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Readers Respond: How Do You Pick a Charity or Cause for Your Donation?

Responses: 3

By , About.com Guide

It is tough to choose a charity for your donation. What do you look for before you give? If you are a charity, what do you want donors to know about you? (Guest posting permitted; no account necessary to share your experience.) Share Your Experience

Need and Mission

I pick charities that I support based on my life experiences and also based on the need. Some of the larger charities have plenty of support so many times I choose to support smaller ones- again, based on the need and the mission of the charity. As a breast cancer survivor for instance, I choose to support our local Cancer Society instead of supporting it nationally. I feel like that is the best use of the money that I donate and I also donate my time locally.
—Guest Ann Davis

Personal Experience

I choose a charity I have worked with and had experience with. I tend to choose charities that are local rather than national. For example, the local chapter of the Red Cross or a specific Red Cross campaign, like disaster assistance for people in my immediate area (floods in Iowa in 2008).
—Guest Jean

Where I Know and am Known

I give to charities that I'm involved with. I volunteer, attend their performances, know the people on the board. That is giving I feel safe with.
—Guest Louise

Share Your Experience

How Do You Pick a Charity or Cause for Your Donation?

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