Good morning. I've always been interested in the overhead of any charity where I make a donation. I have found that many of the better known charities have overhead as high as 25% plus. From a list of over 700 charitable organizations that I can contribute to through payroll deductions, I've narrowed it down to a list of just eighteen that have 1% or less overhead. I thought this list might be of interest to some here.
All of the federations and their agencies listed in this directory have gone through a rigorous application review process based on regulations governing the operation of this campaign. Percentages listed after each organizaton's name represent annual fundraising and administrative costs as a percentage of total income. Please visit the website: www.guidestar.org for financial information on the participating federations and charities.
Update: My only purpose in this diary was to highlight that certain charities apparently have very low overhead. As can be seen in the comments, many believe that this should not be the only criteria in chosing a charity and I agree 100%. At least this gave a forum for discussion. I've learned a lot and hope others have as well.
I'm home sick today with a very bad cold. Regretfully the first charity I listed had overhead of 1.4% and should not have been listed.
These are not in any certain order:
1. Abused Children's Fund, Inc. (1.4%)
707-483-2939
www.abusedchildrensfund.org
Thousands of innocent children, tragically hurt every day by emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
2. Aid for Trash Dump Children - An UNForgotten Fund. (0%)
443-668-2648
www.unforgotten.org
Save hungry children and their mothers from eating trash and living in garage dumps. Give them clean food and water, shelter, schooling and a future.
3. Bread and Water for Africa, Inc. (.5%)
888-371-6622
www.african-relief.org
Strengthening African initiatives for self-sufficiency through grassroots health, clean water, education, orphanages, vocational training, agriculture and micro-credit programs focusing on women and children.
4. Breast Cancer Aid & Research Institute (.7%)
800-759-2150
www.breastcancerinstitute.org
Awards medical research grants & ships medical supplies & humanitarian aid to programs that treat breast cancer & other degenerative diseases.
5. Brother's Brother Foundation (.3%)
412-321-3160
www.brothersbrother.org
Connecting People's Resources with People's Needs: 54 Years, 140 countries, $4 billion in books, food, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, shoes. Forbes Magazine "1st in efficiency".
6. Children's Emergency Medical Fund (.9%)
602-241-2873
www.cemfund.org
Malnutrition: a child's gravest threat. Weakened & hungry, children fall prey to disease. Help save these straving children through life-saving medical supplies & healthy foods.
7. Diabetes Prevention & Aid Fund (.8%)
www.diabetespaf.org
A 136% increase of people with diabetes! Nearly 24 million Americans have the disease. We can prevent the disease. Help us stop the epidemic.
8. Feeding America's Children (.4%)
www.feedingahc.org
America's children without nutritional food. Many with only 1 meal per day. Help us rush life-saving fruits & vegetables to hungry families throughout America.
9. Giving Children Hope (.2%)
866-392-HOPE
wwwgchope.org
Rescuing children, providing lifesaving medicines, emergency food to orphanages, clinics, shelters, diaster centers. Serving homeless children in America and poorest-of-the-poor around the world.
10. Help the Children (.5%)
877-264-2243
www.helpthechildren.org
We alleviate hunger & suffering by providing food, clothing, medicine & medical care to needy children & their families in the US & abroad.
11. Matthew 25: Ministries (.5%)
513-793-6256
www.m25m.org
Helping the poorest of the poor. By rescuing & reusing products from major corporations, we can effectively provide basic necessities, nutritional opportunities & diaster relief.
12. Operaton Compassion (.1%)
423-728-3932
www.operationcompassion.org
Help us distribute life sustaining food & supplies to hungry, starving children, single parents struggling to survive, widows living in proverty, homelessness created by disasters.
13. Paralyzed Veterans of Amerca Spinal Cord Research Foundatin (.3%)
800-242-8200 x255
www.pvaresearch.org
Funds research aimed at restoring function & improving the quality of life for veterans & all others paralyzed by spinal cord injury or disease.
14. International Relief Teams (1%)
619-284-7979
www.irteams.org
Assists victims of diseaster, poverty & neglect through short-term relief efforts & long-term programs that include medical training, surgical outrearch & health promotion.
15. Foster Care To Success Foundation (.5%)
800-950-4673
www.fc2success.org
At age 18 most orphans are on their own. FC2S & volunteers provide moral & financial support to parentless teens pursing college & vocational training.
16. Blessings International (.5%)
877-250-8101
www.bessing.org
Giving hope to destitute children & adults by providing life-saving pharmaceuticals, vitamins & medical supplies for treating needy patients in developing nations & US clinics.
17. Gateway for Cancer Research (.6%)
888-221-2873
www.gatewayforcancerresearch.org
99% of all contributions support our mission to expediate innovative, pioneering, human research into beneficial treatment options for those battling cancer.
18. Out to Pasture Farm & Rescue (.5%)
860-742-7115
www.outtopasture.org
Give animals that are elderly, abused, terminally ill &/or physcially challenged a home where they can live out their natural lives with the care they deserve.
I think they all deserve applause and your consideration for a donation.