Momnosleep makes a great suggestion:

>I understand being burned a few times would make anyone wary. And
>indeed, you would certainly want to know the shelter actually gets their
>donations. May I offer a possible solution? When you find a merchant who
>offers an item of interest, and says a portion of proceeds will be donated
> - check with the shelter. An email asking if they are aware of the
>merchants claims, what their experience with them has been, and if they


Having run into merchants who did NOT pass along money to shelters that
is wonderful solution.

For raffles there is another option, too: the money and drawing could
be handled by an established and tax deductible charity like the SOS if
they are able to do so, but the person who is offering the prize could
provide the promotion work, too, on a volunteer basis. That way no one
has to worry, the tax deductible aspect will attract people, and
bridges are built. (Not my idea, and it is a GREAT one which adds to my
admiration of the originators.) The only consideration would be if
there winds up being any problem with prize delivery, but as long as
everyone knew beforehand that the charities involved were not in charge
of that aspect all should be fine.

Best of all, of course, are the ones we find receiving thanks from the
shelters helped after the money has arrived. Such letters say great
things about the people on both sides of the equation.

-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my
private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love
them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org

[Posted in FML 5404]