We are not getting interest here, and frankly I have not got the support in the workplace.
I think it is worth while, in the workplace we are always raising money, for sometimes tragic events.
workers wife with cancer you name it, that two bucks could give instant help, big help, in such cases raffles rarely do.
Those who work with me give to rescue helicopters,support white ribbon day, violence against women, breast cancer, soon mens prostrate cancer all from our own money.
I would gladly double that, put an equal amount into a community chest, if it was rort proof.
And still find money for things like floods and fires, we may do well to formalize what takes place with our charity donations
One big hearted workplace has with the bosses help put a system in place.
If a worker or family is in trouble one key hit is all it takes every worker enrolled in the system gives ten bucks that pay near nine thousand dollars, proud of those blokes.

Pelican "Col, I personally don't have a problem with the Red Cross or similar groups diverting any extra donations to other worthy causes but not all may feel this way."

I do not feel the same as you Pelican.

Froa charity to tout for donations under the guise of providing support to a particualr cause but using it for a completely different cause purpose is called

"Fraud by deception" and is a criminal offense

It is no different to an entreprenuer canvassing investors to support his business promotion, then running off with the money.

I have, no direct problem with Red Cross, I think they and many charities do stirling work to the benefit of those who find themselves accutely or even chronically disadvantaged.

But we rely on their standards of honesty and ethicacy and when they diverted funds away from the promoted cause of relief of Bali bombing victims, they fell below the minimal acceptable standards of ethicacy and honesty.

If someone wants to benefit from my philanthropy, then I have a reasonable and legal right to be told

How the money will be spent

What portion will be absorbed in "administration cost"

How they have spent monies in previous years

If I feel the "Admin Costs" are too high, I can choose to be philantropic through another avenue

If I feel the goals of the charity are incompatible with my own, (for instance I would have huge personal problems supporting any "charity" which was in league with a religion which rabidly pursued an anti-abortion agenda, for fear my contributions might get diverted into funding the "anti-abortion" cause), I can choose to contribute to an alternate charity.

Regarding government funding, I am not certain about the reporting requirements for a charity as prescribed by the charities commissioners but I would guess they are requried to disclose revenue by channel and government money would represent a "channel"

Hi Belly,
I've only just found this ongoing discussion, so apologies for the lateness of my thoughts.
I am one of two administrators for the Whitehorse Community Chest in Victoria. For 47 years we have been providing aid to the charities and welfare agencies in the City of Whitehorse. We assist approx. 60 charities/welfare agencies per year, and last year allocated $150,000. The amount each 'beneficiary' is allocated depends on how many collector they can provide for our annual doorknock. We also fundraise in others ways, the moneys also being allocated.
I wanted to reassure you that our Chest's finances are transparent. Certainly we have expenses. My colleague and I are paid, but the roles we are employed in cannot be done by volunteers. I work two days a week coordinating the volunteers, organising printing, recruiting new members and list goes on.
This Community Chest is a wonderful institution - our only problem is getting volunteers to doorknock, as many of our members are now too old to be out doorknocking.
We are just moving into the 21st century getting email and internet, and so do not have a web address at this time. I would be happy however to show you how we operate and where the money goes.
Keep thinking along this line Belly - it works! (and some of our Beneficiaries include the Red Cross, St Vincents and Oxfam. We have churches involved, but they must provide proof that they do not use their allocated funds for their ministries)

I am truly grateful for your post, yours is the type of thing I was thinking of.
In matters like the westpak helicopter workers put weekly donations in.
But if we had a central point to donate?
To distribute?
I know many would get payroll deduction forms out in seconds.
The thread did not truly get of the ground, but the idea will one day.
We could see the right to direct your money and bigger separate donations in times like now.
America has these community chests, not every place but a few speeding motorists even pay fines this way.