Update:
Here are the two charities that OzBargain will donate to in December ($2,500 each):
Swags — they actually produce something useful for the homeless here. Portable shelter that's usually $220 to buy but ONLY $68 to be donated to a homeless person in need. While most of us would be enjoying the Christmas with family and go mad-shopping on Boxing day, I guess a portable shelter is the least we can give to those without the same privilege.
The Orange Pigeon — because Orange is also OzBargain's theme colour. Nah. They are a small charity based in Melton VIC granting wishes to those terminally ill.
We did it at the end of last financial year, and we will try to do it again for Christmas. However, unlike EoFY charities — donation is not really just about tax reduction. While it's the silly season with people doing shopping like crazy, I think it is also a good time of the year to reflect, to appreciate what we already have, and to be generous towards others who are less fortunate.
As it's only half way through the financial year so we'll only be able to give $5,000 to charity or non-profit community organisation at the moment. We are also half way through December and I intend to donate by next Friday 21 December. So I am happy to take suggestions from the community on how we should spend that $5k.
Some suggestions:
- Charity organisations. For example Cancer Council, BeyondBlue, RSPCA. Check our previous thread. As it's Christmas, maybe Make a Wish Foundation? Or CAREgifts?
- Christmas-related community projects from your local school or church. If anyone here is involved with those local projects that need funding, feel free to pitch here :)
After I am getting some suggestions, I'll turn this into a poll so people can vote on the charities or community projects. I will then decide how the fund would be split up next Friday.
Data sourced directly or from here.
Charities/Community Organisations suggested as of 19/12 1
| Charity Name | Administrative % | URL | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicins Sans Frontiers | 18% | # | doctors & health sector workers offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters etc. |
| Unicef | 32% | # | Gifts delivered directly to vulnerable children |
| Doggie Rescue | No info | # | Sydney shelter operating on a "no kill" policy |
| Diabetes Australia | 2% | # | Help all people affected by diabetes and those at risk and to contribute to the search for a cure. |
| Karma Currency - Australia for UNHCR | UNHCR pays Karma $25/month UNHCR: 33% | # | Help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world. |
| Children's Cancer Institute Australia | 29% | # | Our vision is to save the lives of all children with cancer and eliminate their suffering. |
| The Orange Pigeon | 0% | # | Providing comfort to seriously ill adults |
| Golden Retriever Rescue | No info. | # | Sydney welfare charity who are committed to the care and welfare, rescue and rehoming of abandoned, abused dogs. |
| Salvation Army (Sponsor a Child) | 10% | # | Allows you to sponsor children in a number of countries individually. It also allows us to send stuff to them as long as it is small. |
| ME/CFS Society | 0% | # | Donations will help deliver important services to people with ME/CFS. No gov funding. |
| Avalon Centre | No info. | # | Avalon aims to help when it can, where it can and in whatever way it can. Run entirely by volunteers. No one gets paid. |
| Palmera | Minimal? | # | To develop an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to humanitarian aid to promote health, education and income creating initiatives to marginalised communities in Australia and Asia. |
| Australian Naval Cadet | No info. | # | The ANC is a youth organisation that is partly funded by the navy but each unit needs quite a bit of additional funding for the running of the units, equipment and activities for the cadets. It is a great organisation that teaches kids a lot of very valuable skills including leadership and self respect. |
| WSPCA | 22% | # | Exists to tackle animal cruelty across the globe. |
| Swags for homeless | 2% | # | Each one costs $68 to give someone a comfy bed each night if they can't find shelter. |
| The LBW Trust | Minimal | # | Tertiary educates over 500 underprivileged and disadvantaged students in 7 developing countries. |
| Room to Read | 16% | # | We work in collaboration with communities and local governments across Asia and Africa to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children. |
| Kids Under Cover | 40% | # | Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation that works to prevent homelessness by building homes and providing scholarships and mentors for homeless and at-risk young people. |
| Southern Cross Kids Camps | No info | # | a camp run for children who have been neglected,abandoned and abused both emotionally and physically. |
| MS Australia | No info | # | MS Australia strives for a world without multiple sclerosis through quality research and for service excellence to people with multiple sclerosis and their carers. |
| Bird Life | 11% | # | A good option to help with habitat conservation and programs to help native birds across Australia. |
| Alzheimers Australia | 3% | # | Alzheimer's Australia is the peak body providing support and advocacy for the 257,000 Australians living with dementia. |
| Life without Borders | 77% | # | They do have a very diverse range of services they give: Caring for people in cities/regional areas, disability carers, refugee support, youth support etc. |
| Rural Fire Service | No info | # | NSW Rural Fire Service is the lead agency in combating bushfires and enabling the community to be better prepared and protected from bushfires. |
| Opportunity International | 19% | # | An organisation that helps people mostly in India and also some in Philippines and Indonesia through micro-financing. |
| Yalari | 70% | # | A charity that helps Indigenous children from remote parts of Australia to get scholarships in secondary education. |
| Aboriginal Literacy Foundation | 0.03% | # | Trying to improve literacy skills and opportunity for kids. |
| Police Citizens Youth Clubs | 29% | # | Helps youth engage in activity and reduce crime. |
| Bear Cottage | No info. | # | This is a childrens hospice located in Manly NSW. It receives no government funding and relies on donations and sponsorship to keep running. |
Medicins Sans Frontiers http://www.msf.org.au/
Charter
Médecins Sans Frontières is a private international association. The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to all other professions which might help in achieving its aims. All of its members agree to honor the following principles:
Médecins Sans Frontières offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and demands full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.
Médecins Sans Frontières' volunteers undertake to respect their professional code of ethics and to maintain complete independence from all political, economic and religious powers.
As volunteers, members are aware of the risks and dangers of the mission they undertake, and have no right to compensation for themselves or their beneficiaries other than that which Médecins Sans Frontières is able to afford them.