However, my community is in really good shape. Even in this economy, unemployment is relatively low (we have a large government sector) and housing prices have been almost stable (though houses are taking longer to sell). We already have lots of people working on local environmental issues. And of course people get cancer and heart disease, but mostly not until they’ve already lived many wonderful decades. I’d just rather help third-world people start their own business or help buy ecologically valuable land than to help local kids join the debate team or help our libraries to be even better.

Actually, I have been learning that some environmental issues are best addressed by small, local groups and I haven’t found a way to help fight abuse besides local groups, so maybe I’ll check them out after all. Thanks for the idea.

I honestly think that all donors feel this way, and I mean everyone from minimum wage earners to Bill Gates. Do anyone ever really feel like they give enough or as much as they’d like to give? Last I checked, the world still has a ton of problems. Even Mr. Gates probably has charitable ideas that he can’t accomplish because the resources aren’t there or the circumstances aren’t right. But that doesn’t make his contributions (or yours) any less worthwhile.

You obviously put a lot of thought into your giving already, but you also say that you never have enough information. If you live in a city that has a community foundation, you might want to consider contacting it. Community foundations are places where the public can pool their financial resources for the good of their communities, and a well-staffed community foundation usually has several resident experts who have worked in the nonprofit sector and can help you make smart decisions about where to direct your money (kind of like a financial adviser for charitable giving). Community foundations can also help you manage the administrative functions of your giving with greater efficiency. They are invaluable resources and usually a great way to become a more involved donor, if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you don’t have a local community foundation, you might contact the nearest one, or you could consult a variety of research sources: your library, the internet, a local academic institution, or the charities themselves. The more you understand, the better you’ll feel when you do have to decide against a charity because you’ll have a specific reason. And you might even be able to offer some constructive feedback to the charity to help them improve and get into a position where you would consider donating to them.

Then I just picked a percentage figure. Part of me thinks all the money I don’t absolutely need for myself should go to those less fortunate. Part of me wants all my money for myself. (I compromised on 10%–it’s far less than I could give, but more than most give.)

Then I decided to figure out which causes are most important to me. (I picked saving the earth; reducing poverty; and reducing pain, abuse, and torture.)

Then I tried to look at my philosophies of how to attack these problems. (I decided I preferred trying to solve (or prevent) problems over short-term fixes. I also prefer providing resources to let people take action over legislation to make people take action, although I am reconsidering this for certain areas where such force doesn’t make people do what they don’t want to do so much as just the playing field. For example, I think I might like to legislate reduced pollution–if everyone has to do it, no one company will be at a disadvantage for trying–in a way I would never want to legislate birth control.)

Then I try to find organizations that are finding ways to do these things efficiently. Even 10% of my income really isn’t that much money, and I don’t like feeling like it’s not enough to do anything.

This makes things very difficult for me. I never have enough information, and I hate how I feel when reading about charities and deciding against them.

This is absolutely how I feel. There have been times in my life where I haven’t been able to donate – those are depressing times. The times when I have been able to give – those are indeed “the most wonderful” times.

Michelle: “it’s a good idea for me to set aside $25 or $50 in my monthly budget just for this purpose”

Earlier in the week I’d decided to set aside a certain amount every month to go into the donate/charity button. So, it’s nice to get a positive reinforcement of this idea. Good post.

And you’re right, the administration needs to understand how important it is to make incentives for donating or our nonprofits will have an even tougher time.