Heifer International

[Algernon Moncrieff]

So the other day, I asked DU about United Way: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025670700

And, on the whole, DU isn't crazy about it.

So today I ask you all about Heifer International http://www.heifer.org/

If you don't get their "catalog" every year, this is the charity where you can buy things like heifers, pigs, pumps, biogas stoves, and schooling for people in impoverished nations.

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[drm604]

1. I got a mailing from them today.

First time I ever got one. I think it's because I donated to Médecins Sans Frontières.

[kcass1954]

5. Got mine today, too.

I'm on their list because my parents "gave" me a pig 20 years ago. I've done several gifts through the years. Even if I don't need a gift for someone, I still usually make a purchase.

[Warpy]

2. They used to be at the top of a lot of charity rating lists

until they got a new boss man who wanted to send out glossy flyers to contributors and anyone who had ever subscribed to a lefty magazine. Administrative overhead overtook what they spent on livestock for desperately poor families and their rating dropped like a rock.

They do really good work and some of their beneficiaries have been children who parlayed a farm critter or two into university educations, one girl starting with a dairy goat and ending up at Oxford.

It's just hard to give to people who will take over half your donation to clog your mailbox with glossy flyers.

[drm604]

14. The question is whether or not they net more money by doing this.

The cost of the flyers may be worth it if they end up having more money to spend on goats etc. than they would if they didn't send the flyers.

[lunasun]

3. Have used it with family at the holidays instead of gifts for a few years

We give a pig then someone buys us a bee hive ( in our name of course to be sent to an impoverished area) instead of trading gifts
We can all buy whatever we need and do not need any useless stuff
But I have been turned off as of lthe last year or two by their marketing overload
Last year we all gave to wwf ,Nwf,or nature conservancy all good too
United way = no way

[Blue_In_AK]

4. When I was growing up,

my parents always bought a goat or some chickens or a piece of a cow every Christmas in the name of each of us kids. It didn't really mean much at the time (I was a kid, after all), but as the years went by, I came to appreciate what they were doing. It is ( or at least was ) an excellent organization.

[burrowowl]

6. They are GREAT!

[flvegan]

7. Not really a good description of what they do or how they do it.

Leaving folks to be subjective about a "charity" based on their self-serving website? How...nice.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

12. The description is - literally - all I know about them

I'm not leaving folks to be subjective based on the self-serving website; I'm asking folks who've had experience or knowledge of the organization what their thoughts are about it.

I get a catalog that tells me I can buy cattle, chicks, geese, ducks, goats, fish, pigs, bees, or water buffalo. I can buy a pump or a biogas stove. Alternatively, I can educate a girl ($275), or empower a woman (for the low price of $10,000). So it's an intriguing set of offerings one does not see every day.

[oldandhappy]

8. Great!

My family gives a joint gift each year -- all adults contribute and it is our gift to each other. We all like this and I feel confident that Heifer does a good job with the animals.

[uppityperson]

9. Donate to Doctors Without Borders. kicking also to see the replies about Heifer Int.

https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm

[Algernon Moncrieff]

15. Doctors Without Borders does very good wor

I know my mom sends them some money. She also likes "Smile Train", the organization that sends surgeons out to fix cleft pallets on kids in third word countries.

[enlightenment]

10. Someone may have already suggested this,

but have you tried Charity Navigator? It's a fairly decent way of determining if a charity is behaving the way you think they should behave.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

[herding cats]

11. They're not at their best point right now

They're spending $23 million a year on advertising and another $7 million in management and general expenses. I'm not sure they're going in the right direction at the moment. I like what they do, but I'm not sure they're spending the donations as efficiently as they could anymore. The past four years or so they've changed how the do things and it worries me.

You can check out this Forbes link about them and get a feel for how they're not managing their funds like they could. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/14/charities-11_Heifer-International_CH0080.html

I, personally, really like Direct Relief International right now. They're doing good work and manage their funds really well. They may not be the type of charity that is dear to your heart though. Which I fully understand, charities are on many levels a personal choice.

Here's their Forbes link as well.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/14/charities-11_Direct-Relief-International_CH0057.html

[uppityperson]

17. Thank you, that is good information to learn. I like to find what % is being spent directly, what %

on administration, fund raising.

[davidpdx]

13. I have heard of them before

but do not get their catalog.

[Coventina]

16. I'd go with KIVA or another micro-loan outfit first. Or maybe KIND (Kids In Need of Desks)

For me, it's a personal belief thing.

I want people to try and become less dependent on animals and their products.
No, I'm not a vegan, but I'm working on reducing my personal use of animal products in my life.
We all have to do it, for the good of the planet, even if animal suffering is not an issue for you.

To be fair to Heifer, they now have non-animal options, so that's good.