I have so many things to be grateful for that it makes me want to open my heart and wallet a little wider, especially at this time of year.
However, I also want to be smart in my giving and make sure my donations are being well utilized. That’s why I spent some time researching animal rights, welfare, and service organizations, wildlife conservation organizations, and zoos and aquariums to see which ones used their monies most efficiently and effectively.
Thanks to sites like Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy I was able to accomplish my goal. But I also learned some other interesting things along the way, such as:
Hunters Aren’t Evil
There’s oftentimes a clash between those who hunt and those who think hunting animals for sport is wrong. Hunters vs. anti-hunters if you will.
I’d like to appeal to that second group, of which I was quasi a part of. Not that I think anyone who hunts is evil. I just personally wouldn’t find any fun or glory in killing an animal. (Unless maybe I was in desperate need of food.) But as far as mounting a carcass as a trophy? Nope, doesn’t appeal to me.
However, when researching wildlife conservation charities, I was surprised to find sportsmen groups under this category. Didn’t they kill life, not preserve it?
Actually, no. In fact, take the National Wild Turkey Federation for instance. Thanks to their efforts to conserve land and preserve their “hunting heritage” they’ve increased the wild turkey population in North America, from 1.3 million in 1973 to over 7 million today. That’s awesome!
Diversifying Donations Isn’t Good
I have what I’ve dubbed my BMK Fund of money I save up and donate to animal charities as they catch my attention. However, one of the tips I stumbled across on Charity Navigator was that while any donation is appreciated, spreading them out a little here and a little there isn’t as good as “concentrating” the giving to one organization I’m passionate about. That benefits the charity much more in the long run because more of my money can go to their cause rather than overhead and fundraising expenses.
There Are More Top-Rated Charities Than Low-Rated Ones
In the articles I mentioned above I listed only four star rated (by Charity Navigator) or “A” (American Institute of Philanthropy) charities. These were the ones that were most exceptional.
But there were a host of three star and “B” rated charities that are also utilizing money wisely and are worthy of donations. In fact, there are more top-rated charities by far than there were ones ranked on the low end.
For example, of 247 animal rights, welfare, and service charities ranked by Charity Navigator, only 18 got one star or less. (Compared to 77 four star and 101 three star organizations.) Of the 70 wildlife conservation organizations there were only 14 that got one star or less, and of the 67 zoos and aquariums examined only 3 received one star or less.
Sure, there are some groups out there who aren’t on the up and up, but truly those are the exception and not the rule.
Related Articles
Three Things to Consider When Giving Money
Top Ten Resources For Charitable Giving, Part I
Top Ten Resources For Charitable Giving, Part II
I Am So Thankful for All of the Animal Lovers Out There