From a global standpoint, Americans are apparently the most generous with their wallets, Canadians with their time. Major props to both countries for that. But in the American version, it's more than sad to see that supporting some charities is at least partially counter-productive. Actually, it's also hugely mind-blowing. C'mon--you can accuse Bill Gates of many things, but stupidity of ludicrous dimensions is normally not one of them. Ditto for Warren Buffet, who pledged a goodly chunk of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Now, I'll grant you, judging by the mailers that hit my doorstep, some (cough!) "non-profits" (cough!) seem to prefer to keep themselves in business by entrenching themselves in increasingly extreme positions. But undermining the good they're doing by subsidizing the evil they're combatting? C'mon...
Fortunately, it gives the average giver another weapon against the phone marketers employed by "charities" ranging from scammy to legit. Dennis & I already rebuff not only the proverbial lion's share of such folks, but even the hyena's share as well, simply by asking for a breakdown--in writing--of the organization's allocation of funds--meaning the percentage allocated for basically putting themselves out of business. I can't recommend that highly enough. But from now on, we will also request a copy of the investment policy.
