People helping people is one wonderful thing that has been a constant all through history. Remember the good Samaritan in the Bible, the women who helped Jesus during his ministry, and the man who gave up his tomb after the crucifixion. There are many philanthropic organizations today. Among them are hundreds of public charities that operate throughout the world.
A philanthropic organization is called a charity when it promotes the common good without expecting to turn a profit. The earliest attempts outside of religious entities were in London in the mid-eighteenth century. Wealthy aristocrats decided to help the most destitute in the city. Later, some charities formed by wealthy men did much good and at the same time rendered a monetary gain to their investors. This is not often the case in modern times, when non-profit organizations abound.
Many had the idea of improving the lot of the poor by education or vocational training. Others supported giving small plots of land to poor families so they could augment their meager wages with garden produce. This 'teach a man to fish' philosophy is regarded as superior to merely giving handouts to the needy. Most of the efforts were freely given, although some programs were created to be like investments. Donors got monetary returns while also gaining the satisfaction of doing good deeds.
A charity can feed the poor, save feral animals in the city, preserve land for future generations and for wildlife, dig wells for villages without clean water, build hospitals or clinics, or provide other kinds of aid. An educational organization can function as a non-profit. In America, the IRS tax code determines the status of a charitable organization. Other countries also regulate beneficent organizations; each region has different requirements that must be met to qualify for exemption to taxes or regulations.
In the US, the IRS sets the qualifications of an organization that makes it public. Such a charity will have many donors, rather than one (like one wealthy philanthropist or a corporation). It will fulfill its mission directly rather than funding other groups. Its mission could be preserving open space, helping women start businesses, employing the handicapped, supporting libraries, endowing colleges and universities, or helping drug addicts to recovery.
Public groups get the money they need from individuals, from the government, and from grants given by private groups. If an entity is non-profit, as most are, it pays no taxes. Scams and greed abound in this arena, but much good is done by reputable organizations.
There are IRS guidelines and regulations that seek to make sure that this system is not used as a tax dodge. Some non-profits are agencies that evaluate charitable groups so donors can be assured that their gifts are being used properly and efficiently. If too much is spent on administration, kept inactive in bank accounts, or wasted in inefficient efforts, the examiners will not award a high rating.
A person with a desire to help can choose a localized cause, like 'Save The Bay' or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. There are also many international entities, like Food For The Poor or World Relief. It's good to give back to the community or the world. In fact, we would all be much worse off without these group efforts.
A philanthropic organization is called a charity when it promotes the common good without expecting to turn a profit. The earliest attempts outside of religious entities were in London in the mid-eighteenth century. Wealthy aristocrats decided to help the most destitute in the city. Later, some charities formed by wealthy men did much good and at the same time rendered a monetary gain to their investors. This is not often the case in modern times, when non-profit organizations abound.
Many had the idea of improving the lot of the poor by education or vocational training. Others supported giving small plots of land to poor families so they could augment their meager wages with garden produce. This 'teach a man to fish' philosophy is regarded as superior to merely giving handouts to the needy. Most of the efforts were freely given, although some programs were created to be like investments. Donors got monetary returns while also gaining the satisfaction of doing good deeds.
A charity can feed the poor, save feral animals in the city, preserve land for future generations and for wildlife, dig wells for villages without clean water, build hospitals or clinics, or provide other kinds of aid. An educational organization can function as a non-profit. In America, the IRS tax code determines the status of a charitable organization. Other countries also regulate beneficent organizations; each region has different requirements that must be met to qualify for exemption to taxes or regulations.
In the US, the IRS sets the qualifications of an organization that makes it public. Such a charity will have many donors, rather than one (like one wealthy philanthropist or a corporation). It will fulfill its mission directly rather than funding other groups. Its mission could be preserving open space, helping women start businesses, employing the handicapped, supporting libraries, endowing colleges and universities, or helping drug addicts to recovery.
Public groups get the money they need from individuals, from the government, and from grants given by private groups. If an entity is non-profit, as most are, it pays no taxes. Scams and greed abound in this arena, but much good is done by reputable organizations.
There are IRS guidelines and regulations that seek to make sure that this system is not used as a tax dodge. Some non-profits are agencies that evaluate charitable groups so donors can be assured that their gifts are being used properly and efficiently. If too much is spent on administration, kept inactive in bank accounts, or wasted in inefficient efforts, the examiners will not award a high rating.
A person with a desire to help can choose a localized cause, like 'Save The Bay' or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. There are also many international entities, like Food For The Poor or World Relief. It's good to give back to the community or the world. In fact, we would all be much worse off without these group efforts.
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Get a summary of the things to consider before selecting public charities and more information about a great charity organization at http://tableofplentyhmb.org/board-of-directors now.