Considering which charity to support
In February every year, we find receipts for our donations to non-profit organizations in the mail box. It’s a good time to re-examine our priority. Charity includes due diligence. This is what I came up with.
I think the ultimate goal of charity and non-profit organizations is to work themselves out of work, to disappear ultimately. Nobody wants to live on charity; independence is the ground of our dignity. So, I support organizations working toward that ultimate goal. So my priority is to support those who help us find the root causes. They are art and music, advocacy and education, and religious organizations. They make us think and seek justice, so there will be no need of charity. Dom Helder Camara said, “When I give food to the hungry, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are hungry, they call me a trouble maker.” We must think “why and how.”
My second principle is: as it takes time to eliminate injustice and poverty entirely, we must help people who need it now. We must save lives. Like a house on fire. When a house is burning, you must put out the fire. But more importantly we must find the way to prevent fire. There are people who are suffering now. They need help now. We must save lives: top priority. So I support disaster relief, food banks and overseas food aid. However, that is not enough if the organizations offering urgent assistance do not help us think about “why.”
Thirdly, I give money to a political party. Politics get the bad press. But I don’t know other organizations that can change and create the system that would eliminate hunger, injustice and poverty. I support political parties that help us learn about injustice and create a just system.
After that, it is all up to all of us to create our own priority. For me, environment, indigenous people, women and world peace are the criteria to choose the nonprofit organization to give money.
Lastly, I pay attention to the administration of the organizations. Unfortunately there are “fly-by-night” rogue organizations profiting from people’s kindness. So in principle, I decline telephone solicitation and door-to-door fundraising. I would check the cost of overhead, while allowing a certain amount to run an efficient charity. Ask for the annual report; 25 to 30 per cent for overhead would be acceptable.
Tadashi (Tad) Mitsui
Lethbridge