When I mentioned that I had put Red Cross on auto-pay, everyone pounced...

[ecstatic]

Saying they're a scam, etc. Is Red Cross no longer considered a good charity to donate too?

[tblue37]

1. Why experts say the Red Cross is questionable:

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/why-experts-say-you-shouldnt-give-houston-money-to-the-red-cross-and-5-orgs-to-whom-you-could/

An NPR article on the same topic:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/30/547435136/red-cross-exec-doesn-t-know-what-portion-of-donations-will-go-directly-to-harvey

[ecstatic]

3. Thank you. I'll try "The Center for Disaster Philanthropy" nt

[metroins]

2. Depends

From what I understand, the money usually goes to their general fund which can be used for any disaster, possibly not the one you are allocating it to.

The benefit of this allows the red cross to go early and be on the forefront of most disasters instead of working to catch up. They also have some of the highest management capacities for handling a disaster and are a go-to for local and state resources needing direction.

The Red Cross also is one of the charities that stay around past the 1-2 weeks after a disaster and continue helping for much of the long haul. You may not see them buying furniture for 1 family and hear that feel good moment about how you changed their lives; but when a disaster occurs and you see the Red Cross logo, you know you can go there for safety.

For example, they provide mental health resources, which most people aren't thinking about when a disaster occurs, but is much needed.

Personally, I am a huge fan of them and they are who I donate to.

The outpouring of financial support for the Red Cross relief effort along the Gulf Coast has been tremendous. The following is an example of how those generous donations are being used:

Donations pay for Red Cross shelters and the volunteers who are supporting them. Last night, more than 42,000 people sought refuge in 258 Red Cross and partner shelters across Texas. An additional 1,500 people stayed in six emergency shelters in Louisiana; and a handful of people spent the night in evacuation shelters in Tennessee.

Donations pay to transport more than 2,300 disaster workers to Texas, whether by plane, bus or car. More than 700 additional workers are traveling to Texas now.

Donations pay for shelter supplies like cots, blankets and hygiene kits for 75,000 people with additional supplies for 10,000 people on the way.

Donations pay for the more than 392,000 meals and snacks we have served with our partners since the storm began.

Donations pay for the gas and equipment to power our feeding efforts. Trailers of supplies to support 10 mobile kitchens, each able to produce 10,000 meals a day, are in Texas alongside more than 200 emergency response vehicles.

Donations pay to support the mental health and health services professionals who support and care for evacuees – some 8,000 contacts have already been made.

Donations pay for relief items like diapers and comfort kits that contain deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items for people forced from their homes. We’ve distributed 26,000 so far and this number will grow as people are able to return home.

Donations also pay to provide warehouses, technology – and the people that make all of this help possible for Hurricane Harvey.

http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/Harvey-One-Week-after-Landfall-42000-People-in-Red-Cross-and-Partner-Shelters

[ecstatic]

5. I know when I selected them, it was based on a spokesperson saying

that 91 cents of every dollar goes to victims. But the slate article in the first post says that's not true. So I don't know...?

[gratuitous]

11. The Red Cross is involved in practically every disaster

That's why undesignated contributions can be spent on practically any disaster. One reason the relief effort for Hurricane Andrew went on for 10 years is because designated contributions had to be spent on whatever people had said they needed to be spent on, whether the need continued or not. If, for example, the emergency shelters closed after three months, but all the money designated for emergency shelters hadn't been spent, it couldn't be spent for anything else. Piles of donated clothes sat warehoused for years because people's donations were far in excess of the need.

The Red Cross prefers to spend money on needs as they arise. Of course much of the money they get will go to flood relief in Houston. But as other agencies step in and take over relief efforts, the Red Cross will be moving on to another project (the projected damage from Hurricane Irma comes to mind). The donations the Red Cross receives in the aftermath of Houston might be better spent on helping people wherever Irma makes landfall, as FEMA and other relief organizations pitch in for Houston.

Be of a clear conscience for donating to the Red Cross. Your money will help immensely.

If anyone is still chary about giving to the Red Cross, I suggest Children's Disaster Services (Google 'em!), which provides trained child care workers and equipment to set up safe child care facilities in relief centers so that parents can navigate the maze of available relief agencies knowing that their children are cared for nearby. It's a Church of the Brethren endeavor, ongoing since 1980, and they stretch every dollar to the max.

[cwydro]

4. They helped me after hurricanes I went through.

The Salvation Army is despised on DU as well, but they were always FIRST to show up in disaster.

Naysayers who've never gone through a disaster have no idea.

[world wide wally]

6. I volunteered for the Red Cross after Katrina and I know they did some good work

I can't really say where every penny goes.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Charity Watch rates them a B+

Estimate that 89% of money goes to help, 11% to internal costs. So, not the most efficient, but not bad. Certainly not a scam.

Red Cross seems currently unclear as to how much will be focused on Houston/Harvey, if that's a concern.

Anyway, good of you to donate.

[Coventina]

8. I will never donate to the Red Cross after Katrina.

When Red Cross workers turned away volunteers with boats while people drowned.

Also, all their financial scams.

[OneBlueDotBama]

10. Not to meantion Sandy

where they were outed by employees for driving around empty trucks "for good optics".

[JimGinPA]

9. I Have The Red Cross As My Charity On Amazon

Which I understand is a double whammy here.

[OriginalGeek]

12. You should designate those funds

to ONLY go to their breast-milk for pit-bulls at Olive Garden fund.