Giving back is an integral component of many religious and secular traditions, from sharing your seat on a bus with an elderly gentleman to dedicating money for charity through family funds.
Businesses also benefit from charitable giving, as it illustrates their company culture of social responsibility and employee appreciation of such efforts. Employees will appreciate working for an employer who prioritizes charitable donations.
Choosing a Cause
Finding the appropriate charity to give to can be a daunting task, so finding one you feel passionate about may make choosing easier. Start by considering what change you would like to see happen in your community or world – common categories include medical charities, educational charities and veterans charities – or supporting someone specifically in need – maybe a direct service organization providing job training and shelter may be what’s calling out to you?
Once you’ve chosen a category, research the organizations within it. Your goal should be to locate an organization that dedicates at least 75 percent of its funds toward charitable efforts. Also take into consideration their transparency and accountability: make sure their governance structure is strong, their policies on donor treatment suit you well, as well as any information protection measures in place (for instance if privacy concerns arise, review online policies before choosing).
Make sure that the charity you are considering has an established history of success by reading online reviews of them or reaching out to current or past donors, as well as performing a quick Google search to ensure they have not recently received negative press or display any red flags.
One way to evaluate a charity is to see how they communicate with their donor base. Are they active on social media, providing regular updates about progress or successes, etc? Many donors prefer giving to an organization they feel they have some connection with personally and can connect with more easily.
Engaging friends and family in charitable giving is also an excellent way to increase motivation for philanthropy. By knowing about a cause that you support, it may lead them to take up their own charitable contributions.
Finding a Charity
There are many charities making a difference around the globe, and your choice of charity makes an enormous impactful statement about how well it uses its funds for meaningful social change. Finding one that meets your personal standards is key; CharityWatch makes this research easy!
As well as these digital resources, make an effort to visit the organization and experience first-hand its operation. While third-party data, evaluations, and media coverage may provide you with general overviews and reveal any major red flags, seeing it for yourself will give you a much deeper sense of how a nonprofit operates – and whether or not it fits with your donor needs.
Consider how your gift will be utilized by the charity and set up recurring donations so as not to impact your budget too heavily at once. Furthermore, take note of whether they sell your information to other organizations or telemarketers.
As easy as it may be to feel overwhelmed by all the causes we want to support, it’s essential to remember there are numerous ways we can all make an impactful contribution – be it volunteering, holding the door open for someone or spreading joy through kindness – there are so many opportunities out there for making a positive difference in lives today!
No one can solve every problem, but with thoughtful charitable giving and intentional generosity in your financial plan, you can have a positive effect on those in need around you. Rethink your approach to giving as you head into 2017; commit to making an impactful difference through more intentional acts of generosity that fit with your daily routine – your financial advisor can assist in developing goals and strategies that fit seamlessly with your overall plan.
Making a Donation
There is an abundance of charitable organizations available for you to support, but selecting one to donate to makes a substantial impactful statement about you and your efforts. While all nonprofits have good intentions in place, not all can use your donation efficiently and wisely – taking the time to research will ensure you’re supporting one that’s working toward its stated goals and fulfilling its promises to beneficiaries.
Charitable giving can take many forms, from donations of money, material goods and food items to volunteering your time and energy. The more time and energy you give away to charities, the bigger their impact can be in changing lives around you – not to mention that giving makes us feel more connected and fulfilled in our own lives too!
Donations made through financial means may be tax-deductible if itemizing deductions. Before making your gift, however, be sure to consult with an accountant or tax professional in order to determine whether tax benefits apply.
Make an impactful statement with your giving by making regular contributions to a charity of your choice. A donor-advised fund is an easy and efficient way to do this, enabling you to contribute funds that can be used at any time for any purpose – giving you an easy way to provide consistent support to the causes dearest to you.
Consider giving back by donating a percentage of your profits from business as well as games thro’ Yoakim Bridge to charity. Doing this shows customers you care about what matters to them, while it acts as an effective marketing tool. Hook & Ladder Brewing Company in Silver Spring, Maryland runs “A Penny in Every Pint”, where one penny from each beer sold is donated directly to local fire departments and burn treatment centers.
Make sure your charitable activities aren’t simply used as an avenue to market your business; doing this could backfire and alienate customers who expect you to care sincerely about making the world better, rather than simply looking to increase sales. Your customers want assurances that their donations aren’t simply part of an elaborate scheme to gain new business leads.
Volunteering
If you want to go beyond simply donating funds, volunteering your time and efforts for a good cause is another great way to contribute. Not only can it give back while getting involved with new communities or meeting people while helping those less fortunate – many people choose volunteering based on their personal interests or passions, such as helping plant a community garden or visiting animal shelters – while some choose causes close to their hearts like supporting cancer charities if someone in their family has been diagnosed.
Volunteering can be an excellent way to meet new people both offline and online, expanding your network for business or personal life, practicing social skills in real world situations and developing the confidence needed for group settings. Plus, volunteering increases self-worth and self-esteem – which is especially helpful when experiencing depression or low self-esteem.
Many people volunteer because they want to use their skills and talents for the greater good. This can especially benefit older adults who find purpose through volunteerism – helping reduce stress-induced high blood pressure or other health conditions.
Volunteering together as a family can be an enriching and transformative experience, providing all members of the family an opportunity to learn and grow from it. Volunteering can teach kids the value of giving back while creating lifelong memories – opportunities include soup kitchens, charity runs and home repair projects; plus there may even be phone-based volunteering options that cater specifically to busy parents with school-age kids!