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.

[laurav]

Did I miss something on your Heifer project link? I was taken to a page of charities that the Ben and Jerry's foundation donates to. I'm sure all sorts of people I don't like have given to the same charities I have, so I'm not sure what that means about the Heifer project. Seems like a pretty good idea to me -- helping poor people start their own income-producing lines of work, rather than just take a hand-out.

[sinkspur]

Salvation Army bttt"

Would you care to offer a cogent comment?

He did. "bttt" means "bump to the top," which is commonly used to keep the thread visible.

[MJemison]

..paid the Red Cross..

Yes, my uncle who was in the service told me the same thing. He also said to never give a dime to Red Cross, give your donation to the Salvation Army.

[Veritas_est]

"Salvation Army bttt"

Would you care to offer a cogent comment?

Please forgive me for seeming rude. I am obviously a newbie, but I am trying to understand how this works. Thanks to all of you who take time to explain.

[Old Professer]

You will probably getthis from someone else before I finish typing; BTTT is shorthand for Bump To The Top; it is not a disparaging phoneme.

[jmc813]

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

Is there anything other than the fact that Ben & Jerry's donated to them that makes this so? My church works with them and they seem like a fine charity.

[ArrogantBustard]

A good friend of mine who was heavily involved in rescue operations and forensic investigation at the Pentagon, post Sept. 11, has naught but praise for the Salvation Army. His opinion of the Red Cross is not fit to be printed.

[anniegetyourgun]

My former church used to also contribute. See #20 above. I'm afraid I can't go into great detail, but am aware of how much the organization has been overtaken by leftists. There is not much left of the original Christian foundation in the organization - unless you are one who also considers The World Council of Churches to be a "Christian" organization.

[exit82]

Welcome, newbie. You'll find there are a lot of good things to learn here--and many able teachers.

Onse more BTTT for the Salvation Army!

[anniegetyourgun]

Welcome to FR!

[Cap Huff]

You mention one of the criticisms that is often made against the Red Cross, and I have no doubt that it is true. I won't speak of the Red Cross today, but in regard to WWII there was another side of the picture that I also know was true. My father was a POW in the European theater for about a year, and he had nothing but the highest praise for what the Red Cross did for him. He credited his very survival to the parcels that they sent him. Those parcels kept him alive. He ate the foodstuff that was sent, and bartered the cigarettes for a bit more food. His normal weight was 160 pounds, and he weighed about 120 when he was liberated in April 1945. The Red Cross was the margin of survival for him. In a way, I wouldn't be writing this if it had not been for the Red Cross.

By the way, I have no particular love for the Red Cross of today. Insofar as they do a service for our active duty military some good is done, but I'm afraid that they are an overgrown bureaucracy