<p>Class of 2015 daughter started a service that raised about $4,000 last year. She had planned to donate it all to a cause with close ties to our community. Now that group has gone out of business (long story). She did the service on her own for her own personal reasons, but of course was planning to include it on her applications. Do you think it matters if she selects another organization close to home, one that has a personal connection but is out of the country, or one that is unconnected but very interesting and inspiring in their mission? All three involve support of underserviced children's education. Personally, I always felt this was a much more meaningful service project than parents paying to send their child to paint a house in Costa Rica - but that is just me. Thoughtful and considerate comments / thoughts are appreciated.</p>
<p>Just my two cents: Rather than send the money out of the country, there are many needy causes within the US, probably closer to your home, that might benefit from that donation. For example, buying books for teacher’s classrooms in an underserved elementary school in your area. And if the donation is made close to home, your daughter could witness the good will that money would do – that’s something she might not be able to do if the money goes out of the country. If’s she going to include this in her applications, IMHO, donating money to needy children in a far off country is the same as painting a house in Costa Rica. It’s has a lot of eye-roll potential.
<a href=“Elementary School Book Donation Program » PaperBackSwap.com”>Elementary School Book Donation Program » PaperBackSwap.com;
<a href=“http://www.booksforamerica.org/”>http://www.booksforamerica.org/</a>
<a href=“https://www.causes.com/actions/1753309-restock-tornado-ravaged-ok-elementary-school-libraries”>https://www.causes.com/actions/1753309-restock-tornado-ravaged-ok-elementary-school-libraries</a></p>
<p>Thank you for your thoughtful response. The only reason for the 2 out of the country organizations was that they have a very personal connection to my daughter. The first choice was the local children’s home where she has volunteered already. Trying to avoid all eye rolling after all of her hard work. I should have added that she started the small service business, continued it for 3 years and onto her 4th and has watched it grow. I hope this will show well to admissions rather than a one hour a week show up club. </p>
<p>If the original organization was a 501©(3) organization, then the final one should be too. How did the people pay their donations? If through checks, they’ll want to know that they can still deduct the donation. If it is all cash, I still think she should keep a record and give the money to a recognized organization.</p>
<p>If I had donated and found out your daughter had given the money to another organization, one perhaps with political issues or doing activities in countries with questionable practices, I would not be happy. I think she should play it safe.</p>
<p>I agree with Gibby. There are plenty of organizations in the US that could use some help; I’d choose one of them, unless your daughter was specifically raising money for an organization that helps people overseas. I think the aim of the original organization is important. If she raised the money with the intention of helping educate local school children, it would be nice if she found another group in your area to support that has similar goals. If people helped her with the understanding that she was raising money to assist “x,” they might not be too happy to learn the money went to assist “y.”</p>
<p>this sounds like an ad hoc charity fundraiser, not a formal 501c3 NFP org.</p>
<p>Yes, I think we are all set now and everyone knows that she is switched to a very similar group here locally. We do not live in the US so she is supporting a local children’s home in our community that is well known to all in the community. That was her first inclination but she also has ties to her birth country and the children’s home there, so she had them in her heart as well. She is sticking with the local home here and is delivering the funds / goods this week. Thanks for the thoughtful comments. </p>