# Any opinions about heifer.org? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046 "2003-11-24T21:59:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/1 "2003-11-24T21:59:37Z")
> **[Ending Hunger and Poverty While Caring for the Earth | Heifer International](https://www.heifer.org/)** > > Heifer International is a development organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities. I am thinking about donating to them, but was wondering if any of you had any opinions about this organization. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/2 "2003-11-24T22:26:09Z")
Well, I like them. This will be our fourth year donating to them. Anybody who helps someone help himself is, in my book doing good work. And that’s what Heifer does. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/3 "2003-11-25T00:01:45Z")
The [Better Business Bureau](http://www.give.org/reports/care_dyn.asp?961) says: > [@](#): > > Heifer Project International (HPI) meets the CBBB Standards for Charitable Solicitations. I really like the idea of providing an on-going source of food, rather than a one-time donation, and we will be donating again this year. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/4 "2003-11-25T03:13:20Z")
My hippy-type history teacher is letting us donate (if we want to). Seems legit and I think it’s pretty cool. Better to give a gift that keeps on giving, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/5 "2003-11-25T03:26:12Z")
I agree. I went to a Bazaar where they had a stand. It sounded like a really nice group, but I wanted to ask around first. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/6 "2003-11-25T03:42:24Z")
I was 100 percent sure this was going to be about some _really_ un-pc web site with pictures of fat people. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/7 "2003-11-25T04:12:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*I was 100 percent sure this was going to be about some _really_ un-pc web site with pictures of fat people. \*\* I too, was leaning toward the probability of hefty heifers, not heifers for hunger. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/8 "2003-11-25T05:30:24Z")
I think [heifer.org](http://heifer.org) falls under the umbrella of “give a man a fish and he eats for a day, TEACH a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” I routinely gift single guy friends with some “cute chicks” through [heifer.org](http://heifer.org), and several members of our family donate in one another’s names in lieu of Christmas/birthday gifts. ---
**Author:** ![MikeyWorld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@MikeyWorld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeyWorld)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/9 "2003-11-25T05:45:05Z")
I’ve given to “the Heifer Project” for years thru my local CFC campaign. It gives a family a chance to help themselves AND others by giving a cow themselves! Great Org. and a great conversation piece. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/10 "2003-11-25T06:23:54Z")
My alma mater (Hendrix College) happens to be near The Heifer Project International’s headquarters, is also close to one of their main facilities ([Heifer Ranch](http://www.heifer.org/get_involved/heifer_ranch.htm)), and has for years had an internship arrangement with them, so I’ve known many people who’ve been involved with them (though not for many years now). I’ve never heard anything but positives about them, and I certainly love their approach, particularly the obligation of recipients to in turn donate offspring of the donated animals to others in their community. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/11 "2003-11-25T14:27:38Z")
We’ve been using them for several years. It’s a great concept, and they seem very legitimate. Hell, they were even mentioned on **The West Wing**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/12 "2003-11-25T17:05:00Z")
We’ve bought gifts through Heifer for my mother-in-law, father-in-law and my mother for the last few years – chicks, ducks, geese (better scurry!), goats, and bees, depending on our financial situation. I checked them out the first year we did it and was impressed, but I admit that I haven’t scoped them out thoroughly since. ---
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/13 "2003-11-25T18:18:26Z")
[Charity Navigator](http://www.charitynavigator.org) only gives [Heifer](http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.results&keyword_list=heifer) two stars – not horrible, but not great, either. They seem to use a good chunk of their money for fundraising and administration. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/14 "2003-11-26T01:02:57Z")
Is there a similar charity with better percentages? I very much like the Heifer Project’s mission, but would prefer to donate to a charity with the least administrative costs possible, of course. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/15 "2003-11-26T04:01:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nichol\_storm \* > \*\*[Charity Navigator](http://www.charitynavigator.org) only gives [Heifer](http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.results&keyword_list=heifer) two stars – not horrible, but not great, either. They seem to use a good chunk of their money for fundraising and administration. \*\* Not to quarrel with my favorite neighbor to the West, but: It may be that some of the costs involved in the way _Heifer_ operates are included in administrative costs. It’s going to cost more to send a live animal overseas, see that it’s cared for and get it delivered than it would cost to send a sack of corn or a side of meat or to simply mail a check. I don’t know that that’s the reason for high admin. costs, but it could be. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-about-heifer-org/215046/16 "2003-11-26T13:14:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Carter of Mars \* > \*\*Not to quarrel with my favorite neighbor to the West, but: > > It may be that some of the costs involved in the way _Heifer_ operates are included in administrative costs. It’s going to cost more to send a live animal overseas, see that it’s cared for and get it delivered than it would cost to send a sack of corn or a side of meat or to simply mail a check. > > I don’t know that that’s the reason for high admin. costs, but it could be. \*\* This may well be. However, we just received _another_ glossy catalog from them, after having already sent in our donation. I dunno, I still really like what they do. I just don’t think they need to send more than one catalog, and I might, FWIW, inform them of my opinion.