The end of the year is a great time for charities. In all the Christmas and New Year spirit, people are wanting to do something good. There are so many great groups providing support to the community you can find some good places to give into. However, you need to be aware that there are people out there that are looking to take advantage of that giving spirit.
Life is about giving. Money is just a tool in life but when it comes to giving, it is really like you are investing. What you give seems to come back to you. This is why it is really important to give into places that are truly making a difference. You need to make sure the people that use the finances you give them wisely and transparently. AINEO is actively supporting several non-profit organizations in Japan and abroad.
When looking for a charity to “invest” into, here are some things you should consider.
1) Are they an approved non-profit where they operate?
2) Do they have some type of leadership board?
3) Are they transparent with their financial statements?
4) Is the organization an active team of volunteers or a one-man band?
5) Do they have a good reputation?
In Tokyo, we have many organizations. We have found both religious (predominantly Christian) and a few secular based groups both good and somewhat questionable.
For example, there is one “organization” run by an American who has a bit of a reputation for soliciting donations from large MNCs and threatening other charities that come into his space, all the while claiming to be a “Christian” relief organization. It is great to help foreigners with visa issues and various other troubles, but a lone-wolf claiming to be an organization that stirs up trouble in the community would probably not be a good investment for your charity giving. Your giving should be something that lasts and affects the community in a good way.
On the other side of the coin, there are other organizations run by some solid people with volunteer boards from the corporate world. They are audited for how they manage their income and expenses, they have solid corporate and community support, and have very obvious fruit of their work helping people. You can use this test essentially in any country of the world (with the exception of countries that deny there are any social issues in their societies). Some well-known groups in Japan that pass the 5 tests of finding a solid charity are TELL (Tokyo English Life Line) and Second Harvest
You definitely want to be careful about where you do your charity work. Just like you want to be careful about where you buy your car or spend any of your hard earned finances. Focus on the positives and avoid the negatives. Choose wisely and carefully consider those organizations.. The more people give into solid charity, the better world we will have.
Merry Christmas and A VERY Happy New Year to you from the AINEO Family!