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« on: September 07, 2014, 07:17:51 am »
You do need to check out who you are giving to. There are two kind of charities not for profit (they can't give tax receipts) and the kind that can. Often times it is the tax rules that are very strict in how a charity operates. Their tax returns are open for public eyes. Just because some group says they are not for profit doesn't make it so. Giving can change a life be that human or animal and there are ways to give without one cent leaving your pocket. Give your time, give a good. This year I added to my large garden one row of every veg that I grow for a local soup kitchen. They were very happy to take my produce (which I always seem to have too much of at some point) I got a tax receipt for my effort(something that I would have done any way) and those who needed a hot meal got the benifit of my organic veg. I don't have a lot of extra money but I could give a little time in my garden to help to someone else. There are community gardens who are always looking for help in the harvest of veg for food banks and soup kitchens as well.
I give my time and a little gas money to a not for profit that transports rescue dogs of a certain breed (there are many of them) they don't pay anyone and every dime goes to the animals for their up keep vet cost, food etc. I check out every place I give to make sure they are the kind of place that I want to say I support.
For some people it is easier to give money and think of the tax break they are getting and there are places who have lost their way in spending. There are places that are set up to fool people into thinking they are doing good work when they aren't but they aren't the norm nor do they stay under the radar for long Revenue Canada finds them and takes away the very thing that they use to lure people the tax exemption. Yes we must be vigilant in who we give to but must also be careful not to paint all charities with the same brush.