Buying Locally and Giving Locally

Maybe your charitable donations should stay in your zip code?

For many of us, buying locally matters. We’ve all heard the term and seen the signs: Shop Locally. Eat Locally. But let’s extend that thought for a minute: do you consider giving to your local charities?

The fact is we are bombarded with requests from worthwhile charitable causes. Many of these are well- known national or international organizations with sophisticated fund-raising efforts. Amid their appeals, requests from local charities may be easy to overlook. Yet many small organizations do a great deal of good in their hometowns.

Before you decide whether giving locally or nationally is a better option for your charitable donations, here are a few things to consider:

1. No matter whether an organization is local or international, always check to see how much of the money it raises goes to administrative costs and how much actually reaches the people or causes the charity serves. Most charities have websites where this information is readily
2. What kind of giving matters most to you? If you want to support the arts, chances are that a local organization, like your community theater or concert association will make great use of your funds. If you’d rather support agencies that help with natural disasters, an international organization is probably the most effective place for your money.

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