Since today is Christmas- which means that many of you are in the mood for receiving- maybe I can entice you to engage in the act of giving.  Besides, it’s the end of the year and so many of you just realized that your tax situation needs to be addressed.  (If you were my clients, you would be reminded of this aspect- and how to save the big bucks all year round.)

I will try to keep my list apolitical.  But, to be honest, our charitable choices do reflect our points of view, so there will be no way to avoid some political import to my recommendations.  But, all the charities listed here don’t wast a lot of money on salaries or fundraising- i.e., more bang for the buck.

Let’s start with some religious ones. Catholic Charities USA and Mazon.  Both of these groups try to feed the hungry.  Mazon is specifically targeting our homeless vets- the ones typically suffering from PTSD.  You could do much worse by choosing different charities to help fund.

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Now, here’s a newer charity. Evidence Action (of DC) dispenses aid for programs that have scientific data that the approach will work.  For example, they are helping to provide safe drinking water and for deworming children.  Notice that their actions may not include US citizens in their benefits.

And, for those of you who know we need to increase the chances of achieving the American Dream (which may be way too chimeric right now),  onegoalgraduation.org is among the better choices.  It aims to increase the numbers of low-income children who graduate from college (currently way less than 10% do).   It actually coaches and mentors these at-risk kids to get them on track to succeed.

Of course, there’s also Lawrence O’Donnell’s Kinds in Need of Desks.  His programs aim to improve the ability of children in Malawi (and, theoretically other places in Africa) to educate their youth.  I admit I am somewhat less than enthusiastic- but hopeful.  And, that’s mostly because Unicef (which is the agency that handles this for Mr. O’Donnell) has not been extremely even-handed (now, there’s an understatement) in its approach to Israeli and Jewish needs.   It finally let Israel back into the organization last year- even though the whole program was founded by a Holocaust survivor. (When I was younger, I was required to help raise funds for Unicef.  The impetus was removed by the time I was around 10.)

There are plenty of other choices.  For example, where I live in Alexandria, our local high school (T.C. Williams of “Remember the Titans” fame) offers a plethora of scholarship opportunities to local kids.   And, there’s So Others Might Eat (SOME), an interfaith group to feed and help the poor and homeless of the DC area.

I am sure there are plenty of such local groups where you are.  All desperate for your funds.

You can do as I do and split your money among them- or pick one or two to help make an even bigger difference.

It truly is a gift that keeps on giving.  And, that’s not including the tax benefits you may receive.

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