Donating to charities is an effective way of helping others. But not all charities make good use of our donations. In fact, some of the most popular charities don’t seem to care about the ones they claim to be helping. Issues like high admin expenses, lack of transparency or questionable practices make it difficult to trust them. With all I had learnt about these charities, it was time to quit donating and find organizations that make a difference directly. Here are 11 charities I no longer support and why.
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American Red Cross
The American Red Cross was a charity I’d been a part of for years, especially when there was a natural disaster. But once I drilled down to the specifics of spending, it turned out that a large portion of the donations did not go towards relief, but instead to administrative costs and wages. For instance, during large-scale disasters like Hurricane Sandy, money intended for relief was used inefficiently or wasted. My donation was not delivering the impact I wanted it to – that was a major disappointment.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Being a supporter of breast cancer awareness felt natural – Susan G Komen was the face of the movement. But over time I started to hear how much of their money was spent on advertising and lawsuits instead of research or patient care. There were also deals with organizations that sell cancer-causing products – which felt hypocritical. It left me wondering what they really valued. So I started giving directly to research-based organizations.
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Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was one of the first charities I regularly donated to, especially during the holidays. But as I learned more about their policies, including their controversial position on homosexuality, I couldn’t help but notice the contradiction. They offer food and shelter to those who need it, which is great. But I couldn’t stand donating to an organization that didn’t match my ideas of inclusion and equality.
Wounded Warrior Project
The Wounded Warrior Project looked like the perfect way to support veterans (which was also a cause I cared about). But after I heard about their executive salaries and extravagant event spending, I didn’t think my money was going where it should. Veterans do not want fancy galas and advertisements; they need real solutions — healthcare, housing, training. Seeing those reports made me question my donation and search for charities that help veterans directly, without the overhead.
UNICEF
UNICEF is a wonderful organization working to improve the lives of children all over the world, but I became squeamish after learning how much of their money is spent on administration and advertising. They do valuable work – but it felt like most of the money went towards big-budget efforts instead of children who really needed it. I still support their cause. But now I give to small organizations where I can make a real difference.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
I really support animal welfare so I used to donate to PETA for many years. But when I read about their practices, from shocking advertising to euthanizing their clients’ animals, it didn’t feel right. I wanted to help animals – not fund controversial strategies that didn’t seem to focus on real solutions. Supporting local shelters seemed like a better solution.
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes looked like a great way to serve mothers and babies. But over time, I started to realize that a lot of their money wasn’t actually being used to support families but was going towards admin fees. There were also concerns about their transparency with donors and how the money was spent. I couldn’t help wondering if I was really helping people. This is why I started donating to smaller organizations that worked on maternal health.
ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
The ASPCA does wonderful work for animals but, having donated to them for decades, I discovered just how much money they spend on ads. Those emotional commercials asking for donations are powerful, but they also cost millions of dollars to create. My donations looked like they were going towards ads instead of animal care.
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill was always the place I went for donations and shopping but then I started to hear about the conditions of their workers. News that disabled workers were paid less than the minimum wage, through a legal loophole, made me sick. While their mission of providing job opportunities is great, those practices didn’t sit well with me. NOW I choose charities where all employees are treated equally.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people who don’t have houses & is a great cause. But I was also told that some chapters are rigid in their definitions of who gets to apply for aid, so some low-income families are left out. Moreover, a high percentage of donations are used to pay for operational expenses rather than funding building. It was easier to help by donating to smaller, local housing agencies.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Giving wishes to children with life-threatening diseases is a beautiful cause – Make-A-Wish does great work. But after learning how much money goes to corporate partnerships and administrative fees, I began to think my donations weren’t going as effectively as they could. Smaller, grassroots-based organizations working towards the same goal felt more like a natural choice for impacting directly.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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