Support Small Charities That Align with Values
Most people want to help, yet a nagging worry gets in the way. What if the money is wasted, or the cause isn’t what it seems? That worry can leave you doing nothing, even when you care.
A small charity is usually local or niche, with a lean team, and less attention than the big names. It might run a food bank, a helpline, a youth club, or a specialist service no one else offers. Because they’re under the radar, they can feel harder to judge.
Supporting small charities can make a real difference, if they align with your values. Tiny charities often work tirelessly within communities, but are often overlooked in favour of larger more visible charities.
Choose small charities that reflect your beliefs, so your contributions (whether time, money or skills) create a powerful impact.
To seek the best charities to give to, first understand your own core values, and what matters to you. Never donate to big unethical charities, just because everyone else does (or a ‘chugger – charity mugger’ approaches you on the street, and guilts you into giving).
If you care about animal welfare, don’t give to animal-testing charities and instead donate to humane medical research. Likewise there are plenty of ways to help local wildlife rescues and animal shelters abroad (or even animals caught up in war zones).
If you care about the planet, don’t donate to charities that spend your money sending ‘free plastic pens’ made from oil. If you care about how your money is spent, don’t donate to charities that spend thousands of pounds on TV campaign ads.
Work for Good makes business giving to charity easy.
Donate Anonymously to Charity (easy tips)
When giving to small charities, many are often unaware that they are losing money, by not giving people the opportunity to donate anonymously. This is not because people don’t care. But because there are hundreds of good causes, and often people like to give a little to different ones.
And get concerned that if they give once, they are going to bombarded by requests from lots of little charities, and then feel guilty because they can’t afford to give to all of them.
This is what happened to Olive, a kind widowed poppy seller in Bristol. Although she had depression anyway, she jumped off a bridge in her 80s. It was later found that she had given to big charities, who had sold her name to others. She was giving nearly all her income away, responding to hundreds of requests for donations.
Giving should be private anyway. Sign up with Charities Aid Foundation (or just tick the ‘anonymous box’ for one-off donations). Once registered, you can donate to who you like, and your details won’t be passed on. It also runs a bank account for small charities.
Supermarkets Asking You To Donate?
If you go to many supermarkets these days (including Booths), you’ll be asked to donate before you pay. Who knows who to? It could be a big charity that’s not well run or one that tests on animals.
Some criticise that the the amount being asked for by big companies and supermarkets, is likely not at the same ratio as they give, considering their billions in profits.
Please stop asking me to donate money to various causes, with every self check-out. I’m not the one making billions in profits, you are. If you feel the need to do good, how about you donate on my behalf? Unbelievable. (social media user)
But everyday actions can make just as much a difference. Large donations or grand gestures don’t have to be at the cornerstone of making a difference.
Researching Small Charities
Once you know your values, it’s time to find small charities that match them. They may not have big marketing budgets, so finding them may take more effort.
Start by entering your charity focus (and area if apt) at Find That Charity. It will bring up big charities first, but also smaller registered ones. Then look each one up at the government’s Register of Charities. This will tell you what their income/expenditure is, and if anyone earns over £60,000.
Finally, find out if the charity tests on animals. Animal Aid has an extensive list (green charities don’t test, and red charities do).
Today, many celebrities and businesses preach of giving to good causes. You only have to go into a supermarket, and you are asked to press a ‘give’ button (often to animal-testing charities, when many of us only give to humane medical research).
This book explores alternative ways to make a difference, rather than wearing silly red noses, to campaign for big charities that perhaps don’t make as much a difference, as the tiny charities that are nameless and anonymous, but make better use of money.
