Tidings of comfort & joy: 10 large charities that shine.

Forbes.Com ^ | 12.08.03 issue | William P. Barrett

[yankeedame]

Investment Guide

Genuinely Needy

William P. Barrett,
12.08.03

Our annual survey of 200 large charities picks 10 that shine.

We have once again surveyed 200 nonprofits and rated them on how efficiently they collect and distribute charity. A new feature this year: a gold-star list, identifying charities we think are worthy of your consideration. In alphabetical order:

American Kidney Fund: This charity defrays the unreimbursed portions of kidney dialysis treatment, such as medicine and transportation. Last year 42,000 low-income patients received an average $1,000 in grants, for a total of $41 million.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: This century-old agency, with 471 chapters nationwide, has found its niche: mentoring troubled children of single parents. With donations running strong, it has set an ambitious goal of serving 1 million kids in 2010--four times its present load.

Brother's Brother Foundation: Anesthesiologist Robert Hingson founded this nonprofit to run Third World immunization and health programs. Now headed by son Luke Hingson, BBF operates largely with donated material.

First Book: The simple goal: Give poor children their own first new book. This nonprofit gets volumes from publishers, then enlists local volunteers to hand them out. In two years it has distributed nearly 15 million books.

Heifer International: This hunger-fighting nonprofit arranges to give needy folk in 47 countries breeding animals--cows, chickens, water buffalo, even bees--plus training. The recipients agree to donate the first-born female to others.

International Rescue Committee: Started in 1933 to help those fleeing Hitler, the IRC is the grande dame of organizations assisting refugees and displaced persons. Recently, it has played a significant role in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International: This charity states flatly that its goal is a cure for diabetes and its complications. Extremely efficient financially, this national single-illness research nonprofit pumps more than $100 million to scientists.

Marine Toys for Tots: Started by a Marine Corps reservist in 1947 to funnel toys to needy kids, this charity still operates with official Marine Corps support.

Northwest Medical Teams International: This medical relief group doesn't rely on clinics. It also makes house calls in disaster areas using mobile medical teams.

Salvation Army: Essentially its own religious movement, this helper of the down-and-out is the second-biggest gift recipient ($999 million) on our list. Meager salaries for officers and large numbers of volunteers help keep efficiencies very high and overhead low.

[yankeedame]

Hey, folks, take it easy. I didn't make up this list I just filtched it from the Fobes web site.

[CatoRenasci]

We always try to give something to the Salvation Army, it does more good with our donations than any other charity we've investigated over the years.

[anniegetyourgun]

Big Bros/sisters is unwilling to keep pedophiles from children.

The Heifer project has turned into nothing more than a liberal cause in 'diversity' and is now populated by left-leaning zealots.

[Mamzelle]

re: We always try to give something to the Salvation Army, it does more good with our donations than any other charity we've investigated over the years.)))

Dittoes bump. My personal favorite charity--I think it's the lack of sentimentality in their attitude.

Recently donated an old clunker--was told these generally go to single moms trying to get on their feet financially and need a way to work.

Excellent "panty" management, too.

[Mamzelle]

ARGH! I meant PANTRY management!! (blush)

[LibertarianLiz]

Salvation Army: Essentially its own religious movement, this helper of the down-and-out is the second-biggest gift recipient ($999 million) on our list. Meager salaries for officers and large numbers of volunteers help keep efficiencies very high and overhead low.

After 9/11, and the charity fiascoes uncovered by O'Reilly, I remember reading an article that listed the salaries of the CEO's of the Red Cross, United Way and Salvation Army.

I remember that the Red Cross and United Way were paying high 6-figure salaries to their CEOs. The head of the Salvation Army was making something like 27 or 28,000 dollars.

That did it for me. It told me all I needed to know about who was actually doing "charity" work, and who had a nice career in the "charity business". I now put money in those little red buckets and know it's going to help someone other than the CEO. I believe, also, that this has to do with Red Cross and United Way people looking at their job as a career path, and the Salvation Army and the Catholic Services look at this work as a vocation. (The Catholic charities also gives a good bang for the buck.)

[VOA]

bump

[HamiltonJay]

Heifer International: This hunger-fighting nonprofit arranges to give needy folk in 47 countries breeding animals--cows, chickens, water buffalo, even bees--plus training. The recipients agree to donate the first-born female to others.

Our son's Sunday School class is donating to Heifer this year, they are working to raise enough money to buy a cow I believe for a family in Africa. Definately a very true incarnation of "Teach a man to fish".

Salvation Army is definately the organization that I try to support.. 90%+ gets to the people in need, and they've been doing it for a long long time now.

[LiteKeeper]

Little know fact - as I understand it (and I might be wrong). After a disaster event, the Red Cross will bill the responsible government agency for all of the supplies used: coffee, donuts, etc. On the other hand, the Salvation Army, that usually arrives before the Red Cross, and almost always stays longer, does not bill anyone for anything.

[HamiltonJay]

90%+ of money donated to the Salvation Army goes to those in need, not to marketing, or sales, or executives salaries or retirement funds or million dollar office suites or executives mistresses. It is as far as I can tell the most noble and honest of the big charaties and not suprisingly its founded on Christian principles.

[HamiltonJay]

Red Cross is a scam, always has been always will be. Go talk to some veterans of the Pacific Campaign in WWII... they actually charged the soldiers for coffee at their stations!

They are a charity in name only.

[The_Victor]

ARGH! I meant PANTRY management!! (blush)

Comment opportunities abound.... Nawwwww, too easy.... 8^}~

[Veritas_est]

Your first link was right on.

The second one, about the Heifer Project was less than explanatory.

It's not that I doubt your opinion, but I didn't find it justified at the link given.

[Tax-chick]

Salvation Army! They and the local "Gospel Rescue Mission" (by whatever name) get our help-the-poor donations. (Note to Forbes: The Salvation Army is not "essentially its own religious movement"; it is a Christian denomination, just like Baptists or Lutherans.)

[Veritas_est]

Some soldiers are reported to have actually paid the Red Cross for packages sent by parents to specific soldiers.

[lodwick]

Salvation Army bttt

[Veritas_est]

"Salvation Army bttt"

Would you care to offer a cogent comment?

[CobaltBlue]

We always give to the Salvation Army. I have some extra money to donate this year, and was looking around for additional recipients.

I am a lawyer, do a lot of pro bono for Legal Aid, and a lot of people in shelters and otherwise receiving charity don't really meet my standards as charity cases, like the lady with the Porsche who qualifies because it has no equity and she has no job. So I am a mite disgusted with what I percieve as milking the system.

I do like the idea of the Heifer Project, because it is not just money, but a way to make your own money.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Giving a pregnant cow is the essence of capitalist charity.

[anniegetyourgun]

Don't you imagine that Ben & Jerry's foundation is a heavy screener for liberal causes? I do. I also have some first-hand experience with this once fine organization that was born out of good intentions and great ideas. It has been overtaken by liberals, socialists, greens, and the religious left. Couldn't help but notice that the last job they filled in-house was for a "Director of Diversity" - and they aren't talking about the gene pool of their animal stock.