Do you believe that giving to a charity is always a good thing?

Before you think this to be cold or heartless or greedy or anything like that, allow me to elaborate. Today I heard this news story about these Girl Scouts whose cookie money was stolen from them. I may have some numbers wrong (It’s not that important to the story) but it was like $400.00. When the community got wind, many decided to donate back to them totaling about $2,000. The girls, age I don’t know, decided to keep the amount stolen and “donate the rest.” I do find this odd, as The Girl Scouts are a charity themselves.

Anyway, we hear this all the time, somebody “giving to charity,” when a same or similar thing like this happens, but not specifying which. Now, are we all supposed to admire the charitable nature of the givers? Probably. That is a good thing, no doubt. But what if, in a situation like this, the girls end up giving to a charity that is either controversial and you disagree with or one you personally don’t support? If you’re pro-life, you probably wouldn’t celebrate them giving to Planned Parenthood. If you are an Obama supporter, them giving to The Tea Party may make you cringe a touch. Point is, you may at first support them in “giving to charity,” but does the celebration of charity continue if it is a charity that you not only don’t support, but even object to their very existence.

In this case, I see nothing wrong with the girls keeping the money for their Troop. In the case of a Lottery winner, if he decides to keep all the 50 million himself, I personally have no problem with that. I also wouldn’t object him giving to a charity I don’t support, like PETA (I think the treatment of animals should be ethical, yes, but not in the ways they promote) as it is his money to do with what he desires. If he gives to a charity whose main objective is to teach Creationism in public schools, that may spark some further protests by some who already disagree with their mission (And that’s not to spark a debate on that topic). Point I’m trying to make: Do you believe that giving to a charity is always a good thing?

I’ll be happy to address a few things right now.

1) Yes, I do give to charities.
2) No, I will not say to which or how much.
3) ABSOLUTELY NOT, I do not give just for a Tax Deduction. I don’t report charitable donations on my returns because it really isn’t Uncle Sam’s business what I do with my money.

And while I have no idea, I’d bet dollars to donuts that the Girl Scout money went to breast cancer research.