Do you donate?

[Odin]

Americans set record for donations in 2006 By VINNEE TONG, AP Business Writer
Mon Jun 25, 12:31 AM ET

Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charitable causes last year, setting a new record and besting the 2005 total that had been boosted by a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the Asian tsunami.

Donors contributed an estimated $295.02 billion in 2006, a 1 percent increase when adjusted for inflation, up from $283.05 billion in 2005. Excluding donations for disaster relief, the total rose 3.2 percent, inflation-adjusted, according to an annual report released Monday by the Giving USA Foundation at Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy.

Giving historically tracks the health of the overall economy, with the rise amounting to about one-third the rise in the stock market, according to Giving USA. Last year was right on target, with a 3.2 percent rise as stocks rose more than 10 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis.

"What people find especially interesting about this, and it's true year after year, that such a high percentage comes from individual donors," Giving USA Chairman Richard Jolly said.

Individuals gave a combined 75.6 percent of the total. With bequests, that rises to 83.4 percent.

The biggest chunk of the donations, $96.82 billion or 32.8 percent, went to religious organizations. The second largest slice, $40.98 billion or 13.9 percent, went to education, including gifts to colleges, universities and libraries.

About 65 percent of households with incomes less than $100,000 give to charity, the report showed.

"It tells you something about American culture that is unlike any other country," said Claire Gaudiani, a professor at NYU's Heyman Center for Philanthropy and author of "The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism." Gaudiani said the willingness of Americans to give cuts across income levels, and their investments go to developing ideas, inventions and people to the benefit of the overall economy.

Gaudiani said Americans give twice as much as the next most charitable country, according to a November 2006 comparison done by the Charities Aid Foundation. In philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, the U.S. ranked first at 1.7 percent. No. 2 Britain gave 0.73 percent, while France, with a 0.14 percent rate, trailed such countries as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany.

Mega-gifts, which Giving USA considers to be donations of $1 billion or more, tend to get the most attention, and that was true last year especially.

Investment superstar Warren Buffett announced in June 2006 that he would give $30 billion over 20 years to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Of that total, $1.9 billion was given in 2006, which helped push the year's total higher.

Gaudiani said that gift reflects a growing focus on using donated money efficiently and effectively.

"I think it's also a strategic commitment to upward mobility exported to other countries, in the form of improved health and stronger civil societies," she said.

The Gates Foundation has focused on reducing hunger and fighting disease in developing countries as well as improving education in the U.S. Without Buffett's pledge, it had an endowment of $29.2 billion as of the end of 2005.

Meanwhile, companies and their foundations gave less in 2006, dropping 10.5 percent to $12.72 billion. Jolly said corporate giving fell because companies had been so generous in response to the natural disasters and because profits overall were less strong in 2006 over the year before.

The Giving USA report counts money given to foundations as well as grants the foundations make to nonprofits and other groups, since foundations typically give out only income earned without spending the original donations.

Sadly a great deal of this money goes abroad to foriegn causes which is a horrible mistake. 300 billion (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070625/ap_on_re_us/charitable_giving&printer=1;_ylt=AgZeCkYKP_L282SojZu35YtH2ocA) I donate to charities regularly with the stipulation that the charity only disperse the money in the United States.

Do you donate to charity? If you do do you know where it is going? If your one of the millions who do, please make sure your money is spent on americans.

Any thoughts and data on donations within america would be appreciated.

[Proletariat]

I don't have any problem donating to causes outside the US. Don't understand why I should, really... I'd side a little more with you if you were saying the government ought to spend less of our tax dollars on other countries, but as for what causes I decide to take up personally, I don't see the problem.

[Odin]

I don't have any problem donating to causes outside the US. Don't understand why I should, really... I'd side a little more with you if you were saying the government ought to spend less of our tax dollars on other countries, but as for what causes I decide to take up personally, I don't see the problem.

My point is, do you know where your money is going? Also if you chose to donate outside of the country thats your choice, but I would strongly urge you to reconsider and to make donations that serve americans first.

the government shouldnt spend any tax dollars on charity or foriegn aid at all, that should be dictated by market forces.

[Proletariat]

Alot of America's diplomatic strength comes from our massive ability to buy other governments off. Some foreign aid is necessary.

To the first bit, no, I don't know where every penny ends up, but I look into as much as can be reasonably done on my own. I'm not donating unmarked envelopes of cash to militant mosques tho, so I feel safe enough, even if there's some inevitable waste getting to the cause of the charity.

[Odin]

Alot of America's diplomatic strength comes from our massive ability to buy other governments off. Some foreign aid is necessary.

that isnt a good thing, but my political views of the US federal government and its foriegn policy since the end of WWII is not positive. I dont want to be involved abroad, and every bit of that aid we send elsewhere can be used at home for any number of things.


To the first bit, no, I don't know where every penny ends up, but I look into as much as can be reasonably done on my own. I'm not donating unmarked envelopes of cash to militant mosques tho, so I feel safe enough, even if there's some inevitable waste getting to the cause of the charity.

thats noble, yet when we look at the big picture we are talking about 300 billion dollars in 2006, thats a lot of envelopes. Is 10% (30 billion) to much to spend abroad? what if its 5%? or 1%? suppose its 1% abroad thats 3 billion dollars not being used in the U.S. to improve your life and mine.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

suppose its 1% abroad thats 3 billion dollars not being used in the U.S. to improve your life and mine.

Is your life really that bad that you need the money? I can understand you wanting to help the homeless in your country, but I honestly doubt you need the money personally.

This raises the question of government. Why doesn't your government do more to help homeless (which is what I presume you are talking about, since average American lives are, on a relative basis, quite good) people in America? Should it really be left to private charity alone?

Of course, these questions can only be answered by the American people, and their government. However, I don't think giving a bit of aid to Africans (for example) unwittingly is a bad idea, unless the charity is being deliberately fraudulent (saying your money is going only to Americans, but shipping it to Africa). Your money is still going to a human being in need of aid. I believe the greater concern is the amount of aid money lost to corruption.

[Don Corleone]

When I first started donating, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of legitimate and valid charities out there. I actually had trouble paying my bills cause I couldn't say no.

Who's more deserving of my money, the local animal shelter, a battered women's shelter, or the Jimmy Fund (childhood cancer)?

Then I started learning that not all charities are equal and some pay their executives a lot of cash. Others throw fancy balls and call it fundraising (guess it's not just the UN). There's a few websites out there that rate various charities. Do a Google Search, I don't want to implicitly endorse one over any others.

For the record, I don't see what's wrong with donating money to people overseas. I'm a Christian. When people need my help, the last question out of my mouth should be what passport they hold.

[Proletariat]

I dunno, Odin. I have a great job, live a very comfortable lifestyle, and it wasn't that hard to achieve. I got most of my education in return for serving in the Army Reserve, something that in and of itself wasn't a very challenging accomplishment. Maybe if my life sucked, and I felt frustrated being an American, I'd be more upset about US dollars being spent on other people. But all in all, I'm grateful. That might sound a little feckless or blase, but I just don't think people here in the US have it bad enough where it's a crime to help out in other parts of the world.

Even our poor have air conditioning and cable tv here. Americans don't need the help. I know what it's like to be one, and it's pretty easy to make money in this country. This isn't to say I don't donate to causes that help Americans though, just to say that I don't feel like I'm hurting the country by donating to international causes.

If the angle was more on the corruption and waste involved with alot of international charities, I agree. Obviously it's counter productive to aid African warlords and so on. But if it's a 'Americans need it more' thing, I don't really buy it.

[Husar]

suppose its 1% abroad thats 3 billion dollars not being used in the U.S. to improve your life and mine.
So you donate to improve your own life? Why don't you just keep the money then?:dizzy2:

I agree with Prole here.

[Odin]

Is your life really that bad that you need the money? I can understand you wanting to help the homeless in your country, but I honestly doubt you need the money personally.

I am going to assume your questions are rhetorical, as my personal needs arent the point of the post.


This raises the question of government. Why doesn't your government do more to help homeless (which is what I presume you are talking about, since average American lives are, on a relative basis, quite good) people in America? Should it really be left to private charity alone?

yes it should, taxes are too high as it is and it was not the design of the founding fathers to have a massive federal government that dispenses aid.


Of course, these questions can only be answered by the American people, and their government. However, I don't think giving a bit of aid to Africans (for example) unwittingly is a bad idea, unless the charity is being deliberately fraudulent (saying your money is going only to Americans, but shipping it to Africa).

Correct sir, and the point of my post, I was unable to use the thread title of us politics, but my point in posting this is to create awareness for those americans here who donate. I do a lot of it myself.


Your money is still going to a human being in need of aid. I believe the greater concern is the amount of aid money lost to corruption.

Yes it is, but is it going to the human being whom it should be going to? If others desire to give thier money to africans, I applaud them. However there is a large majority of people who arent aware at all where thier charity goes, or tax money spent on charity to be blunt.

[Odin]

For the record, I don't see what's wrong with donating money to people overseas. I'm a Christian. When people need my help, the last question out of my mouth should be what passport they hold.

Sadly that mentality is part of the problem and one of the reasons why americans continue to have problems needlessly. Charitable donations abroad for the U.S. is far to high, and could alleviate many issues within the united states.

How about a new school, without a rise in your property tax don? Should NH get a new school before Niger with your donations?

[Odin]

So you donate to improve your own life? Why don't you just keep the money then?:dizzy2:


thats an oversimplification, and I dont donate to improve my own life. Without revealing a great deal of personal information, for someone like me who has donated generously in thier life, reactions like this, to an attempted conversation emboldends the resolution to do less.

[Don Corleone]

Sadly that mentality is part of the problem and one of the reasons why americans continue to have problems needlessly. Charitable donations abroad for the U.S. is far to high, and could alleviate many issues within the united states.

How about a new school, without a rise in your property tax don? Should NH get a new school before Niger with your donations?

That's not a valid question. For one thing, nobody is being denied an education in New Hampshire currently. There is a big debate going on over whether local funding of education is fair (since some towns are richer than others). But generally speaking, any kid that wants to attend school can do so, at least through the age of 18.

But even more than that, what about digging a well in Niger so that kids don't die of dysentary vesus free extended-cable television for welfare recipients in Trenton NJ?

There's plenty of needy causes within the US. St. Jude's and other childhood illness, battered women's shelters, you name it. But I think it's important to act locally and globally in your donating. Nowhere is the need greater than in Africa and Latin America. You just can't begin to imagine the grinding poverty those people suffer from. Thankfully, nobody in America can.

[Whacker]

The only organization I donate to is the Humane Society on a regular basis, anonymously. As of late though I have been leaning more strongly towards donating directly to the animal shelters, as that seems to be a better way to ensure your money goes directly towards what you ideally want it to be doing...

[Odin]

Maybe if my life sucked, and I felt frustrated being an American, I'd be more upset about US dollars being spent on other people.

Clever, if thats a shot at me based on my position it isnt appreciated, if its an observation fine.




If the angle was more on the corruption and waste involved with alot of international charities, I agree. Obviously it's counter productive to aid African warlords and so on. But if it's a 'Americans need it more' thing, I don't really buy it.

Americans should donate for the benefit of other americans first, there is plenty of work to be done here, thankfully your comfortable Im happy for you.

Im finding this thread is going down the road of "america" where it was meant to be a discussion on "Do you donate". So im willing to play along a little more.

[Odin]

That's not a valid question.

Sure it is, dependant on what you value.


But even more than that, what about digging a well in Niger so that kids don't die of dysentary vesus free extended-cable television for welfare recipients in Trenton NJ?

Why not replace the cable television argument with subsidised education courses for single mothers? Or a public works program to clean trash off the highway?

For every abuse, I can list a better use Don. As far as kids dying in Niger there are ample world agencies that provide relief for that, of which the U.S. pays fees to be apart of (world bank, UN).


There's plenty of needy causes within the US. St. Jude's and other childhood illness, battered women's shelters, you name it.

Yes don, thats the point....

[HoreTore]

Personally, I'd rather have charity going to foreign countries rather than my own, through organizations like the Red Cross or Médecins Sans Frontières, or any organization dealing with building and maintaining hospitals or schools, crisis aid and children.

I'd rather have the domestic troubles dealt with through taxes.

[Proletariat]

Clever, if thats a shot at me based on my position it isnt appreciated, if its an observation fine.


Sorry, Odin, I should've worded that more carefully. I actually think the motivator behind your view is more an extension of the strict isolationist stance you're known for, definitely not because I think you're whinging about your own plight. Reading my words back I can certainly see how you might've thought that, my apologies.

:bow:

[Odin]

Personally, I'd rather have charity going to foreign countries rather than my own, through organizations like the Red Cross or Médecins Sans Frontières, or any organization dealing with building and maintaining hospitals or schools, crisis aid and children.

I'd rather have the domestic troubles dealt with through taxes.

Thanks Hore Tore for bringing it back to the point...

So what if taxes arent enough? Do you think taxes should be increased to cover domestic charities or should that be through private choice?

I personally am of the mindset that charitable giving domestically helps the overall ability of the country as a whole at many levels. While its noble to help others, charitable investment in your own country serves the greater societal good.

This type of ideal when instilled and applied might be exported, but the culture of giving in the U.S. is vast (as the article points out) and to be honest we have kids that are homeless, some areas of the U.S. are very poor, and we have a detriating infrastructure as well.

[Louis VI the Fat]

please make sure your money is spent on americans. That would be a bit too extreme for me. Does your compassion, your sense of justice, your desire to make a difference really end at America's borders?

I know that you would like America to build a big fence around itself and isolate itself from the rest of the world, but here are some arguments:
From a Christian point of view, like Don said, when people need help they need help, regardless of passport.
From a utilitarian point of view, $200 makes a much bigger difference in the life of a Sri Lankan than an American. $5 of healthcare aid could save some poor kids life in some countries.
From a liberal point of view, an American is born with more opportunity than most. Not all people are poor through their own working, they simply are born vastly underpriviliged. It's what Prole explained.
From a strategic point of view, developed societies are less prone to fundamentalism, make better trading partners, create less immigration pressure, and make you save on defense spending.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I am going to assume your questions are rhetorical, as my personal needs arent the point of the post.
Indeed.



However there is a large majority of people who arent aware at all where thier charity goes

If these people do not know where their charity goes, and yet give anyways, is it not their fault if their money goes somewhere they did not intend? This returns to my earlier point, where if the money is lost to corruption, something should be done about it, but if you simply can't be bothered to find out who you're giving money to, it's your own fault. You do have a choice in who you give to.

EDIT: Fraudulent American charities should, of course, be punished as American law dictates.

[Weebeast]

Yes I've donated money/clothes often but the total sum was so insignificant. I'm sure it won't 'improve' our life in America. That's why I've donated to people outside in the first place where 1 dollar equals to family-size pizza hut.

[Odin]

That would be a bit too extreme for me. Does your compassion, your sense of justice, your desire to make a difference really end at America's borders?

Compassion, no, sense of justice, no, desire to make a difference, yes, when money is involved.



I know that you would like America to build a big fence around itself and isolate itself from the rest of the world, but here are some arguments:
From a Christian point of view, like Don said, when people need help they need help, regardless of passport.

the church, Christ, and god will provide for them, at least thats what I thought the whole gist of the myth was.


From a utilitarian point of view, $200 makes a much bigger difference in the life of a Sri Lankan than an American. $5 of healthcare aid could save some poor kids life in some countries.

Fair point.


From a liberal point of view, an American is born with more opportunity than most. Not all people are poor through their own working, they simply are born vastly underpriviliged. It's what Prole explained.

yes and if I didnt acknowledge her valid point I appologize, but it dosent negate the fact that the terms "vastly underprivilidged" is subjective. Additionally, the theory also assumes that one person needs is greater then anothers.


From a strategic point of view, developed societies are less prone to fundamentalism, make better trading partners, create less immigration pressure, and make you save on defense spending.

In theory, but it hasnt panned out that way has it?

[doc_bean]

I've so far only donated to doctors without borders, who I know don't do anything where I live. I have no problem with this.

[HoreTore]

Thanks Hore Tore for bringing it back to the point...

So what if taxes arent enough? Do you think taxes should be increased to cover domestic charities or should that be through private choice?

Raise the taxes, no doubt. I do not believe that a welfare system based on charity will ever suffice or hit where it's needed, I think that's a job for the government through taxation.

EDIT: oh, and as to "do you donate?", the answer is very little, as, well, I have no money :laugh4: (I'm a student btw)

[Odin]

If these people do not know where their charity goes, and yet give anyways, is it not their fault if their money goes somewhere they did not intend? This returns to my earlier point, where if the money is lost to corruption, something should be done about it, but if you simply can't be bothered to find out who you're giving money to, it's your own fault. You do have a choice in who you give to.

yes thats my point, choice of the american people. This post, the article is all about american donations and the volume 300 billion, thats a large cache of money and a lot of people have no clue where it goes.

Of course there is no shortage of people bitching about overcrowded prisons, school budget cuts, health care deficiencies, but if one or two educate themselves and choose there donations wisely, one of those issues might get addressed, within the border first.

[Husar]

thats an oversimplification, and I dont donate to improve my own life. Without revealing a great deal of personal information, for someone like me who has donated generously in thier life, reactions like this, to an attempted conversation emboldends the resolution to do less.
I'm sorry if I misunderstood you but that was the only way I could interprete your statement.


Of course there is no shortage of people bitching about overcrowded prisons, school budget cuts, health care deficiencies, but if one or two educate themselves and choose there donations wisely, one of those issues might get addressed, within the border first.

I don't see anything wrong with improving the life of your poor countrymen but some of your statements sound like you'd rather see a whole african village starve than two american murderers having to share a single cell. I hope and think that this is not what you want to say though.

I think people are bitching about that because such issues should be covered by their taxes but the government likes to spend taxes elsewhere.

[Odin]

I don't see anything wrong with improving the life of your poor countrymen but some of your statements sound like you'd rather see a whole african village starve than two american murderers having to share a single cell. I hope and think that this is not what you want to say though.

No that isnt what I want to say, I wanted to discuss donations and where it goes and what its best used for in america. I dont desire the demise and suffering of people in the world, I just dont see it as my duty to provide for them.

I do see it as my duty to provide for my country men, perhaps I am shallow and too nationalistic, perhaps i need to reflect more, but I am comfortable that over the years the money I have donated abroad hasnt alieviated the reoccuring problems within those societies.

Some of those issues, are like wounds that need to be stiched, and throwing money at it has only served to place a band aid thus far. The wound keeps opening, it like to stich domestic issues first. There is plenty of other money in the world who can help foriegn suffering, I think the american public has done enough.


I think people are bitching about that because such issues should be covered by their taxes but the government likes to spend taxes elsewhere.

Perhaps your right, but how many americans could be covered by top notch health care coverage for 300 billion? Thats roughly a a half a billion for each person, but no, we have millions who have nothing.

[Ser Clegane]

With regard to the title question - Yes, I do donate (although I certainly could do more).
We mainly donate to the Red Cross, but also donate to other organisations from time to time (last donation went to Misereor for a project in Cambodia).

Our donations usually go to foreign countries, however I personally have no problem if people decide to donate for those in need in their own country.
I'd rather appreciate than people do donate that criticizing them for not donating to the people who I might consider to be more in need - however for the same reasons, I don't like the idea of asking others to "make sure your money is spent on americans" (although I take from your further comments, Odin, that you consider your original statement a bit to strong - so I guess we should just leave it at that).

Apart from the donations mentioned above, you could of course also argue that my wife and I also donate a lot by paying "church taxes" ~;)

[Odin]

I'd rather appreciate than people do donate that criticizing them for not donating to the people who I might consider to be more in need - however for the same reasons, I don't like the idea of asking others to "make sure your money is spent on americans" (although I take from your further comments, Odin, that you consider your original statement a bit to strong - so I guess we should just leave it at that).



You know i appreciate your comments, given your generosity in the past for my presentation on other threads you have helped me realize I am spending far to much time here in the backroom. While I do appreciate it, its clear that my stay here has out lived its value.

That said, since you dont like asking other to spend money on this or that, then you shouldnt ask that. I dont consider anything I have said here to strong at all, it was simply meant to be a chat on us donations and where they are spent, and what people believe they could be spent on domestically.

Sadly, that concept didnt take root.

Anyway thanks for the replies all, it was revealing in many ways.

:medievalcheers:

[doc_bean]

Perhaps your right, but how many americans could be covered by top notch health care coverage for 300 billion? Thats roughly a a half a billion for each person, but no, we have millions who have nothing.

There are only 600 Americans ?

[Ser Clegane]

That said, since you dont like asking other to spend money on this or that, then you shouldnt ask that. I dont consider anything I have said here to strong at all, it was simply meant to be a chat on us donations and where they are spent, and what people believe they could be spent on domestically.


I am sorry if my comment came across as harsh - that was not my intent.
The point was that I apperciate any willingness to donate for people in need. If you would rather set higher priorities for the people in your own country that is of course fine with me and I salute you for helping people in need (I do not think that I made any comments that could be interpreted asking people to spend money on this or that).
As a patron (not as a moderator) I also expressed my concerns of telling others who to donate for and who not to donate for (telling others that they should not donate for people in their own countries but for people abroad is not better), acknowledging that you already identified that part of your opening post as a secondary issue with the main point being to chat about donating in general.

Again - if that came across as inappropraite criticism, I apologize

:bow:

[Tribesman]

Rnli

[Louis VI the Fat]

You know i appreciate your comments, given your generosity in the past for my presentation on other threads you have helped me realize I am spending far to much time here in the backroom. While I do appreciate it, its clear that my stay here has out lived its value.

Anyway thanks for the replies all, it was revealing in many ways.
Being the amateur psychologist I am: do I sense a psychological link between your desire for America to isolate itself out of dissapointment with the rest of the world and retreat within it's borders, and your urge to retreat from this discussion and the .org in general out of disappointment with your interaction with other orgahs?

More to the point: please don't take this thread so personally. It is the backroom after all. That is, as soon as you post something, the rest of the posters will tear it apart like a pack of hungry wolves. It's what we do. We disagree simply because we derive pleasure and intellectual stimulation from it.
That's it, that's all. Just some pompous, arrogant pisses frequenting a subforum of a cult games site for a battle of wits.

Sticking with the amateur psychology: is the backroom not a direct extension from a Total War game? I sense a psychological link between our intellectual desire to field an army and use our wits to encircle, overwhelm and defeat the opponent's one, to our way of debating here. We are simply psychologically inclined to test our wits. The topic is the battlefield, arguments are our feudal sergeants, links our long distance missile troops.

We are not a support group, we don't exchange our daily lives, we don't share cooking and cleaning tips. There are sites where they do just that. But here, we debate and argue. If you post 'guys, I think we should support our own', we don't reply 'yes, I know how you feel'. No, we'll look for weak spots in your argument, we'll try to find a way to counter it. Not out of disrespect or aggression towards our fellow man, but because we are psychologically inclined to derive pleasure and intellectual stimulation from it.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Yes I donate to the local Food Bank, and VFW. I also make a monthly donation in my late wife's name to the Central Asian Institute. (http://www.ikat.org/)This is a worthy organization that promotes education for women in places like Afghanistan. Such programs also benefit the US if one considers the long term future effects.

[KafirChobee]

When I first started donating, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of legitimate and valid charities out there. I actually had trouble paying my bills cause I couldn't say no.

Who's more deserving of my money, the local animal shelter, a battered women's shelter, or the Jimmy Fund (childhood cancer)?

Then I started learning that not all charities are equal and some pay their executives a lot of cash. Others throw fancy balls and call it fundraising (guess it's not just the UN). There's a few websites out there that rate various charities. Do a Google Search, I don't want to implicitly endorse one over any others.

For the record, I don't see what's wrong with donating money to people overseas. I'm a Christian. When people need my help, the last question out of my mouth should be what passport they hold.
Agree.
A short time ago there was an expose on charitys (PBS Frontline, I think), on how they used their political agenda to determine where the money went and on the wages of the senior staffs ($million$ to the CEOs, and staffers were well compensated as well - many of the "volunteers" were well paid as well). It woke me up - I now investigate the charities I contribute to.

That said, I still contribute to St. Jude (have for +30 years), the USO, ACLU, Amnesty international, a Sheriffs Ranch (for orphans and disenfranchised teens), a couple veteran organizations, and docs without boarders. There are a few others geared toward overseas developing coutrys, but I am more cautious now than I once was.

Still, if one wishes to assure all their contributions stay at home, that is a private choice. Atleast they are doing something for others less fortunate.

[Whacker]

Meh, I'll also toss this out there for posterity's sake, even though this is supposed to be a "Do you donate?" thread.

Odin I do largely agree with your mindset, on the concept of we should be donating to charities that benefit Americans first, there's more than enough unemployed and undeveloped needy communities across the US that could use our help. Of course that's not to say that people should feel guilty or wrong about donating to other causes that benefit people abroad, this is just my personal sentiment. Thinking that we OWE it to other nationals is just pure nonsense though.