This week we again here of fraud, even criminals, ripping charities and us off
Can any of them be trusted
support one on line at your peril, young men or women will haunt your phone at tea time for months
We seem to be getting less willing to trust them and just maybe with good reasons

Indeed , my wife gives donations but then gets fat envelopes from unknown charities with cards and pamphlets. The printing costs must absorb the donations received , along with admin expenses.

Depends on the charities and who runs them.

I don't donate, so I don't have to trust them.

ttbn quote "I don't donate, so I don't have to trust them."

The Government gives millions to some charities so technically you do.

Only nonprofit groups registered as charities have to lodge information with the sector’s regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC). The degree of information depends on their annual revenue. Only charities earning more than A$1 million a year must submit audited financial statements.

The commission is now considering increasing this threshold to A$5 million.

There is more info at the following link. Read down on the page some interesting stats there.

http://theconversation.com/we-need-to-know-more-about-charities-to-be-sure-they-are-helping-their-cause-not-themselves-103881

The article starts out with info on the case of.
The case of Eman Sharobeem, the NSW Australian of the Year finalist who stole almost $800,000 from charitable organisations she ran, highlights major problems with transparency throughout the nonprofit sector.

Sharobeem managed two organisations that received funds to help immigrant women. She stole the money over more than 10 years, using it to buy items such as jewellery and a Mercedes.

That she was got away with it for so long is indicative of the nonprofit sector’s general lack of accountability. The overwhelming majority of organisations make no public financial disclosures. Generally the only ones that do are those required to by law.

There are musical charities in the doorways of supermarkets but they only spend it on fags and beer.

It is more blessed to give than receive.

It is more blessed to give than receive.

But is it stupid to give to someone who has more than you?

In NSW at least the past two years has seen endless stories about even known criminals, thieving from charities they are part of.
More often than not government funded but our tax still
I give, always have, but we all see the storeys, open fraud and theft,costs of over heads.
Very real concerns just how much of our dollar gets to those we intended.
Professional collection agencies can get near 100 percent!
Then donate to one, and your details get in the hands of ten others, tea time phone calls follow.
Young persistent callers, desperate for a commision? haunt you and get quite rude often
I do not trust todays charities, and the ways donations are being collected
Shame is we want to help but more and more can not be sure who we are helping

Well folks, I've been giving to my select
charities for years. And I don't worry about
being ripped off. It's my choice - and I
like to assume that small as my donations
are they are helping. At least I feel as if
I am contributing something towards those
worse off who need help.

' It is more blessed to give than receive.

But is it stupid to give to someone who has more than you?'

Largely depends on motives Phillip. At the end of the day best giving is in secret and to the poor. On the other hand if you want to honor someone who has helped you up then that's not so bad. Human heart will always find reasons to hold on and be selfish. Marxist are very very generous with other peoples money as a general rule.

NO !

Give blood, it's free.

At least in NSW it is near crisis, even in a regional city one person collecting thousands for drought relief has been arrested for spending it on him self
During a flood relief campaign one well know charity dumped perfectly good furniture on a rubbish tip
Some control seems needed
In some American states a Community chest takes all donations and spreads it out, such a thing, different for state and federal issues may help.
We need to be aware less is being donated, surely as people no longer trust their cash is getting to those who need it.
Current drought relief has seen one of the biggest charities, one I have given more than I can afford to, saying they hold back near 50 percent!

This is one charity, not for profit (BS) I am glad to see going downhill with donations.

Money to Clintons' nonprofit tapers for third year in row
Donations down 57.8% in 1 year

Donations to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation dropped sharply in 2017, the third-straight year of declining revenue.

Contributions, which peaked during the foundation's major endowment drive, totaled $26.6 million last year, down from $172.6 million in 2014, $108.9 million in 2015 and $62.9 million in 2016.

From 2016 to 2017, donations dipped 57.8 percent.

The financial figures are included in the organization's 990 forms, which are filed each year with the Internal Revenue Service.

The Little Rock-based foundation, which has offices in New York City and around the globe, prepared the document earlier this month and provided a copy to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The endowment, which contained $267,491 at the beginning of 2013, topped $207 million last year, up from $187.2 million in 2016. Most of the increase, $20.4 million, came from investment gains. The endowment received $3 million in contributions in 2017 while classifying $3.7 million in pledges as uncollectable.In a letter, foundation CEO Kevin Thurm said the organization's focus remains on "overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world."

(Contributions in 2012, the year before the endowment drive began, had totaled $49.9 million.)

Fundraising restrictions, voluntarily adopted at the start of Hillary Clinton's second presidential campaign, were another factor, they had cited.

Expenses for the Clinton Presidential Center totaled $12.4 million; revenue totaled $1.7 million.

Overall salaries dropped from $37.4 million to $24.9 million

Net assets on Dec. 31, 2017, equaled $323.5 million, down from $326.7 million.

Thurm foundation CEO was the highest-paid, receiving total compensation of $445,342. Bruce R. Lindsey, a director and former foundation CEO, received total compensation of $407,361.

I did not start this thread to say we should not donate, the opposite in fact, we should be able to trust our money is used as we wish.
This morning, please please consider reading, ABC online news page
A go fund me scam in AMERICA HAS BEEN UNCOVERED, it is shameful, but highlights the whole industry, that is what it is, is unsafe.
I note the post above mine
Know we will always, push our political wheelbarrows
And yes may well be true, of both sides of politics, here and in fantasy land [AMERICA]
Regulation, we have it, it is not working, even state and federal governments are being ripped off
Put a community chest type thing together audited by a government representative on the board
Public overview, let donors pick [in case of flood drought fire] the purpose they donate to, but fix it please

Watch out who you trust, some of the big ones are the worst.

When that dam fool Anna Bligh gave the millions collected for the Brisbane flood relief appeal to the Red Cross to administer, they were caught trying to squirrel $6,000,000 off to their more favoured charities.

When caught they said they thought enough had gone to flood relief, & they had more deserving areas they wanted to support. Probably the salaries account with that mob.

Hasbeen yes true in fact the whole area is reason to have a national ICAC.
Criminals seem drawn to them and in truth if we can not trust them we will not give

Belly You title the thread "Do You trust Charities"

So are you aware Gillard an Co gave the Clinton mob over $100 Million taxpayer dollars.

No but thanks for confirming we can not trust politicians, on any side
Should be clear this thread is not about such fraud, while it is dreadful it is the cash we give that I want to highlight
Gillard, while I tried to support her, was not my cup of tea, after all she said why raise pensions as they do not vote for us.
Corporate fraud, such as the banks, seems to tell us we desperately need a National investigation and prosecution group, with the ability and purpose to stop anyone interfering with them doing their duty
As more and more no longer donate to charity it will become clear it is needed in that area too
Just a thought, that group, if we ever get it, may well be infiltrated by criminals too, such is life in modern Australia

One of the big fraudsters when it comes to "charity" are religions. Churches collect millions of tax free dollars in the name of doing charitable works, but there is never any accountability. The biggies such as the Catholic Church have channelled millions, if not billions, into such things as property acquisition, and speculative share dealings, to the point where they are probably the richest of the rich, and biggest property owners in Australia outside of government.
The new age mob, the fundo born again Christians, we have a couple of devotees on the forum, are well known for the millions they pocket from the gullible in the name of charity, but never account for a penny!

Evidence, Paul?

The millions in salary and bonuses for bank and insurance execs can't all be wages surely . Their skills aren't so rare as their poor judgements have been easily spotted by young prosecutors. The cash must be charity donated by investors from ... bank ..and insurance company..
ahhh.

Jesus Issy, I give you the gospel truth, and like some Doubting Thomas you question the word of the Lord!

Evidence, the bog Irish of Sydney were promised a soup kitchen by Fathers Philip Conolly and John Therry in 1820, if they contributed. Instead of a soup kitchen they got a Cathedral, St Mary's. Which because of their sinful deceitfulness God burn down in 1865! Then they built another one.

"The Holy Name Cathedral, which would have been large enough to accommodate 4000 worshippers, was to have been the single biggest cathedral to be attempted in any part of the world for 300 years.
An 82-metre cupola would have towered over the imposing building, which Duhig championed during his 48-year tenure as Archbishop between 1917 and 1965, and would have dominated the northern end of Brsbane.

Like a good businessman, Duhig had put money in other investments, for example the Roma oil field, but once the Depression hit all his investments collapsed and the money just wasn't there to proceed with it."
Allah strikes again.

Oh dear someone from the Greens lecturing on morality and money! The gw religion is among the worst scammers.

Hi NNN,

Are you interested in the once in a lifetime offer of your very own 'Golden Passport to Heaven' beautifully bound in genuine imitation leather, this offer is not available in Churches, Mosques or Synagogues. It is exclusive to members of the Golden Holy Tabernacle Cathedral of Boise Idaho and disciples of the most Reverend Clarence Doogood! How much would you expect to pay for a one way ticket to Heaven, $200, $150, don't even pay $100, or $90, for a limited time only this offer is available to the next 20 callers for the ridiculous low price of $49.95 plus postage and handling! But wait there's more, not only do you get one 'Golden Passport to Heaven' but you get a second passport absolutely free, to share with a loved one. Our Angles are standing by, ready to answer your call. If not completely satisfied with your 'Golden Passport to Heaven' return it within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price less P&H. Don't be fooled by inferior imitation passports, they simply just don't get the job done!
I personally have ordered 500 'Golden Passports to Heaven', they make the ideal Christmas gift for that special person who has everything, and wants to take it with them when they go. Phone 1800HEAVEN.

All profits from sales of 'Golden Passport to Heaven' go to the most Reverend Clarence Doogood so he can continue his good charitable work, and also expand the 10,000 acre Cathedral property portfolio. Remember that it is through your giving that the Reverend Doogood is able to serve eviction notices on those non rent paying low life's calling themselves poor and needy! They make yah sick!

Hey Clarence it's a scam . Got a will-kit much cheaper ,( in A$) and
it's all left to me . I buy ethical tuna to feed the dolphins and throw sushi to whales , karma.

At least in Heaven runner will not have to put up with pesky lefty's like me and Paul
He too will not have those savages followers of other Gods to content with
Unlikely he however will not still have his pithy one line insults that in the end say nothing

The holy Brisbane investment was in Roma oil , named for di Roma merchants of Venice. Contessa di Roma married Bowen who also has an oil-field in Queensland. Italian oil-production is in Basilicata and Emilia-Romagna south of Venice. Rome's Basilica has a holy bank with oil-executives. The Archdiocese of Chicago has more than $100 million worth of fossil fuel investments and the pious await for Roma oil shares to rise from the dead.

nicknamenick statistics

Comments made on this thread so far. = 6

Comments made on this thread so far that that recieved a reply. = 2

Comments made on this thread so far that recieved no reply. = 4

nicknamenick - Understanding is needed in order to reply sensibly.

Come on runner, you would be familiar with a few charitable church scams going on down in your diocese. Is not the motto with your mob "In God we trust, for the rest of you poor souls its strictly cash!"

What happens to that 10% before tax contribution all good Christians have to make to their church hierarchy, besides keeping the Bishop in wine and women, where does all that dosh go?

10%, Paul?

Reference?

not are you Greens happy spending other peoples money you want to stick your dirty nose in and tell others what to do with their own.

Issy the things I do for you!

Is Mise Reference;

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

if you are going to lend Is Mise money, then I am glad its your cash and not mine.

If you are going to employ Is Mise, then he is like an old clock with a busted spring, he don't work.

As for his prison record, the less said the better.

Yours faithfully
Paul 1405

That's the best REFERENCE I can give you Issy, its not to much is it? Feel free to use it to get a loan, when your looking for a new job, etc etc.

10%, Paul? Don't tell me Issy, they've been adding the GST and now its 11%, the sly buggers. If you can't trust the Pope, who can you trust!

"The European Union has an important role to play in helping the Vatican come into full compliance; the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), set up by the G-7 to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, has a responsibility as well. The Vatican Bank's role is to safeguard and administer property intended for works of religion or charity. The Vatican Museums contain roughly 70,000 works." Australia's Big 4 charitable banks also buy artworks and give charitable interest to needy account-holders . Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a matter of faith , hope and charity.

At least I feel as if
I am contributing something towards those
worse off who need help.
Foxy,
Well, as long as you feel good !

Ise Mise asked Paul for a reference, my thought behind this thread was daily news headlines about massive fraud
And yes frauds involving celebrities who run charities
But right down to the tin rattlers who walk our streets, learning how much is lost in over heads is depressing.
out right fraud, and theft, is harming our wish to help.

//10%, Paul? Don't tell me Issy, they've been adding the GST and now its 11%, the sly buggers. If you can't trust the Pope, who can you trust!//

Catholics don't tithe. It's only some of the weirder Protestants that are into that.

Individual,

It's not about my feeling good - that I give.

It's the way that I was raised - culture and
religion plays a big part in my life. Don't
they in yours?

Do you trust charities can be countered and compared to if you trust taxes. But with charities people are given the authority to give their money away. With both charities and taxes what happens to the money after you give it (or it's taken away) is no longer up to you.

Before giving to a charity look into it. If you think it's worth supporting, and the charity orginization is trustworthy, then go for it. It is good to have a generous heart.

Not everyone has enough to feel like they can give freely to a charity. Others aren't rich but will live cheaper to support a charity they see as worth while.

What anyone else does with their money usually isn't something that can be judged by you or me. Some people waste their money, while others save it. Some are generous with what they have, while others hold on to a good security and investments. Which is better? To have fun go on vcations, buy expensive things, or to save money and sacrifice living to the fullness for the sake of future plans. Is it better to give generously, or to live in your means but live give little or nothing.

What others do with their money isn't up to you or me. But I will support anyone who has a generous heart.

Not-Now-Soon the whole point is about less people giving
And the reason why, in truth those far from rich give more often than most
Is there room in this debate to address the question the thread asks
If so is there room to consider why so much charity money is stolen along the way
I think there is, and too think just doing things as we always have is a cop out
Government overseeing board exists, we only hear after the theft/frauds
A single place to donate, overseen by state and federal government, may make it better

//Not everyone has enough to feel like they can give freely to a charity.//

Well I don't about y'all, but I've got about 5 litres.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_volume

And I can spare the odd half-litre or so every now and then. It grows back, you see.

//Others aren't rich but will live cheaper to support a charity they see as worth while.//

Or find something else to give... people are so obsessed with money these days. In Australia, blood is literally priceless.

Well it's organically grown in your organs with traces of Chernobyl , mount Vesuvius and sun-tan lotion. Oil is down , blood is up and Bitcoin's on the skids.

OK but will giving blood save a child from starvation
Take the point but the thread asks the question do we trust charities
Not can we afford to give, want to give, or even if we should give.
Maybe I have got it wrong, but my concern is by not truly asking the question, and not responding to the answer, are we helping charities or condemning them to even less being donated
News feeds near weekly tell of fraud in this area, friends openly tell of the tea time begging bowl phone calls, including stories about fraud involving those who make those calls

Hi NNN,

BTW Like me are you now a disciple of the Most Reverend Clarence Doogood of the Golden Holy Tabernacle Cathedral of Boise Idaho? Which is doing great charitable works, mostly evicting non rent paying widows and orphans, pesky bleeding hearts. They know our church motto, the word of the Lord; "PAY UP OR GET OUT".

I want you to know that our Reverend Clarence Doogood is in no way related to, or associated with, that other Reverend Clarence Doogood also of Boise Idaho, who is facing embezzlement and fraud charges in the US Supreme Court. Also those stories about Reverend Doogood and high class prostitutes are unfounded, and untrue, even if 37 such women appeared on the '60 Minutes' program to tell their pack of lies, and besmirch the good name of Reverend Doogood. All instigated by devil worshippers and blasphemers! BTW Reverend Doogood may return some time in the future from his extended holiday in South America to face his detractors, when the truth will be revealed, but not just yet.

Sounds too good to be true . Is he the kindly gentleman who offers solar panels , pc check-up, block nuisance phone-calls and assist with paying taxes by postal order ? You seem confused , he's a Nigerian in Philippines.

Paul1405 - I pity the community where others try to copy the court jester.

More people laugh or ignore the court jester, than comprehend the message of the jester.

giving the UN money will certainly mean more rockets fired into Israel. No one seems to mind that abominable centre of theft.

And a lot more for the bureaucrats to indulge themselves.

"giving the UN money will certainly mean more rockets fired into Israel. No one seems to mind that abominable centre of theft."

"And a lot more for the bureaucrats to indulge themselves."

my head hurts...

We have no say in any money given to the UN
We however never truly know if the next tin rattler is a fraud

This morning brings a whole new focus on charities
SMH has a story about sexual assaults by our aid groups
And not just a few
Charities have been finding it hard to get donations and without changes it will get far worse

Australia’s aid organisations have been the subject of 31 substantiated sexual misconduct claims in the past three years, prompting a contrite apology from the sector’s umbrella organisation.

The findings are contained in a report commissioned by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), which was moved to act earlier this year by revelations of widespread sexual assault and harassment within the British aid sector.

The study carried out by the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine counted 76 claims of sexual misconduct including two cases in which aid workers allegedly raped people in the overseas communities they were working in.

The report calls for a mandatory reporting regime whereby aid organisations would have to tell the Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission about all sexual misconduct allegations.

ACFID has agreed to implement all 28 of the report’s recommendations and has issued an apology.

“We would like to acknowledge and apologise to the victims/survivors of sexual misconduct who have been harmed - both those we work alongside and those we exist to protect and support,” the council's board said in a statement.

The board promised to “shed light on and harness our failings”. By commissioning the review, they said they were showing “the gravity with which we consider this issue and our resolve to improve”.

REST OF ARTICLE.

http://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australian-aid-groups-apologise-after-finding-dozens-of-sexual-misconduct-cases-20181120-p50h5t.html

To Belly.

For anyone who wants to give to a charity, there is the risk that the money is going to pay the marketing of the charity instead of towards the cause. Or worse, just going to those who market it and is a streight up con job hanging on the emotional pull of generous people. That is unfortunately a sad reality. To combate this, those who donate are the ones who need to look into the organizations they donate to. The burden is on them. No government body can remove all con men and some are very clever to keep it out of the police's radar, even when it's identy theft or it wipes out a person's retirement. The sad thing is that many who are conned are older people who are talked into giving more then they should. Like you, I wish this could be addressed and could be resolved, but I honestly don't see it happening.

Add crimes to it like the report on aid charities, and that reduces any chance for aid even more. Who has the time or the commitment to research where the money is going by charities before they give to anyone? This does reduce more and more people from giving to charity. That said, Toni's approach isn't a bad one. Give blood, or donate your time to a cause, without giving money. That way you see what your helping, instead of hoping the money goes to the right places. For those who go beyond that type of charity and give generously (either because they researched the charrity, or because they feel generousity is important regardless of the risks of where the money end up), for those people I have a warm respect for. Too many of us have our hearts turned cold because of how generousity has been used to con or steal. (For those who donate their time and their blood, I have a warm respect for them too).

(Continued)

(Continued)

Charity is an avenue I need to work on for myself too. To give more readily or to find a cause to give to. Otherwise what good am I doing? Letting the fear of misuse stop me from finding a good purpose to open my heart to. It's based on my own need to overcome the fear to give, that I offer my points, and the reality that it is on us to look into if a charity is worth while before giving to it.

NNS Sorry not impressed by your case, see I give, more in truth than I can afford
Even think aid, used well, policed even better,can solve most of the world problems
BUT even in social welfare I oppose fraud
During the week a family came in to the spotlight, no not Muslims
We are told they have been paid well over 400.000 dollars in welfare
But bought a 1.4 million dollar house, paid in cash
Money it is said stolen from the country they came from
Crime should never ever be subsidised by theft from any charity

I wasn't trying to impress you Belly. Just telling you how it is. It would be great if there were no con men and shady charities. But that's just not going to go away. If there's a court to take a con to they might help find justice. But higher police action isn't going to stop fraud. Instead though it might stop some charities from ever being able to start because the cost of policing it comes out in a fee or a percentage of the charity. Or it would be paid for by tax payers money, but that won't last. Taxes are fickle about staying true to their cause, as well as fickle of getting approval to add or keep an extra tax.

You say you give more then you can afford. I don't believe it. Lots of people make ends meet with little money. It's not a choice, it just that it has to be done. If you really do give more then you can afford and there's an issue of going into debt because of it, then that's reckless handeling of money. I hope that is not the case. And for your benifit of the doubt, I don't believe it.

NNS believe me I do not go in to debt, long ago, after a bank employee who committed fraud on many near here cost me a lot I never used bank card or credit again.
Long gone the wage packet that saw me live in comfort I like hundreds of thousands go without some thing to give.
currently it is to drought relief
Nothing can ever be perfect, the best out come can only be better than the current
Fraud is in everything these days and it remains my view we can manage donations to charity better

"It would be great if there were no con men and shady charities."

It would be great if there were no con men and shady used car dealers. It would be great if there were no con men and shady builders. It would be great if there were no con men and shady reverends selling tickets to heaven.

Does that in itself justification for not buying a used car, or putting an extension on the back of the house, or event seeking eternal salvation. No more than its a valid reason not to give to charities in general.

There are many worthwhile causes, probably more worthwhile causes than there are dollars to go round. People will say; "I don't give to charities, because they are all rip offs and the money doesn't go to the needy etc etc anyway." That justification brings them comfort, as they know helping others is a reasonable thing to do, but the rationale that all charities are rip offs removes any guilt feeling they may have had about not giving.

It would be great Paul, but do not overlook the truth it should be better.
Giving is good but not knowing if you can trust is not going away
Constant improvement, in every thing, should not be stopped just because some charities can be trusted

Hi Belly,
We're off to the RSL for our Friday night dinner, meat raffle, and a couple of schooners with a bit of entertainment. I will drop a couple of bob into the Salvos tin, and get in return a copy of 'War Cry'. Will my small offering be put to good use, I don't know, but as a matter of trust I believe it will be.

For some years we've been involved with a private aid program in Fiji, helping villages and children. To the best of my knowledge the money donated is mostly used in direct funding, admin is at a minimum. There are indirect overheads required to run the charity on the ground, car hire for example, even the cost of stamps is an expense which may not be seen as direct aid. Then on the plus side there are countless unpaid hours put in by those volunteers based in Australia, and in Fiji.

One of the best local workers is a Fijian/Indian chap who runs his own taxi, does a lot of running around, picking people and things etc. Naturally if an Australian sponsor wants to be picked up from their hotel or airport, and taken to their accommodation, or to see a school or a village etc, the local chap is the recommendation, having his details, and cards, which can be sent before the person leaves Australia. He's known to be reliable and charges a reasonable fare. Nothing wrong in that, and the sponsor gets looked after with waiting time, reliability, and that sort of thing.

Paul much the same here give to the salvos often of late after short talk about its past failures
Every day, fair dinkum, a new story about fraud or theft involving charities is seen
From big funds run by celebrities to tin rattlers who put some directly in their pockets
Never my intention to stall donations
We, you and me, are without shame activists
We want a better world, often to get that we need to lift rocks and uncover whatever is under them
This is such a case
see early polls say you are polling eleven percent, more that one motion and the big hats together!