Every year, millions of people help the disadvantaged. There are organizations that help the poor with food and housing, that seek to raise public awareness about an environmental threat, or that rescue animals. Today there are both public charities and private ones.
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 United States, a publicly presented charity is one that has many donors and is actively and directly engaged in furthering its mission. Private ones are foundations that are funded by one individual, corporation, or other donor. For example, industrialists like Andrew Carnegie funded public libraries, founded children's homes, built hospitals and universities, and did other good works with their money.
This sort of charity has many individual donors who make one-time or regular contributions. It may also receive funds from the government or from private charitable organizations, often called 'foundations'. A non-profit in good standing with the IRS will pay no taxes on the donations, grants, or other funding it receives. There is potential for fraud and greed in the system, but by and large much good is done and many people helped.
Even with IRS attempts to make sure that this program is not used as a tax dodge, there is much room for legal siphoning off of funds, outright fraud, and mismanagement. If people want to make sure their gifts are used effectively, they can check with agencies that evaluate charitable entities and rate them. If a large amount goes to administration rather than to the field, the entity has huge bank balances, or the benefits are small, they may choose to give elsewhere.
Some charities are localized, like ones that work in Appalachia or in a particular African nation. Others may be international, with outreach in many countries. Some may limit their efforts to providing scholarships for minority students or to protecting the habitat for one species, while others may have flexibility in how they help. There are those that are more political than others. Anyone who wishes to help the less fortunate will be able to find a way to give.
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 United States, a publicly presented charity is one that has many donors and is actively and directly engaged in furthering its mission. Private ones are foundations that are funded by one individual, corporation, or other donor. For example, industrialists like Andrew Carnegie funded public libraries, founded children's homes, built hospitals and universities, and did other good works with their money.
This sort of charity has many individual donors who make one-time or regular contributions. It may also receive funds from the government or from private charitable organizations, often called 'foundations'. A non-profit in good standing with the IRS will pay no taxes on the donations, grants, or other funding it receives. There is potential for fraud and greed in the system, but by and large much good is done and many people helped.
Even with IRS attempts to make sure that this program is not used as a tax dodge, there is much room for legal siphoning off of funds, outright fraud, and mismanagement. If people want to make sure their gifts are used effectively, they can check with agencies that evaluate charitable entities and rate them. If a large amount goes to administration rather than to the field, the entity has huge bank balances, or the benefits are small, they may choose to give elsewhere.
Some charities are localized, like ones that work in Appalachia or in a particular African nation. Others may be international, with outreach in many countries. Some may limit their efforts to providing scholarships for minority students or to protecting the habitat for one species, while others may have flexibility in how they help. There are those that are more political than others. Anyone who wishes to help the less fortunate will be able to find a way to give.
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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.
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