http://www.perthnow.com.au/money/the-tricks-they-try-to-cash-in-on-the-dying/story-e6frg2uc-1226288397035

This article got me thinking. After I read the conference details,
it became clear that the charity business can be quite ruthless
at extracting funds from donors.

Many on OLO seem to have the belief that business equals bad,
charity equals good. As we can see from the evidence, that is
clearly not the case. Pericles once pointed out, that given the
huge salaries paid to CEOs of various charities, they are hardly
a charity, more like a business.

What charities are actually worth supporting?

A good question yabby, one I would like an answer to.
I have seen donated furniture, in very good condition dumped.
And rooms full of toys, after Christmas.
Charity's some times, get 10% from the top.
Still think a community chest type system, one place to donate ,many causes and charity's is worth thought.

Yabby , I've arrived at the same conclusion.My number one charity is about our freedom. http://www.ae911truth.org/ When you all face the truth,there will be little need of charities,since free people will be independant of Govt and their Corporate Masters.

Arjay , no bitterness, no intent to annoy, but bloke!
Your intrusion in to a thread to put your hobby horse once more on display is unneeded.
True.
If to high light your thoughts diversion of discussions of importance is ok then maybe it is your views that are in need of review.
Some substance exists in some of your concerns, financial at least, but you drive support away.

Isn't some money getting to whoever needs it better than none?

A couple of relevant issues
- the tactics used to get money (the subject of this thread)
- how much of the money actually goes to help (also highly relevant)

I made the mistake a couple of years ago of buying a raffle ticked from a charity with an association with dogs (not the mad kind). Found myself absolutely bombarded with calls, letters and emails seeking more. I was being rung on an what appeared to be a weekly basis as well as a lot of written communication. Numerous attempts to get them to back off failed (eventually I got the message through) but I will never deal with that charity again.

I also started to find it very difficult to determine how much of my giving (or raffle purchases in some cases) would actually go to the charity, most callers seemed to duck and weave around that question.

Eventually got to the point where I've picked one charity which a friend has some personal knowledge of and any giving I do generally goes there. No raffles, prizes etc and as far as I can tell most goes to the intended purpose.

One of the downsides of the tactics used by the charities is that it creates a level of distrust and cynicism. To much hard sell and a lot of people turn off to it all, the good ones become hard to pick from the bad.

R0bert