Donate Someone Else’s Money (Mine!)

Want to donate to charity, but you’re broke? Give away my money instead!

For every new Email subscriber to Afford Anything who signs up before Friday at 4 pm EST, I will donate $1 to Food for the Poor, a Christian charity that feeds 2 million impoverished children in 17 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. (**UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. We raised $23.50 for Food for the Poor!**)

As a bonus, for every new Facebook “Like” that Afford Anything receives this week, I will donate an additional 50 cents to Food for the Poor.

Why am I doing this?

• I just returned from 10 days in the Caribbean, and believe me, it’s not all beaches and bikinis. Basic food, water, health, education, sanitation and jobs are badly needed.
• I manage my money carefully. I am ONLY willing to give to a charity that does the same. Many reputable sources, like Forbes Magazine and the Better Business Bureau, have awarded Food for the Poor with high fiscal efficiency ratings. (Read more about that below).

How to Participate:

Enter your email address below. IMPORTANT: You must “confirm” the subscription though your email. Only “confirmed” subscriptions will be counted.

Deadline:

This donation giveaway runs from now until Friday, July 8, at 4 pm EST.

Update: The results are in! I got 21 new subscribers and 5 “likes,” resulting in a $23.50 donation to Food for the Poor! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Why Food for the Poor?

I chose this charity because of its fiscal responsibility:

• Food for the Poor meets the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance standards.
• It won 10 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.
• Forbes Magazine ranked it with a 97 percent “charitable commitment ratio,” a measure of how much each dollar goes directly to fulfilling charitable needs, rather than administration, overhead or fundraising.
• Ministry Watch awarded it a 5-Star Financial Efficiency Rating, the highest possible rating.
• Charity Navigator says: “Less than 1% of the charities we rate have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Food For The Poor consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way.“

How will I evaluate the number of subscribers?

As of Monday, June 4, 2011, I have 43 email subscribers, according to Feedburner, and 19 “likes” on Facebook. I will report the final numbers on Friday after this donation giveaway ends.

Is this a Christian charity?

Yes. However, I chose the charity because of its financial efficiency. I invite people from all religious backgrounds to join in helping this cause.

Is there a maximum you’ll donate?

$500 is the highest I can give at this time. Think I can hit that goal? That’s up to you!

I already subscribe. What can I do?

Tell your family and friends about it!