My Process for Finding a Charity to Donate To

http://dawnrising.org/

November's Cabaret of Evil will go to benefit Dawn Rising, a local non-profit that works to combat Domestic Violence. At the last show, a performer approached me to talk about how two of her close friends had recently been in situations with DV and it was reminding her not only of her own struggles but how the system (and society) is so stacked against the victim in these cases. Today, her and I sat down to go through my process for finding a charity to donate to. The first step is surprisingly simple - Google it. I searched "Domestic Violence Seattle" and followed the trail from there. The official local government has a very small list of resources that are mostly focused on the legal aspect - filing a restraining order, mainly. That's great, but I was on the hunt for someplace that was more actively helping people get out of those situations and/or helping build a social structure to combat our awful mentalities that help keep people in those situations (The bystander effect, that shitty thing people say of "Well if you knew he would hit you why did you stay", and other bullshit). 

Link followed link, through the YWCA to RAINN to local shelters such as Mary's Place, and then finally after digging through the "resources" links on each site, I stumbled upon DAWN. They hit all the right spots - Community Outreach (Bystander training through Green Dot Project!), support for women trying to escape ("Is it Abuse?" Questionnaire, assistance in finding housing), this place had everything I could hope for. Which brings me to the place I'm at now. The 24 hour hold where I don't officially announce the charity on the off chance that it's too good to be true. This is the time I will spend researching their work and seeing if there are any issues or controversies that might make me hesitant to give them my money. There are an unfortunate number of 5013(c)s that take too much off the top or may be providing information to vulnerable people that is dangerous. I want to help as much as I can, and I don't have a lot so my two cents need to be spent wisely. 

Let the research begin!