Russian Ministries - how do you check out a charity?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi,

A few of us have mentioned wanting to donate to the victims of the Russian school hostage situation. I found a relief fund set up through Russian Ministries - but I don't know anything about how to check out a charity. I've never heard of this one before - any suggestions? Anyone know about Russian Ministries? Just want to make sure everything is legitimate and money would go where we want it to. I'm going to email them with some questions but just looking for input on this.

http://www.russian-ministries.org/fs_start.htm

Thanks.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

This is my own personal opinion -- but I would rather give through an agency such as the Red Cross (a proven track record at helping those in need) before I would give to a para-church operating in Russia. Many of these para-church groups raise great sums of money by suggesting that Christianity died in the Soviet Union -- meanwhile the
Russian Orthodox church and the Lutheran church (to name but two mainline church groups) kept operating at some level.

Perhaps if you were to contact the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C., or one of the consulates that I presume are located around the USA -- they might be able to suggest directions for your worthy donation.
Russian Consulate in New York
Russian Consulate in San Francisco
Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Permanent Mission to the United Nations

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks, I'll check that out. I appreciate the links.