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Step 1: It’s really boring but basic – have a budget.  
How much are you giving to charity each year? Add up what you gave last year. You will likely find that you are far more generous than you imagined.
Step 2: Which charities are you going to give to?
Make a list of the charities you gave to last year. Now look at your list. How many of these charities are national charities, how many are local frontline charities – your food bank, your church, your boys and girls club, your seniors’ services? How many are international charities?
Are you giving to what you really care about? Now take a second hard look at your list of charities. Do the charities you give to match your passions? Too often, we give to charities simply because they ask us for money, not because these are the causes that matter deeply to us. Our giving is passive. We give to those who ask and fundraise. We can change this by being more active in our giving.
Edit your list – be a discerning donor. When you scratch off some charities this makes room to give more to other charities. There isn’t a right number of charities. Some Canadians have more than 15 charities on their list they give to each year. On average, Canadians give to seven charities each year. Rather than the number of charities, it is the quality of the charities you support.
Step 3: Do your research. Use Charity Intelligence’s free research reports on Canadian charities – Charity Intelligence has reports on all the big charities, those that pay for the expensive mailings. http://www.charityintelligence.ca www.charityintelligence.ca use the A-Z Index to see all the charity reports, or use the search box for keyword searches like “your town”, “province”, “food banks”.
Give yourself the time to give intelligently. Be informed and get the facts on a charity before you give.
 
In the News: CBC News article http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/donor-fatigue-asking-too-much-says-charity-intelligence-canada-1.3791617″ rel=”alternate Donors don’t like charity [swag] but it works
This article was prepared for CBC Radio Blue Sky call-in show, October 2016
 
Sources:
1. Give to Get marketing and fundraising strategy Robert B. Cialdini’s book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion – How to trigger the “Yes” response, 1984
2. Eden Stiffman, ” https://www.philanthropy.com/article/1-in-3-Rich-Donors-Held-Their/237624 1 in 3 Rich Donors Held Their Philanthropy Back” The Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 30, 2016 article reporting on the Cygnus Applied Research, 2016 Donor Behaviour Report on US donors “Asked what it would take to persuade them to give more than planned, [US donors said] charities could explain that they face extraordinary needs, reduce their overhead expenses, stop sending unwanted gifts or trinkets in direct-mail appeals, and reduce the volume of solicitations”. 
3. ibid: “Direct mail remains the most common way donors give but it is declining: 44% of donors gave in response to direct mail in 2015, down from 48% in 2010.”

@markyeg July 12, 2016

the money was spent and –  – Read More

Canadian Red Cross announces another $25 million in money transfers to Fort McMurray evacuees, on top of previous $50 million.
May 31, 2016: In another unprecedented move, the Canadian Red Cross announced yesterday an additional $25 million transfer to all Fort McMurray area evacuees. The first person in a household will receive $300, each additional family member will receive $50. A family of four will therefore receive $450. This money will be electronically transferred to all evacuees after they have registered at one of several Fort McMurray information centres on re-entry. The staggered re-entry of residents begins June 1, 2016.
To date, Canadians have donated $112 million to the Canadian Red Cross Read More

Animal shelters across Alberta rescued 1,177 pets from Fort McMurray – donations are desperately needed.
16 Alberta animal shelters and hundreds of volunteers rescued more than 1,177 animals from Fort McMurray.  All of these pets were sheltered and given health checks. Most, 877 animals (75%), are reunited with their owners, 118 animals are scheduled for reunions and 141 animals being sheltered temporarily since their owners cannot take care of them right now.
These tremendous resultsToo many local charities were involved to mention all of them but include Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray SPCA, Edmonton Humane Society, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society – AARCS, Red Deer & District SPCA, and Calgary Humane Society.
Fort McMurray’s SPCA got special permission to return to Fort Mac on Thursday May 5th to care for the animals in its shelter. For 4 days Fort McMurray SPCA and other charities rescued pets in the community. All pets received veterinary care, food, water, and care. These animal staff worked at times with respirators, without electricity and water. Fort McMurray’s SPCA reports using every available resource to help these pets. Donations are desperately needed.

April 26, 2016
Charity Intelligence is not appealing to Canadians to donate to the Ecuador Earthquake. We feel there was relatively limited damage and Ecuador’s government can adequately cope with the devastation. We feel similarly about the earthquake that hit Japan just two days before. There are times when we feel compelled to urge Canadians to donate. Now is not one of them.
Charity Intelligence’s decision may be “ Furthermore, each natural disaster is different and needs to be assessed. Earthquake recovery typically needs surgery, medics, bulldozers to clear In disaster relief, everybody needs help. Relief efforts need to provide for men and women, seniors and children.

 
According to news sources, charities responding to the Ecuador Earthquake are:

• The World Food Program is sending food for 8,000 people in the severely affected area
• UN-HCR is airlifting in shelter and mosquito nets
• Oxfam is on the ground and assessing the situation and developing a response. Oxfam sent a shipment of safe drinking water materials on April 20, 2016
• Save the Children reports focusing efforts on the children in the affected area to continue their education despite the damage. It plans to distribute 1,500 student kits with school materials when the school term begins on May 1. Save the Children’s operations are in the northern coastal province of Esmeraldas that is rural and 98% of the population lives below the poverty line
• World Vision work is in Ecuador’s rural central province of Chimborazo but will be providing relief to Manabi province where the earthquake struck. World Vision will provide first aid, food, hygiene kits, tents, mattresses, child-friendly spaces and emotional support in health Read More