I'm a Protestant, but my late wife a Catholic. After countless St Vincent de Paul hours and perhaps 20k of donations (once she and her parents were gone), not even so much as a thank you. Now my fiance an Armenian, and I've watched her church coffers ravaged by the Catholic disease (poorly managed committees, wayward priests and embezzlers). This after we raise $$$ that could be spent directly funding Armenian orphans and historic restorations. I've become very cynical about charity in my old age, I manage all the dollars and they go directly my own causes (usually scholarships, education and sports). No middle people! Trust only yourself!