Charitywatch.org on Southeast Asia aid

AIP have set up their own page here



They say:



All of these charities perform favorably in relation to AIP's benchmarks:

1) A charity should spend at least 60% of its budget on program services.

2) Charities should spend no more than $35 to raise $100.



The list of charities and more at the link.



Here's a little something else. I read this book and it is really good and has a foreward by Paul Newman.



In her book Don't Just Give It Away: How to Make the Most of your Charitable Giving, Renata J. Rafferty notes these 10 warning signs that should make a person think twice about contributing to a nonprofit organization where the following situations occur:



1. You are discouraged or barred from a site visit or board meeting.

2. Financial records are unavailable, unintelligible, or generally in disarray.

3. There is no written strategic or business plan for the organization.

4. The executive director discourages you from speaking with a board member or a board member discourages you from speaking with an administrator.

5. Fewer than 70% of the board members have made a financial contribution to the organization within the last twelve months.

6. More money is spent on administration and fundraising than on programs and services.

7. The charity is involved in a legal action.

8. The organization cannot or will not provide you with the names and contact information for other or past financial supporters.

9. Organization leaders cannot or will not reveal specific salary or other expenditure information.

10. Your gut tells you that something is "off."



Excerpted without the permission of Chandler House Press from Don't Just Give It Away: How to Make the Most of your Charitable Giving, by Renata Rafferty. Copyright 1999 by Renata Rafferty.