How many organizations are there? We gave to two of them and now they’re coming out of the woodwork. I can’t keep track of who’s who so now none of them are getting anything. You try to help out…
There are a boatload that call our office. The Fraternal Order of Police are so damn annoying with their calls about donating that we’ve done the same as you and just completely stopped giving to any of them.
fuck that, just donate to the local fire departments when they stand outside on a intersection collecting from there boot.
Anyone calling for donations needs to be turned down.
Local police don’t call ;looking 4 money . Your local FD will usually send out a letter or knock on your door . The boot drives are usually for MD or something like that
F.O.P calls:stick:
When they told me they would send me a sticker to show my support, I should have blatantly said that I would donate if they could guarantee it would get me out of a speeding ticket for no more than 20 over the speed limit. 
as far as the police, i know the FOP does massive fund raising. but i’m not sure how much goes to police, or lobbying.
as far as fire depts. please support your local ones. there is no mistaken them. most do not do phone calls to raise funds.
many do boot drives, ticket sales, cash bashs, hoagie sales, bingos, etc.
besides grant money, and some small amount of municiple money, the rest of the funds come for members fund raising. all to provide volunteer fire protection.
this weekend alone, i had 3 hours tied up firday night getting things for hoagies ready. was at our club at 10til 6 yesterday morning making hoagies, was out selling them until 1pm. today i will be at bingo at 2pm.
this does not include any of the training classes i have this week, nor running calls.
while grant money is a big deal, it is almost an art on applying for it and actually recieving it.
the bread and butter come from fund raising.
while i could go on and on, the bottom line is support you local depts. most local police depts don’t do much fund drives. fire depts depend on them. kepp your money local.