A Need for Greater Oversite of Charities and NGOS

A Need for Greater Oversite of Charities and NGOS

With poverty on the rise and citizens struggling to meet daily needs, it is imperative for our government to closely examine the operations of charities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) within our country's borders.

In Canada, over 170000 NGOS are operating, of which 86000 are registered charities. The rest fall under the guise of non-profit organizations that are not registered.

Provincial Grants to the charitable side of these agencies totaled 11.6 billion dollars in 2023. I am still crunching the total federal numbers.

While many charities perform commendable work by supporting individuals and arts organizations, there are concerns regarding the financial practices of certain private charities. Specifically, organizations such as Goodwill, United Way, Red Cross, and Food Banks have been criticized for allocating a significant portion of their funds to excessive salaries for their CEOs and high administrative costs. These practices can result in substantial donations not reaching the intended beneficiaries. While at the same time relying heavily on a solid volunteer base.

This is where oversight by Governments and those making donations becomes critical, and policing their activities becomes essential to yearly audits within their organizations.

Canadians are kind, generous, and truly care about those who continually struggle with circumstances beyond their control. This is a remarkable testament to our society's caring culture. Still, it is also ripe for those disguised as charitable organizations to take advantage of Canadians' benevolence, line the pockets of a few administrators at the top, and scatter crumbs for the beneficiaries like pigeons to feed upon.

I will get to churches and predatory seed faith televangelists in another Blog. They are, again, another monster that needs to be dealt with. Don't get me wrong. Yes, there is a God. However, no, he does not need money. Before you give money to a church organization, ask where each dollar is going in your community. This has to be answered in this country, and it is your right to know.

Remember, when giving charitable donations, take a long look at where the money or goods go. Please don't fall for the slick campaigns, house lotteries, car draws, or any other gimmick they use. You, as a donor, have to make them accountable for the money you give.

When donating, I clearly specify the purpose of my donation. For example, if writing a check to the Red Cross, I indicate in the comments whether it is for tsunami relief or another specific cause, ensuring that 100 percent of the donation goes to that targeted area. Also, I'd like to address particular needs within my local community to help resolve immediate issues. This practice reflects the foundational principle of communities.

While I do not discourage donations, evaluating the organization behind the charity is essential. Please ensure that your contributions are utilized effectively and prevent the misuse of your funds for personal gain.

#charity #benevolence #poverty #povertyawareness #povertyalleviation #PovertyChallenge #povertyreduction #PovertySolutions #community #communitysupport #communitymatters #communityfirst#communitystrong #churchesofinstagram #churches #churchfamily #churchonline #ngo #canada #canadalife #canadalifestyle #canadian #canadiancharity #salvationarmy #goodmorning #goodwill#toronto #torontolife #alberta #albertacanada