Giving money to people who beg on the street isn’t the best use of your charity. Support the programs that give people shelter, food and a place to get cleaned up. These programs may be able to leverage your money for greater support, and you’ll be helping more than one person in need.

I recently gave to a homeless shelter that was asking for contributions of toiletries and the like. Doing five minutes of research on taxes, I learned that if I donated cash or a check to this organization, I’d get a deduction on my state taxes. If I went to the store and bought things for them, I would not. As a result, I ended up giving much more than I would have if I’d had to go to the store and buy toiletries, and the shelter may have sources where they can buy in bulk with the money I donated. And as a bonus, I’ll take a small deduction on my state taxes, which I’ll put into savings so that I can make sure I take care of myself.

And lastly, for people who disdain panhandlers, who may be using the money they get to buy drugs or alcohol, I say this: Please don’t judge. There are people who live on the street because they’re mentally ill and can’t afford medication. Some illnesses, like schizophrenia, have symptoms that are less severe when the person has been drinking. Please don’t think you know who those people are or why they’re on the street. Every person has a story and most of them would make you feel very grateful for what you have in your own life.

That said, I think it’s important that people give to what they feel is important, whether that’s local or international, money or time. There are no strings, unless you desire them. What I understand Trent to be saying is that those who say “what do I get out of it” should look at what’s most important to them, and they can follow it up if they wish. So if they want to make sure people are getting the food they give, they can work at the food bank if they want. Over time, maybe they won’t worry so much about it, and just give because they want to give.

I don’t think the “only give where you have a personal tie” philosophy works very well – we mostly have ties to people like us, so if everyone did that the gap between rich and poor would just keep getting bigger. I try to do half and half – half to local organizations including ones I use myself, like the library, and half to people who aren’t like us – I don’t think we quite make 50/50 but it’s pretty close right now. One of the charities I support plants fruit trees in deforested areas of poor countries; they certainly need the trees more than we do, but the trees still benefit everyone.

I have adopted 2 African children, sent dollars to Smile to help fix a child’s cleft palate, volunteer at the local food bank, and help where I can. It doesn’t feel like enough, but it shows me I am not poor and that gives me a positive outlook on life.

I also do not sell much of the stuff I am downsizing. If it is usable at all, I will give it to someone who needs it – a bicycle, a great microwave, a tv & VHS player, clothes, food, etc. Jesus said that when we help others, we are helping him.

Since this is an anonymous board, I feel I can tell these things and hope it encourages others to give. Thank you for this article, Trent.

Calling attention to two examples from a population of BILLIONS of people – characters from a movie, no less! – and ignoring the millions of wonderful people who also live in poverty, while also ignoring the greed & corruption that has thrived for centuries in Christianity is an extremely narrow-minded perspective.

That you give to charity is commendable, and I think that you can do whatever you want with your money. I would, however, warn against correlating wealth and goodness. I believe the Bible includes passages that directly contradict that theory…

I don’t give much these days (post layoff), and hardly ever cash, but a few weeks ago on my way to my temp job I took a route that runs under a freeway. People living out of their vehicles often park under this overpass. At a nearby intersection, a 60+ guy was standing holding a “please help” sign.

For whatever reason, I felt very strongly that I wanted to help this guy. I had $5 to spare, so I rolled down my window and motioned him over. When he saw it was a $5 bill, he almost cried.

I’m not a Christian, but the Golden Rule is the foundation of all the major religions and I think there are an awful lot of people who need to be reminded of what it really means.

Just because a person refuses to give cash to panhandlers or beggars on the street, doesn’t mean that they constantly fret about how the money it spent. I think about the 100% tips we have left in the past when dining out on holidays. Wisdom and common-sense must enter the equation, and it depends on your definition of “help” is; enabling is not a blessing in most cases and is a curse.

The south is by far the most vocal Christian voice in the nation, yet southern states receive more federal money than they put into the tax system. Effectively, northern (especially northeastern) states subsidize the south (I am not making this up – look at the flows of tax revenue and federal aid if you’re interested). So your view here is a bit off. That’s NOT to say you shouldn’t harness your religion and morals to help others. I’m just pointing out a major flaw I see in your post.

Good point Sarah. Some people need to be told by religion that its good to help thy neighboor, instead of actually having common sense.

Don’t forget the tax benefit too!

There are often unexpected benefits to volunteering and giving. I volunteer with an animal rescue that introduced me to someone who then got me a great job with a great company. I continue to volunteer and give financially with this rescue because it makes me feel good and I will never be able to ‘repay’ the animals the blessings I received through this job.

I found it interesting that one commenter only gives to religous charities, while I refuse to give to such organizations. When someone is sick or hungry in a third world country (or even closer to home!), I don’t want a condition of their receipt of care and food to be that they listen to someone else’s sermon. It is disrespectful of their own beliefs and culture as well as of the basic needs they have. I realize that others will feel differently and that not all religious charities also share beliefs outright, but understand that some of us find missionary work questionable.

Do be careful about giving cash to people soliciting at intersections; we’ve recently had a problem with carjackings, robberies, and kidnappings as the solicitor got the drivers to open the window and become vulnerable.

Our city has been ‘cracking down’ on panhandling by making it illegal to be within a certain distance of a door or intersection when panhandling, and one cannot make noise (ask) for a donation. They put in donation boxes, much like parking meters, in some of these areas so people who feel like donating can put money in them and it goes to local charities who help the homeless.

I think imagining you are in someone else’s shoes (and realizing animals, children, and the planet cannot stand up for themselves) are part of being a caring and responsible human. When you are in a place that allows you to help another, it’s a shame not to do it.

And, of course, the first response to a post about how to allocate your charitable giving in a way that engages you is a comment about how some people just don’t deserve it (with people immediately chiming in to agree).

If Christianity turns out to be right, I think there are going to be some Christians who are going to be very surprised at the reception they get in the afterlife. I wonder what they will say when Jesus asks them, “Did I tell you to feed the hungry, or to judge them?”

Meanwhile, us “morally lacking” non-Christians will just have to struggle on with the burden of trying to find the best ways to care for our fellow human beings. Help from those who think God commanded them to love their neighbors as themselves would be much appreciated.

I realized that if someone is actually hungry (and not trying to get money for drugs or booze), then they will eat when you offer them food. This happened when a young lady approached me for food money for her and her boyfriend. She was thin, but obviously pregnant, and the also thin young man was standing a few feet away, looking protective. The company where I was working had their annual Thanksgiving employee lunch that day, and I had lots of leftovers that I was taking home. I didn’t have money, but I offered her the food that I had. She and her boyfriend stood there and ate like hungry wolves. I gave her all the rest of the food to eat later, and told her about a free clinic that was not too far away (for pre-natal care). They were both very grateful.

The second incident was a story I’ve told on this blog before. I was at a gas station where there was a guy there with an empty gas container, and he was asking people for money to buy gas for his car that had run out of gas and was stranded a few blocks away. Someone who was pumping gas filled his container with gas, then finished pumping and left. The guy walked to the curb, poured the gas into the gutter, and then went back to begging for gas money, holding the emptied gas container. I saw the whole thing and was furious! Not only was he lying about running out of gas, but he had no problem polluting the environment when his scam didn’t work!!

Both of these things happened many years ago, and I’ve given my money to charities ever since.

For those of you who:
–constantly fret as to whether or not your recipient is a drug user or con artist; or
–want to “give with conditions,” as in the case of religious proselytizing;

…I recommend you stop giving money, specifically. Grant others your other resources instead: time, energy and effort, skills and abilities, materials, or experience. If you can’t do that, then pay someone else you trust to use their other resources in your stead. Money isn’t the only thing that’s useful to those in need.

The truth is that money is a multi-use tool; a medium of exchange. If you give someone this medium of exchange, don’t be surprised if they purchase something you didn’t expect them to. If your feelings are hurt, then that’s on you.