Bitcoin Forum

I've been looking into charities lately. I'm reluctant to simply donate money to the poor. I'm afraid they will consume it, lose incentive to work, and remain poor forever. I'm interested in organizations that strive to free people from poverty.

I like the Grameen Bank (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=7723). I read the book written by the founder a few years ago. I was impressed by it. This organization gives out business loans to groups of extremely poor people, and uses peer pressure to make them work to pay the loan back. Then the poor receive more loans and are able to support themselves just as anyone else would.

I also like the NewSchools Venture Fund (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6446). They fund education entrepreneurs who do things such as start charter schools in poor communities. I absolutely hate the American public school system, anything that gives children more options is good.

I donated 1 btc to Wikileaks, but that was more out of convenience than anything. I don't know a great deal about Wikileaks, but I think the less secret the world's secret torture camps are, the better.

I know I focused on poverty here, but feel free to talk about any charity you think is worth consideration. Cancer charities, abused kitten charities, whatever.

First off, good thread.

I agree with hating the American public school system, although for me any variant of the Prussian school model is unacceptable. I'll have to look into this New Schools Venture, but personally I'm a big advocate of homeschooling (although I understand most families lack a parent with the free time for it.)

Wikileaks is a good idea, but I'm not sure how much I trust them. A few BTC is probably not a bad idea.

The Grameen bank sounds good, and I've heard people applauding the various micro-loan sites out there... but I'm uncomfortable helping people out through loans. I think it's better than just giving them money, but I also agree with the principle that "the borrower is servant to the lender." So that's out for me.

Nowadays I refuse to give to cancer charities; I'm really inclined to not give to any "let's cure X" medical charities anymore. As much government involvement that exists in healthcare, and with the suppressive activities of the pharmaceutical industry, I'm pretty much convinced the billions spent on cancer research and the like has been a waste, that the cures are either known or require outside-the-box approaches, and that these charities ultimately have very little incentive to solve the problems.

So what TO give to? Hmmm...

I usually give to the food pantry at the churches I've attended, and have seen folks benefit from those.

I'm somewhat into liberty-oriented "charities" right now. Things like the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund, Orlando Cop Block, etc.

Thinking about it though, lately I've just done a lot of end-runs around actual organized charities. I'm trying to be more interactive with my local community, and have found myself trying to address local needs for people I know personally. Sometimes just a timely gift can go far for someone. I've known of folks who, say, had a kid who wanted to go to a sports camp, but they couldn't afford it, and have anonymously donated money for it. At one of our local city food festivals, which helps to raise money for local churches and charities, I target the ones I like (like a soup kitchen) and often leave a donation as well. I've also given time to a few local activities, both church-related and other.

Anyone else with any thoughts as to what organized charities are worthwhile?

Somebody posted a private college a while back, but I can't find it... It accepts donations.

You're talking about donating bitcoins? 

It makes no sense to me to donate bitcoins to tax-exempt organizations in the US if you want to claim the tax deduction.  If anything, using bitcoins will make that more difficult.

I'm excited about the bitcoin economy in general, but this is one area that just doesn't make sense to me.

I think the best charity you can provide is to donate to a politician that supports a form of government that is good for economic development, like a government that doesn't impose minimum wage.

I never said I was donating Bitcoins. Just money. I guess it might be implied because this is a Bitcoin forum, but this isn't the Bitcoin section of the Bitcoin forum...

You might be interested in GiveWell (http://www.givewell.org/), a site providing analysis of different charities.

I'm involved with Books to Prisoners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_to_Prisoners). Some people are in prison for very stupid reasons. There might be a branch near you (if you're in North America).

Unfortunately  many charities especially large ones are terribly inefficient and bloated. This causes about 70% to 85% of donations to be used for things such as administration, advertising, salaries and other things. This leaves very little to be used for the actual goal of the charity.

So that being said my answer is none. What I have done in the past when i happen to feel generous is to be directly involved in something. Sponsoring youth events or something of the like.

http://opensourceecology.org/

http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski.html

they accept bitcoin.

They say their top rated charities save an average of 1 Human life per $1000. You're not going to find a much better price.

Most people hate the idea of putting a price on Human life, and by refusing to think about it, they let billions of people die when they could have been saved by small amounts of money per person.

Donate locally or get involved using your own funds to help someone get on their feet.  Getting involved will give you much more satisfaction than throwing money at it.  That, and most conventional Charities are corrupt money funnels to the Globalists.  Red Cross and the like, oh and anything to do with Cancer research.

Operation USA is a HUGE low-overhead NGO. I was going to a hospital in a really cut-off and poor part of nicaragua and I contacted them about making a donation, and they had me drive to their warehouse, fill up four duffel bags of medication and equipment and bring them with me on my flight because it would be to much work to do it officially. How friggin' cool is that? Customs didn't even jam me up for having a box containing 50,000 tylenol.

They are definitely worth looking into, although I doubt they accept bitcoin...Their lack of overhead and beauracracy means they are often the first capable group in after natural disasters and they do a lot of good with their limited means.