OzBargain 2015 Christmas Donations - $19,580 to Charities of Your Choice

scotty on 15/12/2015 - 08:27
Last edited 22/12/2015 - 09:32

Update 22 Dec 2015 #: Poll has finished. Thanks to everyone who has participated. Last year there were 258 unique commenters so I thought it might just be a bit more than that this year. Turn out I was wrong and the figure almost doubled. 458 users have commented on this thread, many simply posted "+$10". At the end of the day OzBargain will donate $19,580 to the top 4 charities from the poll:

  • Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
  • beyondblue
  • Cancer Council
  • RSPCA

They will receive $4,895 each. That will happen in the next couple of days when I get to move the funds around.

It's almost Christmas and OzBargain will donate $15,000 or more to charities of your choice. We have been running the biannually charity donation since 2012 where OzBargainers get to choose and vote for the charities that OzBargain will donate to. So for this year:

  • We'll take suggestion from commenters using this poll feature.
  • Donation amount will be $15,000 + $10 x number of unique commenters. So if 200 OzBargainers commented in this thread we will donate $17,000 to charities.
  • We'll pick the top 4 charities from their votes, and the donation will be evenly distributed. For example if $17,000 is the final donation amount, each charity will receive $4,250 in donation.

Timeline

This is the schedule for our donation event:

  • 15 Dec — start taking suggestions & votes
  • 21 Dec — voting closes
  • 24 Dec — donations made

Because we started late this year we'll take the suggestions and voting at the same time, unlike last year where we only allow voting after closing suggestions.

Suggestion Guidelines

To suggest a charity, put in the name of the charity or specific appeal fund in the suggestion text field right above the comment box (top-level comments only). Once you submitted the comment your suggestion will be added to the moderation queue. After moderator has approved your suggestion, it would then appear in the poll options.

Please also have the following included in the comments:

  • Link to the charity
  • Reasons why we should donate to this charity

As for which charity to suggest, have a look at our past donation polls (2014 Xmas, 2014 EoFY) also this discussion thread, Which Charity? I have to say that there were some not so suitable ones but I believe the majority of the community would be able to make sensible votes.

Poll Options expired

Site Discussion

Comments

  • Giraffe on 17/12/2015 - 21:58

    $10

  • PVA on 17/12/2015 - 22:00

    what a great thing to do every year.

  • ckria on 17/12/2015 - 22:05
    +2

    I don't know if you can edit the suggestions or not but this one "Asylum Centre Resource Centre" should be corrected to "Asylum Seeker Resource Centre ASRC".

  • jwsmith1989 on 17/12/2015 - 22:05

    +$10

  • phillystyle on 17/12/2015 - 22:18
    Suggested Barnardos

    Barnardos - Vision Statement - All children and young people will have caring families in which they can grow safely and fulfil their potential. Families, children and young people will be valued and supported by quality services and engaged communities.

    Every child deserves a good start in life

  • dsg101 on 17/12/2015 - 22:24

    I'm a unique commenter. Merry Christmas to the OzBzrgain team and the community.

  • thierry on 17/12/2015 - 22:36
    +1

    Hi All,
    this might be a bit controvertial, but they do some great work in Syria for those who are opressed by ISIS. You can choose a specific project, e.g. http://www.churchinneed.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8… - THey do fantastic work, and have extremely low overheads so all your money goes to those who need it the most.

    • thierry on 22/12/2015 - 00:09

      Hi this isn't on the list?

  • cjp on 17/12/2015 - 22:49

    Thanks OZbargain, +1 for Westmead Childrens hospital

  • Gotchacha on 17/12/2015 - 23:28

    $10 for Beyond Blue. Thanks OzB.

  • taqi on 17/12/2015 - 23:31

    +1 Good stuff scotty!

  • Kallo on 17/12/2015 - 23:36

    Woohoo. Every dollar counts

  • Porco Rosso on 17/12/2015 - 23:55

    Great initiative again, thanks!

  • iNeedMoreMoney on 17/12/2015 - 23:59

    Great stuff, well done!

  • roshanrbb on 18/12/2015 - 00:03

    My vote for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)

  • P3TR0 on 18/12/2015 - 00:08

    Well done Ozbargain! I voted MSF.

  • Fobsessive on 18/12/2015 - 00:12

    +10
    Doctors Without Borders

  • ChaseTheSun on 18/12/2015 - 00:21

    Nice effort

  • icheema on 18/12/2015 - 01:08

    Msf

  • scorpiosony on 18/12/2015 - 02:01

    +Wikimedia!
    Wondering people dont care about red cross?

  • eve on 18/12/2015 - 02:09

    This is fantastic. Thanks again ozb.

  • BlazinPast on 18/12/2015 - 02:21

    $10

  • TRENT86 on 18/12/2015 - 02:46

    Yeah I love what the Cancer council do for them for me

  • xDan on 18/12/2015 - 04:52

    mental health charities!

  • quackster on 18/12/2015 - 06:56

    Great initiative. I went with Fred Hollows.

  • Conka on 18/12/2015 - 07:11

    Thanks once again, OzB!

  • tarken on 18/12/2015 - 07:29

    voted for FHF

  • grasstown on 18/12/2015 - 07:31

    +$10

  • ad89 on 18/12/2015 - 07:42

    +$10

  • dealsniper on 18/12/2015 - 07:50

    +$10 for vision australia helping the vision impaired

  • Opulentus on 18/12/2015 - 07:58

    Voted. Now commented. :)

  • hoxygt on 18/12/2015 - 09:14
    +1

    Red cross

    • 4V4R1C3 on 18/12/2015 - 10:52

      +1 vote for Red Cross!

  • Limitless on 18/12/2015 - 09:19

    +1 vote to starlight children's foundation!

  • Pratty on 18/12/2015 - 09:30

    MS Australia. Funds multiple sclerosis research. :)

  • peanut48 on 18/12/2015 - 09:33
    Suggested Save The Children Australia

    My choice is Save The Children Australia

  • arescarti42 on 18/12/2015 - 09:39
    Suggested Give Directly

    Great initiative OB.

    As for which charity it should go to, I'd like to throw Give Directly into the mix. https://www.givedirectly.org/

    Essentially their philosophy is that individuals know what they need better than anyone else, so they just give unconditional cash payments to the extremely poor, rather than using a huge expensive bureaucracy and supply chain to give them stuff like malaria nets and goats. This makes it just about the most cost efficient and best value charity out there, with $9/10 going directly to the poor (in the spirit of OzBargain!).

    Whilst you might intuitively think that they'd just spend the money on booze or gamble it, the empirical evidence and research (and they have lots of it) shows otherwise, with people overwhelmingly using the money to invest, start businesses, and buy the things they know they need to make their lives better (again, it's in the OzBargain tradition!).

    They are one of Give Well's top rated charities. http://www.givewell.org/International/top-charities/give-dir…

  • oztonyau on 18/12/2015 - 09:44
    Suggested Hamlin Fistula Ethiopa

    Since 1959, the Nobel Peace Prize nominated Australian Dr Catherine Hamlin and her team in Ethiopia have worked towards the eradication of obstetric fistula from Ethiopia, and reducing deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth related complications. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (HFE) is the registered charity in Addis Ababa which runs the 120 bed Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, its regional centres, the Hamlin College of Midwives and Desta Mender.
    Any ozbargainer seeking more information about HFE, such as HFE's work in Ethiopa, annual reports, links to numerous interviews with Dr. Hamin, can visit the website http://hamlin.org.au/
    I hope ozbargainers will consider this worthy cause.

  • cch24 on 18/12/2015 - 09:53
    Suggested FSHD Global Research Foundation

    FSHD GLOBAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

    We are an Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to finding a treatment and cure for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD), the most common type of muscular dystrophy affecting adults

  • snufl on 18/12/2015 - 10:11

    Voted for Alzheimer's Australia

  • resisting the urge on 18/12/2015 - 10:30
    Suggested Divi Seema Foundation

    Very few charities have the runs on the board and still get the money to the ground effectively. Many have to spend vast amounts working with bureaucracy and commercial third parties.

    These guys are on the ground in places where they and we are desperately needed, and their people and philosophy keeps them strong. If we all did this work, so much would be fixed.

    http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/divi-seema-foundation

    No religion, no ulterior motives, all of your donation gets put to good use. Watch the video to see.

  • Clear on 18/12/2015 - 11:10

    I wish I could vote for more than one.

  • InfraRed on 18/12/2015 - 11:34

    Would suggest the salvos but they've gotten heaps thanks to generous folk, so my votes for the Cancer Council (+$10)

  • InfraRed on 18/12/2015 - 11:44

    Also some food for thought on admin costs for charities. Got the link from the ACNC website

  • liquid metal on 18/12/2015 - 11:55

    +$10

  • Hirolol on 18/12/2015 - 11:59
    Suggested Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

    http://www.prostate.org.au
    Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

    Prostate cancer for men.
    Men should already know what this is but if you are nearly over 30 and you dont know then i suggest you become familliar with it!

  • Ching ching on 18/12/2015 - 12:11

    Thanks Scotty for the initiative. Merry Christmas fellow Ozbargainers (^_^)

  • lawyerz on 18/12/2015 - 12:17

    Merry Xmas!

  • jordanjj on 18/12/2015 - 13:05
    +1

    +1 Beyond Blue

    Such great work OzBargain. We only have deep pockets for the right causes.

  • Cloudie on 18/12/2015 - 13:09

    This is amazing!! More than amazing. It's heartwarming.

  • bbqwer on 18/12/2015 - 13:43

    Good stuff OzB

  • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 18/12/2015 - 13:45

    What a noble cause!
    I would have voted Diabetes Australia had it been there, but Cancer Council of Australia has been doing some great work, so voted them instead. Do not want to dilute it's votes.
    Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year 2016.

  • Alzey on 18/12/2015 - 14:04

    Great work Scotty

  • number5 on 18/12/2015 - 14:11

    Voted Wikimedia (for Wikipedia)

    Wikipedia is a site which I use as often as I visited OzBargain and found both really helpful.

  • kusama on 18/12/2015 - 14:16
    +1

    beyondblue

  • spackbace on 18/12/2015 - 14:26

    Marco!

  • humdingaling on 18/12/2015 - 14:31

    polo

  • itajac on 18/12/2015 - 14:36

    This is such a generous gesture from OZB and an amazing opportunity to participate in this community, for such an incredible cause.

  • karmics on 18/12/2015 - 14:40

    All worthy causes; have a happy and safe holidays everyone!

  • fryandlaurie on 18/12/2015 - 14:48

    Great work everyone. Did anyone want me to calculate admin cost % of total donations for each charity to help with voting/donating decisions?

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2015 - 15:25

    +1 comment.

  • regenade on 18/12/2015 - 15:34

    Voted for Médecins Sans Frontières , +$10 and Kudos to OzBargain for such an awesome gesture :D

    People wondering about Médecins Sans Frontières Admin costs, please see link here for Admin costs and other relevant details on how your $10 can help them

    https://www.msf.org.au/donate/what-your-donations-help-us-ac…

  • aussie-bargainz on 18/12/2015 - 16:40

    Keep up the great work!

  • cureforanitch on 18/12/2015 - 16:43

    Proud to be part of this community. Keep up the good work guys

  • YoungFriendly on 18/12/2015 - 16:46
    +1

    Bless up

  • xtreme on 18/12/2015 - 16:50
    • 1 vote for Westmead Children's Hospital
  • veritas_mendax on 18/12/2015 - 17:24
    Suggested Batyr

    I'm suggesting Batyr

    From their site:

    Batyr is a social enterprise that focuses on preventative education in the area of young people’s mental health. We provide programs that train young people to speak about their personal experience with mental ill health and start a conversation in their community. Batyr also runs programs in schools and universities using young speakers with a lived experience of mental ill health to engage, educate and empower other young people to reach out for support and to the great mental health services around them.

  • ohsnap on 18/12/2015 - 17:24

    Merry Christmas, everyone!

  • TurnipHead on 18/12/2015 - 18:17

    Wow 15k plus?! That's amazing! Keep up the great work…now to vote 😃

  • tempco on 18/12/2015 - 18:29

    Great work OzBargain!

  • sash213 on 18/12/2015 - 19:55
    • 10
  • Haggis Hurler on 18/12/2015 - 20:25

    Good stuff

  • Crashdown on 18/12/2015 - 21:05

    Random one, but global zero lobbies to stop nuclear (weapons) proliferation, an existential threat for humanity.

  • orbz on 18/12/2015 - 21:32

    Thanks guys!

  • leeteam on 18/12/2015 - 21:55

    Great! OzBargain!

    +$10

  • timbobjim on 18/12/2015 - 22:18
    • $10 for Beyond Blue. Thanks OzB.
  • aong152 on 18/12/2015 - 22:39

    +$10

    Nice work ozbargain!

  • bxpressiv on 18/12/2015 - 22:43

    Unique comment.

  • imolared on 18/12/2015 - 23:07

    Great job OzB!!

  • press711 on 18/12/2015 - 23:34

    Great initiative. Thanks

  • cannedhams on 18/12/2015 - 23:50

    well done scotty for your generosity once more. wonderful gesture.

  • melk on 19/12/2015 - 00:00

    +$10

  • centrelink on 19/12/2015 - 01:24

    I did RSPCA because humans are quite the most disgusting piece of race in the world. We don't deserve anything.. We are just all filled with corruption. Just ask any teenage to adult.. They will laugh at you if you still watch Sesame Street when you are 15 years old. They rather see sex and violence.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/12/2015 - 07:52

      If it's any consolation, Scotty almost certainly uses The Count to add-up comments in OzBargain Charity Donation threads.

      Oh, and Mr. Snuffleupagus for vacuuming around the house. Probably.

      Hold on… If he does, that's definitely one for the RSPCA. Bastard!

  • grimace3 on 19/12/2015 - 01:46

    +10

  • Tnetennba on 19/12/2015 - 02:09

    Might I suggest for next year/EOFY that voting numbers are kept hidden until the voting closes? I think a lot of people will vote for one just because lots of people are voting for it and they think it "might have a chance". There are plenty of great charities on that list with only a couple of votes but people won't vote for them because they think it's a waste of a vote, since they can see the number already.

    Thoughts?

  • adzzz on 19/12/2015 - 02:35

    $10 Thanks Ozb!

  • Mister Miser on 19/12/2015 - 08:14

    +$10 :)

  • loulou1 on 19/12/2015 - 09:14

    Great initiative

  • DBMJ on 19/12/2015 - 09:23
    Suggested Parkinson's Australia

    www.parkinsons.org.au

    http://www.parkinsons.org.au/Documents/PA%20A4%20double%20si…

    • Conservative estimates indicate there are just under 70,000 people living with Parkinson’s in
      Australia making it the most common major movement disorder and second highest prevalence
      neurodegenerative condition.

    • Of the 70,000 people living with Parkinson’s around 18% or just over 12,000 people are of working age.

    • In 2014 prevalence of Parkinson’s was higher than many cancers including breast cancer, colorectal,
      stomach, liver and pancreatic cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia, kidney and bladder, uterine, cervical,
      and ovarian, and lung cancer.

    • The average time from onset to death is 12.4 years.

    • For someone living with Parkinson’s for 12 years, the average lifetime financial cost is around $161,300,
      which is on par with the average lifetime financial cost of cancer ($145,000).

    • People living with Parkinson’s are more than 5 times more likely to be in residential aged care facilities
      than the general population.

    http://www.parkinsons.org.au/donate

  • michaelc33 on 19/12/2015 - 09:50

    Starlight Children's Foundation

  • Sleeken on 19/12/2015 - 10:00

    Great initiative as always! A lot of good organisations but can't go past BeyondBlue.

  • mskmcf on 19/12/2015 - 10:23

    Prostate Cancer Foundation do amazing work in reducing the impact of prostate cancer across the Australian community through research, awareness and support.

  • viperxz on 19/12/2015 - 10:26

    +1

  • homsai on 19/12/2015 - 10:28

    This is good for them. I'd like to support this event.~~
    Cheers

  • pianissimo on 19/12/2015 - 11:15

    So many good charities, it's hard to choose! Thanks scotty & OzB, merry Christmas everyone!

  • nanick on 19/12/2015 - 12:08

    In

  • NotBritishorUK on 19/12/2015 - 13:39

    I went for the most voted Médecins Sans Frontières as they are the only one to manage to convince me to sign up a monthly donation, that is such a feat that they deserve more for their cause!

  • dd101 on 19/12/2015 - 14:23

    good work!

  • jujube32 on 19/12/2015 - 14:25

    $10 for cancer council

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