# Is there a way to check out on-line charities for reliability?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 12, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805 "2022-11-12T17:51:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/1 "2022-11-12T17:51:16Z")
The Cub and I have been talking about the value of making charitable donations, and I asked him if he had charities he would like to donate to. He mentioned two:
TeamSeas:
> **[Help us remove 30 million pounds of trash by January 1st, 2022 - Join #TeamSeas](https://teamseas.org/)**
>
> One dollar is one less pound of trash in the ocean.
And Minecrafters v Cancer:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG1Q1ouemVA)
which looks like it was started by the YouTuber [Technoblade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technoblade) before he died of cancer.
I’ve not heard of either one. Is there any way to check if online charities have a reliability / honesty rating of some sort?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/2 "2022-11-12T17:57:39Z")
> **[Charity Ratings and Donor Resources | Charity Navigator](https://www.charitynavigator.org/)**
>
> Use Charity Navigator's ratings and resources to find and support highly rated charities that align with your passions and values. Whether you're looking to give toward international relief, the environment, animal welfare, or something else, we...
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/3 "2022-11-12T18:11:18Z")
I didn’t watch the whole video for the Minecraft one, but I’m guessing that how it works is that people pledge money for when they accomplish various things in the game, and then the Minecrafters pool that money and donate it to some cancer research group, no? I mean, it’d kind of have to work that way, unless the Minecrafters in question are themselves cancer researchers. If that’s the case, then surely it’d be more efficient (and reliable) to just find out what cancer research group they’re passing the money to, and just send money to them directly.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/4 "2022-11-12T21:16:24Z")
I second @running_coach’s recommendation for Charity Navigator. I’ll also note that when it comes to umbrella organizations you are much better off actually donating to particular charities, especially if they are local in nature as a way of cutting out the administrative overhead and ‘executive compensation’ to board members who contribute little to the actual functioning of a charity even if it isn’t as openly venal as the United Way.
Stranger
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/5 "2022-11-12T21:16:51Z")
Thanks, all. Will take a look.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/6 "2022-11-12T21:55:56Z")
Charity Navigator and Guidestar.
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### Author:  [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/7 "2022-11-13T12:20:59Z")
During Covid, I discovered that giving to one online charity is like giving a french fry to _one_ seagull. You are quickly surrounded by a begging, squawking, shrieking mass that will overwhelm you (your inbox) and drive you away from the beach.
My policy now is to generate a fresh email account, give a small amount once, then watch the inbox. If they’re sharing my email, they’re a profit-seeking scam.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-check-out-on-line-charities-for-reliability/974805/8 "2022-11-13T17:47:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> And Minecrafters v Cancer:
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I didn’t watch the whole video for the Minecraft one, but I’m guessing that how it works is that people pledge money for when they accomplish various things in the game, and then the Minecrafters pool that money and donate it to some cancer research group, no?
Not really. MvC is really just a fundraiser on YouTube raising money for SFA (which I assume is Sarcoma Foundation of America). Viewers just donate money if they want to, as they watch a bunch of their favorite Minecrafters stream together. YouTube waives all fees involved.
As a former fundraiser who is pretty discerning on which charities I support, I have some thoughts on this. Have him research SFA, and let him donate, especially if he used to watch Technoblade videos. It’s important to find responsible organizations, but it’s even more important to have an emotional connection to where you’re donating.