Do you ever get these calls?‏ (Tulsa, Yale: tax return, store, suite)

[Jdilladoesitbetter]

I got one of these calls the other day and since this thread was fresh in my mind, I asked them if they were just middlemen. All I got as a response was a "click".

[justusjnd]

I managed a Thrift store here in Tulsa back in the 90's to find to suprise how much actual each of the sales goes to the non-profit organization,, it was a penny to the dollar. So next time you want to donate your clothing to a thrift store,, think again,, its usual going to the owners of the business. and for your info,, the ones on Admiral use to be owned by 2 brothers that were banking off your clothing, so think again.. If you want somewhere to donate ur used items think of domestic shelters, or churches that hand out clothing to the needy. Why give to someone who can make a dollar off your clothing that you paid for and you arent receiving any cash for them? Think again..
Also, John 3:16 downtown does give their men clothes to the shelter of those men that are trying to rebuild themselves, also Steve W. director of John 3:16 is a honest man of his word and helps ppl in the need. They also help families of homeless, so please dont worry bout donating to save on ur taxes, give to those that are in need. Just my opinion from my experience.

[Matoaka]

If you donate to any non-profit outfit, you should get a tax receipt. Otherwise, they are not really non-profit. And many so-called "thrift" stores are regular, for-profit stores. They don't hire the disabled or provide any services to the needy, they don't collect donations (although there may be a non-profit drop box at their door), and they don't claim non-profit status. They buy in bulk from several small non-profit organizations who do the collecting but don't want the hassle of running a retail business, dress the place up to look like Goodwill, and sell good, pre-owned clothes to customers who like the bargain prices. It's a win-win-win arrangement.

[karibear]

Giving to charities can be dicey, no doubt about it. I have both a cell and a land line and both are on the national do not call registry. I got a call once from a telemarketer and when I complained, the person on the other end said their company had moved to Canada, so the do not call didn't apply to them. I never answer my land line, in fact, no one even has the number - I just use it to make occasional calls out. If I get a call on my cell from either an 800 number or a caller ID blocked, I don't answer.

Having said that, I have worked as a volunteer for various non-profits. One was a thrift shop run by a church - the manager got free tuition for one child to attend the church school, the rest of us got to choose ONE item every time we came in to work - otherwise, we paid the same as anyone else, and nothing was expensive (a working TV was 5.00, for instance). Other than that, I've donated supplies to pet rescues and assisted in creating a couple of non profits. Some of the most difficult to deal with were the sheltered work shops, those operated mostly on grant funds, and the grant restrictions and requirements were a real bugger. It's infinitely easier to talk a potential employer into giving a single individual a chance at a job than it is to do the required paperwork.

[OneDayAttaTime]

//www.city-data.com/forum/deals...marketers.html

[livingintulsa]

I agree with the earlier posts, we feel the need to be charitable, & in our own minds we are thinking that we are doing a good deed by giving to those in need, without a second thought of these charities being " the greedy." I personally, give & do for John 3:16, Catholic Charities, and the Veterans. I know first hand, that they " DO " a service, and are not in it for the almighty dollar.

[OneDayAttaTime]

Now they are sending out cards:
//www.city-data.com/forum/tulsa...card-mail.html




I agree with giving to help Veterans and many others but please be very careful. There are numerous groups posing as Veterans groups (calling you on the phone) that take up to 80% for their fundraising efforts before they give what is left to Veterans.

[OneDayAttaTime]

Use caution when donating to charity | Tulsa World

[angie m]

Here it is 2011 and these posts are just as relevant; I just got a call from this "sherriff's office" requesting donations, (405) 340-2988 in Edmond, Oklahoma; it seems they are still doing business as usual.

These posts educated me. I had no idea. Especially about the shoe collections, etc.

[Bill236c]

On the subject of solicitation by police-related organizations, you can call Oklahoma FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) - which has been calling me a lot lately - to request that your number be placed on their no-call list. I just called their number on my caller ID and did that.