Via Chris Bertram at CT, another try from Nicola at a charitable pledge aimed at overcoming the free rider problem inherent in lots of desirable activities. I will give 1% of my gross annual income to charity but only if 100 people will too. Nicola has a blog, as you would expect. Go over and sign up to the pledge!
I’m always interested in ways of using the Internet to promote good collective actions like charitable giving. The tsunami appeal earlier this year was a big success, but the gimmick of tying the amount paid to comments on the blog seems to have got tired, as gimmicks do.
So I’m going to go for something much simpler this time. I’m asking people to donate money to help with the Niger famine (feel free to substitute an alternative cause or organisation if you think it would be more worthwhile). Just send in a comment announcing your donation, or advise me by email, by Sunday and I’ll match it, up to a total of $1000. I’m giving to Medecins sans Frontieres.
Remember this is all tax deductible. So, if you’re on the top marginal tax rate, a donation of $100 actually costs you only $50. With my matching $100, the total amount given will be $200, enough to save many lives. But, if your budget is tighter, and you don’t benefit from tax deductibility, even $10 or $20 can make a difference.
John Quiggin 
OK, deal. I’m donating $50 to the Red Cross. I can forward you the .pdf receipt if you like.
When I have some spare cash-currently starting a new business with no income- I’m looking into the Social Entrepreneurs movement and Bottom of the Pyramid groups as a way of helping people help themselves.
That and looking at ethical consupmtion,businesses that do Tripple Bottom Line accounting and the Fair Trade groups.
Tax deductable for how long?
Stopping Dissent and Criticism
An interesting donor marketplace; Global Giving. Instead of donating to a non profit group, you can donate directly to a project you think is worthy. It connects donors directly to projects; leveraging “crowd wisdom” techniques into aid.
I’ll donate $100 to Oxfam – been meaning to anyway, but this will give me the push to do it. I’m afraid I am not up to scanning the receipt and making it a pdf, but I can post you a photocopy if you want.
that’s a done deal, btw.
I’m happy to take promises on faith unless they appear to come from trolls or bots, so don’t bother sending any paperwork.
Thanks to both wilful and Stephen L. There’s still plenty of time for others to donate.
I give $36 a month to Medicins Sans Frontieres. I signed up for it in March. I’m not sure what percentage of my annual income that is as my income fluctuates a lot because I work as a sessional academic and as a consultant. However, because I didn’t do paid work from November to July, this is more than 1% of my annual income for the last financial year.
Is there an Australian website or service that provides comparative details on charities? I know there is one for US based organisations taht effectively rates tehm against a vareity of criteria, including overheads, advertising, auditing of financial statements, etc…
Though people seem far far more concerned about the appropriate use of their charity dollar than they do their involuntary tax contributions.
I got hit up for MSF by two young folks on the streets of Subiaco a coupla weeks ago. I promised to donate $15 a month to add to the $10/month I donate to Greenpeace. Funny thing though. Both times I’ve been approached by (and acquiesced to) chuggers, it’s been after I’ve had a few beverages and I’m feeling content with the world and in a generous mood. Do they have some kind of sophisticated breathalyser on them?
What? A private solution to the free rider problem? Who would have thought it? 🙂