Good, ethical charities worthy of monetary donations

[DownYonder]

My employer provides each employee with up to $1000 in matching funds for donations to charities. They have an extensive list of charities that have already been pre-vetted, and we can request others.

I am currently making my charity selections for 2015. Wounded Warrior Project is going to be one of them, but I also want to select one or two others. I was thinking about a local therapeutic riding program, but have heard some very off-putting things about the director (and from several different sources), so I am looking around for other options.

I am thinking about Canine Assistants or something similar, and may also do Equestrian Aid foundation (although will have to request this one be added to their approved list).

Anyone have other ideas for good, worthwhile charities that are well-run (and not just a money-grab for the “director”)?

[ThisTooShallPass]

Old Friends http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/

[charismaryllis]

the blanket TR organization is a non profit:

http://www.pathintl.org/

or what about canter?

http://www.canterusa.org/

[joiedevie99]

Charities I’ve donated to in the last few years:

Human Rights First
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
King Street Cats
Planet Pig
Sunkissed Acres
Rocky Ridge Refuge
Wikipedia

[skykingismybaby1]

Ahem…

My non profit is now submitting proposals for Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for victims of sexual and domestic violence. This is as far as I know a unique client type for EAP. We have been selected by The College of New Jersey as a research project and the efficacy of the program is being monitored by a PHD in their Department of Sociology.

The pilot program was nothing short of stunning in the amount of healing and growth of the participants in both their view and in the view of their therapists.

I am still a little short in my financial goal for 2015 for EAP, we also offer more traditional therapeutic riding for clients with special needs, which is self supporting at this time.

www.headsupspecialriders.com

[RackNRoll]

Go with small, local, 501©(3) charities. My state maintains a website showing the list of these, along with their latest year’s total total revenue and what percentage went directly to the cause versus being spent on administrative overhead and fundraising. The animal rescues I support are spending over 90% on the animals. Some other “charities” are spending a shockingly high percentage of their revenue (donations) on salaries, fundraising, and other non-charitable expenses. Wounded Warrior is one charity that has come under fire for this. HSUS and PETA are others.

Giving locally also enables you to visit the charity you are supporting, and verify that it is legit. For example, some 501©(3) “animal rescues” are actually hoarders, or horse traders.

Just my 2 cents!

[LauraKY]

ReRun (Lisa Molloy does a fabulous job)
Traveller’s Rest Equine Elders in VA

I really like some of the clean water to third world countries groups too.

[Bluey]

Bluebonnet Equine Rescue, run by our own poster Cowgirljenn, also author of “How to run a rescue”:

http://www.bluebonnetequine.org/

[HungarianHippo]

I taught at Miracles in Motion TR center for 14 years. It was and remains a well-run, professional organization, has premier accreditation from PATH Intl, accepts all students on a pay-what-you-can basis. As an instructor I visited a lot of other TR centers in the midwest, and yes, quality really can vary widely from place to place. This is one of the really, really good ones.

Miracles has just kicked off a capital campaign to insulate and heat the riding arena to allow year-round classes.
Here’s the capital campaign fundraising site.
Here’s the main website.

Wherever you donate, thanks for being so generous. I admire you for it.

[NoSuchPerson]

Heifer International is one of my favorite charities.

[Alagirl]

TIER in Cali
The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (UK, might be a problem)

http://www.elesplace.org/

[Shine]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7891441]
Bluebonnet Equine Rescue, run by our own poster Cowgirljenn, also author of “How to run a rescue”:

http://www.bluebonnetequine.org/[/QUOTE]

I second this!

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=RackNRoll;7891423]
Go with small, local, 501©(3) charities. My state maintains a website showing the list of these, along with their latest year’s total total revenue and what percentage went directly to the cause versus being spent on administrative overhead and fundraising. The animal rescues I support are spending over 90% on the animals. Some other “charities” are spending a shockingly high percentage of their revenue (donations) on salaries, fundraising, and other non-charitable expenses. Wounded Warrior is one charity that has come under fire for this. HSUS and PETA are others.

Giving locally also enables you to visit the charity you are supporting, and verify that it is legit. For example, some 501©(3) “animal rescues” are actually hoarders, or horse traders.

Just my 2 cents![/QUOTE]

Excellent advice, to which I would add,

Check them out on Charity Navigator first: http://www.charitynavigator.org/

They have a list of criteria for their “star” ratings based on how much of the donated money actually is used for their cause, vs. fund-raising, salaries, PR, etc.

[DownYonder]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.

Charity Navigator only rates charities with over $1 million in revenues, which unfortunately leaves out a few smaller, local non-profits I was looking at. Although it is the smaller ones that need the most financial help, there is no easy way to rate them, and I don’t want to be funding the director’s new Mercedes or trips to Hawaii. :lol:

Charity Navigator does rate Canine Assistants, though (3 stars), and since it is right down the road from me and is already vetted by my company, I have put them on my list.

[lolalola]

Standardbred Retirement Foundation

[ThisTooShallPass]

I thought Sunkissed Acres was outed on here? Isn’t it the one run by a former COTH’er? There was issue about a horse rescue sling, & a whole bunch of other stuff?

My sincere apologies in advanced if I have the wrong place.

[luvmyhackney]

https://www.facebook.com/CentralVAHorseRescue
Cindy does amazing work with the horses.
Central Virginia Horse Rescue

[Liberty]

[QUOTE=luvmyhackney;7892444]
https://www.facebook.com/CentralVAHorseRescue
Cindy does amazing work with the horses.
Central Virginia Horse Rescue[/QUOTE]

I second this!

[A3dayeventer2009]

Smile Train
Air Force Enlisted Village
Last Chance Corral
USO

[Aven]

[QUOTE=RackNRoll;7891423]
Go with small, local, 501©(3) charities. My state maintains a website showing the list of these, along with their latest year’s total total revenue and what percentage went directly to the cause versus being spent on administrative overhead and fundraising. The animal rescues I support are spending over 90% on the animals. Some other “charities” are spending a shockingly high percentage of their revenue (donations) on salaries, fundraising, and other non-charitable expenses. Wounded Warrior is one charity that has come under fire for this. HSUS and PETA are others.

Giving locally also enables you to visit the charity you are supporting, and verify that it is legit. For example, some 501©(3) “animal rescues” are actually hoarders, or horse traders.

Just my 2 cents![/QUOTE]

I used to think this way. Donating to those where most dollars went to the cause itself. And I do agree one needs to be careful. However this TED talk really changed at how I looked at how charities are run. It makes a lot of sense. Its more about where your dollars will do the most good, vs where the money goes directly.

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong?language=en

(No one should support PETA and HSUS period!)