Document text
43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 11, 2003 Pat Smith, left, and Becky Badger, both of Ruch, check out a Christmas Helping Hands tree in the Rogue Valley Mall. Helping Hands is among the many nonprofit groups seeking donations this time of year. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Giving wisely and with heart For some givers, the hard part is finding a charity that feels right and has a good record By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune As charitable givers go, Wally Skyrman knows he’s a small player. Disabled by lung disease, the 57-year-old Central Point man has to watch his budget carefully. Still, he manages to eke out about $500 a year for philanthropy. "Just looking back on my own self, I’m a product of community investment," Skyrman says. "If people were to look hard, they’d see the same thing." For him, the tough part isn’t deciding whether to give, it’s knowing how. "I try to make my meager contributions locally," he says. But beyond that, he’s open to suggestion. Advertisement Skyrman isn’t alone, says Kathleen Davis, regional development director for the Oregon Community Foundation. Every year, Davis fields questions from would-be donors with a little to give — and a lot. "They ask me, ‘Where should I give my money this year?’" Davis says. "You hate to tell people where to give and how to give, but you want them to give thoughtfully." Being a thoughtful donor is vital in a state where individual contributions increased more than 5 percent last year, offsetting declines of nearly 1 percent for business and nearly 9 percent for foundations. That’s according to the latest "Giving in Oregon" report, which showed that overall contributions increased by less than 1 percent in 2002. Donors in Oregon gave more than $990 million to more than 9,200 nonprofit groups last year. An Oregonian earning the average adjusted gross income of $44,150 in 2002 donated about $1,015, the study showed. The state ranks 15th in the nation for percentage of income — 2.3 percent, on average — donated to charity. For folks wondering how to do the most good with their $1,000 for charity, Davis has some suggestions. The first thing is to know where NOT to give. Direct-mail and telephone requests from groups you don’t know should be immediately suspect, she says. "Don’t give to a mail solicitation with a picture of a hungry child and you have no way of knowing about the organization," she says. "Never give to an organization where you can’t follow up on what happens to your money." Instead, it’s a good idea to focus on well-known or local nonprofit groups. Even then, it’s important to do a little homework, says Ed Roussell, chairman of the Rogue Valley Development Professionals, a new group that focuses on fund raising. "Of course, you’ll want to make sure the group is a bona fide nonprofit," Roussell notes. There’s a national "donor’s bill of rights" that details what contributors can expect from a charity, he says. "But, basically they all boil down to making sure that the organization is open and willing to share information." Once you’ve verified several possible charities, try to find out what are the most pressing needs in your community. Service clubs, government officials and newspaper archives are good sources for this. "Ask where are the gaps in services that are breaking your heart," Davis advises. "Is it health care? The library? Teen pregnancy?" Beyond that, give to causes that touch you, Davis says. "People have to give where their heart is," she says. "If you care about music, support music." That’s true philanthropy, a love for humanity. But as Roussell notes, there’s something in it for the giver as well, especially now. "I think people have this urge to give year-round, but it comes out at the holidays," he says. "It’s self-centered, almost, because there’s a good feeling that comes with it. I’d say be generous and enjoy those good feelings." Tips for giving When deciding whether to donate to a nonprofit, use the following guidelines: Make sure the organization is an eligible nonprofit. Ask to see a letter of determination from the IRS showing it’s a 501-c-3 tax-exempt agency. Or check Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers’ Web site at www.doj.state.or.us or www.guidestar.org . Ask organizers how your money will be used. For instance, ask how many people will benefit from a $500 contribution. Make sure the agency has an active board of directors and broad community support through volunteers and contributors. Look for an easy-to-understand budget and financial statement that show reasonable projection of revenue and expenses. Look for reasonable administrative and fund-raising costs — no more than 15 to 20 percent of the total budget. Does the agency do good work? Ask about the number of people in the community who need or could use the services. — Kathleen Davis, Oregon Community Foundation Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times