|
|
|
If you make an unrestricted donation to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) or the United Way, you might be inadvertently donating to groups that oppose the use of animals in research. The CFC and United Way are umbrella organizations that funnel charitable contributions to philanthropic causes. The CFC is for federal employees, while the United Way is a federation of some 1,400 independent, separately incorporated local agencies that work with employers to facilitate charitable giving through payroll deductions. Each United Way determines what kinds of programs it will fund, but the CFC is required to accept any nonprofit charitable organization that meets its enrollment criteria. Consequently, the CFC channels funds to a wide range of causes, some of which represent diametrically opposing views on issues. That is why the CFC recipient list includes both charities that raise funds to find cures for various diseases, and groups that oppose the use of animals in researchWhen you give to the CFC or United Way, you have the option to designate specific charities to receive your donations. If you do not designate recipients, your donation will be divided among participating organizations. The CFC allocates the funds according to the proportion of designated funds groups receive from other givers (CFC), but local United Way agencies may have other policies. This means that you have no control over where your money goes. The obvious solution is to designate
the charities of your
choice when you give! Know Where Your Money Goes It can be difficult to draw the line between organizations that promote legitimate concern for animal welfare and groups that strive to undermine research and other endeavors involving animals. It is always good to know something about a charity before giving to it, especially since many charities have similar sounding names. Websites are a convenient way to get such information. The Combined Federal Fund provides a list with links to participating charities at http://www.opm.gov/cfc/. If your employer participates in the United Way, you will have to determine whether it supports any objectionable groups. Information about local United Way organizations may be obtained through the national United Way web site at http://www.unitedway.org by clicking on the button at the top labeled “Find My United Way.” The names and websites of several animal-related charities of possible concern that are receiving funds as part of the 2002 CFC are provided below, and some of them may also be part of local United Way lists. The best way to determine whether you would want your money to go to these groups is to visit their web sites and review their mission statements, newsletters, action alerts, and issue briefs. Animal Legal Defense Fund (www.ALDF.org) Charities Targeting Other Charities Two
organizations that have given many researchers cause for particular concern are
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). PCRM states on its website that it
“advocates alternatives to harming animals for educational or research
purposes” on the grounds that “alternatives to animal research can provide
more precise, cost-effective, and humane answers to human health questions and
educational needs.” PETA states on its
website that it “operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours
to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.” PCRM and PETA are currently cooperating on an effort to create a public boycott of charities that support animal research. PCRM has established an organization called the Council on Humane Giving, which offers the “Humane Seal of Approval” to charities that agree not to fund animal research. The concept originated with PETA’s long-standing effort to vilify the March of Dimes for the research it supports in search of cures for birth defects. The Council on Humane Giving’s website provides a list of “approved charities” as well as a list of organizations that the public is asked to shun, including the March of Dimes, Red Cross, American Cancer Society, and American Heart Association. For more information about this anti-research campaign, click here http://www.the-aps.org/pa/action/charity/charities.htm.) Back to Legislative Action Center 11/7/02 |