1/29    For those who are working, do you make any donation to non-profits
        agencies on a yearly basis?  If so, which agencies?
        \_ I put in about $100 last Christmas for Toys for Tots. Although,
           now that I think about it there are probably more pressing
           issues than some kids getting toys. Always try to claim the
           tax benefit to get the most bang per buck (donating securities
           will allow you to avoid the capital gains tax so your charity
           gets more money).
        \_ I never donate. -- L. Ellison.
        \_ Red Cross. They accept credit card. I usually donate $200-$300/yr
        \_ Planned Parenthood, SF AIDS foundation.  Since a friend of mine died
           from cancer, I donate in her name to the American Cancer Society
           every year.  Then, there are friends who ask me to donate $40 here
           and there for their women's cancer marathon or what not.  --chris
        \- I only donate charities who do most of their work in thrid world
        countries where people are often in positions to to be able to do
        much to help themselves. Particularly hunger, basic infrastructure
        like water purification, basic medical treatment and literacy.
        I think you get a lot more "bang for the buck" in this arena rather
        than sending a dying kid to the world series or to fancy first world
        diseases. although bill gates is the spawn of satan, i think often
        made smart decisions about what charties he's given to [i suppose it
        would be politically impractical for him not do donate to some US
        charities]. --psb
           \_ Typical psb. Pontificates without answering the question.
           \_ do you realize that if I donate more money to India, there
              will be MORE Indians flocking to the States who will take
              your job for less pay? Just look at Sunnyvale^H^H^H^H^H^H
              \-i am not sure what you are complaining about when the indian
              govt pays for education that turns into increase in the united
              states gdp. --psb
              \_ If you don't like your job you don't complain. You just
                 go in and do it really half-assed. That's the American
                 way.
                 \_ Actually it's not but I'm not interested in trying to
                    dispel cultural myths created by the Japanese in the 80s.
              \_ mmmmm...curry
                 \_ mmmmm...pussy
                    \_ mmmmm...bop!
                       \_ mmmmm...die!!!!!!
              \_ goddamn, INDENT your posts properly, especially if you're
                 going to be a dumbass and put them in the middle of other
                 people's.  jebus.
              CurryVille. The Indians are driving up the housing and making
              traffic worse than NYC.
        \_ Well, more "bang for the buck" is a relative measure. Though your
           donations may go farther in the Third World, donations that
           benefit your own community will have a more tangable impact on
           your own life and the lives of your neighboors, which is
           important to some people.
        \_ Yes: UCB, USCA Alumni Association, SF Women's Health Clinic,
           \_ I'm deferring that 10% in my IRA, so that Jesus gets more
              when I'm retired.
              \_ Actually, the 10% does not include the 16% targetted
                 for my retirement cause I want to continue the 10%
                 after my retirement.
                The Oaks Foundation, Dance Safe, SF AIDS Foundation,
                Campaign for Justice, NAACP, ACLU
           \_ why the hell do you want to donate to UCB?
              \_ don't you want your degree from UCB to be worth something
                 in the future?  UCB can't survive on state funding alone,
                 imho.
                 \_ Yes it can. They just need to purge the crooks on the
                    Regents board and stop funding their stupid parties.
                    \_ Well, no, not really.  State funding covers 34% of
                       UC's costs.  There's no likelihood that the state
                       will ever come close to the 70% it once covered.
                       It's a hell of a lot of money.  -tom
                       \_ Just out of curiosity, what's your source for that
                          34% number?  I know that UCB's public relations folks
                          (particularly the Cal Annual Fund) have been using
                          it since at least 1994, and have difficulty
                          believing that it hasn't varied at all in seven
                          years.
                          \_ that's my source.  It may have varied but I
                             guarantee it hasn't risen.  -tom
        \_ I give about $20 a week to church
        \_ 10% goes back to the Lord.  $300/yr to United Way.
           \_ pre or post tax?
                                                  \- the united way has really
                                                  high administrative overhead
                                                  and in the past has been
                                                  fairly corrupt. --psb
                                                  \_
                        My understanding was that it had improved much
                        under the leadership of Elaine Chao, who is now
                        our Secretary of Labor.  Is there a ranking of
                        various charity organizations based on their
                        administrative overhead (as a percentage of
                        each dollar donated, for example)?
           \_ However religious you are, you can't believe that the money is
              going to "The Lord".  He doesn't need your money.  You might
              be giving it to a charity (hopefully) or a church (more likely,
              sadly) in His name, but you certainly aren't giving it to Him.
              \_ Wow, I can't believe how religiously insensitive and/or
                 ignorant you are.  Obviously the money is spent to maintain
                 the church, the center of faith upon which belief in God
                 is maintained, as well as further Christian goals (ie
                 help the poor thru Christ).  No there is no physical vessel
                 that carries money to God.
                 \_ Yeah, those snipers that kill doctors in their kitchen
                    in front of their (the doctor's) children need money
                    for bullets.
                    \_ Ya know I'm probably about 5x more pro-choice than you
                       are but I find this sort of comment stupid and
                       unhelpful.