Do you think you donate more or less than most of your friends and family?
It isn’t something I talk about with other people so I don’t know. I give as much as I am comfortable with. As a couple, we tend to increase what we give as our income increases. I just see it as giving back.
How do you decide what charities to give to, and how much?
I have certain charities I feel very strongly about including World Vision, the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Fistula Foundation and others. I may give a one-off payment or regular monthly donations. I also give in other ways though. For instance here you can donate things like old cars to charities so they get the money from the scrap metal. Or I donate goods that are in good condition and can be used again. I buy gifts for children at christmas to be donated by certain charities.
I would like to give more and certainly more of my time and it is on my list of things to make sure I do this year.
What percentage of the money you give goes to your church?
I don’t belong to a church.
Do you give money when solicited over the phone?
No. It actually irritates the hell out of me when a charity I have made a donation to then harasses me for more. I give when I can give and as much as I can afford. I don’t want to be phoned every five minutes for more and I will first ask them not to call me and if they persist, I cross them off my list. It just really gets up my nose.
Does a tax break influence if you give and how much you give?
No. Unless it is a regular payment, I often forget to include it in my tax return. Oh well.