If you came into some money and felt obligated to give some of it back through charitable or humanitarian efforts, where would you put your money to work? Say, somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000-2000. Why would you choose that charity?

---

**************************************
MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#

Medical Teams International

I'd probably find a way to give it to a local school.

local soup kitchen
or local shelter that aids women/families in distress/safe house

Use it to subsidize tutoring for disadvantaged kids.

Local adult literacy or other adult continuing education program.

---

Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

--

--
Eureka, CA

I'd divvy it up. No way I could pick one and ignore others. Some of my favorites over the past few years:
• Local school but to a fund that goes DIRECTLY to the teachers that have to spend out of pocket to outfit their classrooms. These sometimes ask for gift cards to Target, Walmart, office supply stores.
• Local animal shelter. Sometimes ask for gift cards to Target, Petco/PetSmart etc.
• Local healthcare initiatives that offer screening/basic services to low income in my area. Feel the dollar often goes further than donating to major organizations such as American Cancer Society, but I donate there, too.
• Local Ronald McDonald House. Sometimes asks for gift cards, some have Amazon wish lists to shop from.
• Local parks and rec facilities for beautification, clean up projects, summer camp for kids etc.
• Welfare to work programs, Dress for Success (give abused and low income women work-appropriate wardrobes for interviews) and the like.

Charity begins at home.

I take care of myself first so I don't become a burden on my family or any of you.

Quote
dmann
I'd divvy it up. No way I could pick one and ignore others.

I can identify with that sentiment, but I've heard in the past from folks in the NFP world that they actually prefer that you *don't* split up donations. Make a bigger difference for a single NFP rather than barely making a difference in the bottom line of any of them. I'm not saying they don't want your money, but that there's a bigger impact on their organization with a $1000 donation than there is with a $100 donation. They need larger donations to make larger purchases (computers, software, other office equipment, etc).

Now, if we were talking Bill Gates type of money, than go ahead and split them up. But for us plebeians, it may be worth considering a single gift to a single organization.

Local pet rescue

United Way.

---

Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

My local church camp. Camps are awesome places where kids get to experience life while disconnected from all the "distractions" of the modern world.