How to Share

Giving to charities is like investing. It should be done with the idea of a good return on your time and money, invested in things that fit with your values, contributed to causes that you want in the world, and without undue pressure or need for glory.

Giving is also an acknowledgement of the vicissitudes of life. Peter Singer says, "People can earn large amounts only when they live under favorable social circumstances. Warren Buffett said, "If you stick me down in the middle of Bangladesh or Peru, you'll find out how much this talent is going to produce in the wrong kind of soil. I would add, that being born with a sound mind and body are good fortune and add to your ability to have fortune to share.

Charitywatch at http://www.charitywatch.org provides ratings of various organizations and breaks them out in a manner that is helpful in arriving at the goals of your efforts: Abortion and Family Planning, African-American, AIDS, American Indian, Animal Protection, Asia and Asian-American, Blind, Cancer, Child Protection, Child Sponsorship, Civil Rights, Consumer Protection, Crime Prevention, Disabled, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Environment, Health, Hispanic, Homelessness, Human Services, Hunger, International Relief and Development, Israel, Literacy, Mental Health and Retardation, Peace and International Relations, Population Planning, Public Policy, Senior Citizens, Terminally or Chronically Ill, Veterans and Military, Women's Rights, Youth Development and Youth Residential Care.

Not rated here are various local organizations such as United Ways nor are arts organization rated.

Some people object to charitable giving because the money doesn't get to those in need. Well rated organizations are run efficiently and they can make better judgments about individual needs. Of course, if you have contact with people in need then you may make good judgments about their needs and whether they are being met in productive ways already. Also, some people object to giving to organizations because they will then be "harassed" forever. I find that when I give, if I inform the organization that I will not give to them again if they solicit me is a solution to this.

Maimonides, a 12th century Jewish scholar, cites 8 levels of giving:

1. The lowest is giving begrudgingly and making the recipient feel disgraced or embarrassed.

2. Giving cheerfully but giving too little.

3. Giving cheerfully and adequately but after being asked.

4. Giving before being asked.

5. Giving when you do not know the recipient but they know you.

6. Giving when you know the recipient but they do no know you.

7. Giving when neither knows the other's identity.

8. Give whatever it takes to enable and individual to be self-reliant.