, and all three have repaid most of the loan.

When the loan is repaid in full you get the money back, and you can then lend it on to more people in need.

It's all very well organised, as you'll see from the website. Different organisations in each country handle the loans locally, and they all have ratings for the number of defaulters, how much they've lent out, and how many successful loans they've made.

You sometimes get progress reports for the people you've helped, which is great.

Answer 25

save the pandas!

Answer 26

http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=Bg5Ft...

St.Jude Children's Hospital....

Answer 27

You are doing something very generous and kind with your money.  There aren't many 16-year-olds who are as wise and compassionate and mature as you.  You are someone I wish I knew better.

There are lots of good charities, and a lot of questionable charities. You're right to think carefully about how your money is used.  A couple of charities I have contributed to are World Vision (www.worldvision.org) and Compassion International (www.compassion.com).  Both of these help provide food, supplies, medicine, to needy people in third world countries.

Answer 28

Wow what a lovely gesture and how very empathetic of you to realize so early at such a young age that we all really need to do our part. I suggest you think about what you are passionate about. Whether it be animals or children or maybe a disease that seems to affect your family. It helps to maybe be able to relate to the cause on some level and then enjoy the knowledge that you helped.

I really believe that we should help our neighbors as well. Is there a food bank you could help out or a local women's shelter. Maybe a local youth group that helps kids stay out of trouble?

You local food shelter probably reaches the most people and probably like most food banks is over used. People always donate dry goods but imagine standing out front with maybe $10 food certificates for the local groceries to hand to some clients offering them an opportunity to buy something fresh and giving them the dignity to choose what they wanted! Or instead of your everyday dry goods you call them and ask them what their busiest day is and show up with a ton of fresh fruit!  Or a bunch of jars of honey or maybe tons of lunchables items that would go to school age kids! Maybe plastic sandwich containers and juice holders or sandwich bags. I find that a lot of single moms always wish they can do more for the little ones. Anyhow just some thoughts I am sure whatever you do will be wonderful. God Bless You!

Answer 29

Save the Males

Answer 30

go to http://www.charitablegift.org/ and do some research.  They have an extensive list of local charities.

Answer 31

Local humane societies (animal shelters) accept donations. What you can do is either give them actual money, or buy pet supplies, i.e. dog food, kitty litter, toys... and bring the items up there.