Tiny Spark Guide to Good Giving

Series produced by Tiny Spark

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Tiny Spark’s Guide to Good Giving unpacks the many choices and dilemmas donors face during the holiday season. How do I know if a charity is effective? Should I give locally or globally? How much good can a $25 donation do? We tackle these questions and more in this three-part series.

Tiny Spark's Guide to Good Giving includes:

Episode One: The Neediest Cases Dilemma: Give Locally or Globally?
We explore effective altruism, which urges donors to stretch their charitable dollars as far as possible by giving to the world's extreme poor. But aren't families living in our local homeless shelters equally deserving? We dive into the local versus global debate with Charlie Bresler of the nonprofit The Life You Can Save, which guides donors on fighting extreme poverty.

December 1 (Giving Tuesday): Tools for Smart Giving
The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s editor Stacy Palmer suggests ways to vet solicitors who call our homes on behalf of big name charities. She also weighs in on the debate about whether it’s fair to rate charities based on their overhead costs, and she makes the case for modest, year-round giving instead of holiday-focused giving.

December 8: Is This Charity Any Good?
Columbia University professor Doug White says before giving to any charity, donors should ask key questions of certain people there. He also questions the growing pressure on nonprofits to prove their impact, as a results-driven agenda risks steering charities away from hard-to-serve populations. Also, how do you support groups that may not have the best results but are doing the toughest work?
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Tiny Spark's Guide to Good Giving includes: Episode One: The Neediest Cases Dilemma: Give Locally or Globally? We explore effective altruism, which urges donors to stretch their charitable dollars as far as possible by giving to the world's extreme poor. But aren't families living in our local homeless shelters equally deserving? We dive into the local versus global debate with Charlie Bresler of the nonprofit The Life You Can Save, which guides donors on fighting extreme poverty. December 1 (Giving Tuesday): Tools for Smart Giving The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s editor Stacy Palmer suggests ways to vet solicitors who call our homes on behalf of big name charities. She also weighs in on the debate about whether it’s fair to rate charities based on their overhead costs, and she... Show full description


3 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Doug White (Courtesy of White)
In the final segment of Tiny Spark's Guide to Good Giving, Columbia University professor Doug White says before giving to charity, donors should as...

  • Added: Dec 15, 2015
  • Length: 11:40
Caption: Chronicle of Philanthropy Editor, Stacy Palmer, Credit: Stacy Palmer
In part two of Tiny Spark's Guide to Good Giving, we speak with Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She offers advice on vetting...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KALW, and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Dec 01, 2015
  • Length: 14:17
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Charlie Bresler (Courtesy of Bresler)
In this first episode of Tiny Spark’s Guide to Good Giving, we explore effective altruism, which urges donors to stretch their charitable dollars a...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and PRX Remix


  • Added: Nov 24, 2015
  • Length: 13:17
  • Purchases: 2