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Investing
in Doing Good
When you sign your name to a pledge card,
write out a check to a charity or fold a bill and put it
in the Salvation Army kettle as the bell ringer smiles and
waves, you are making an investment. It's an investment
in the organizations and people who are working tirelessly
to make the world a better place for everyone. Thinking
of a charitable donation as an investment helps put it into
perspective and get your mind working on how to give wisely.
Do your
homework.
For some reason, we are shy about asking
for details from charities, as though to do so is bad manners.
After all, they're out there sweating on the front lines
and we're just giving a bit of cash, right? Wrong! Legitimate
charities welcome scrutiny, and are eager to share what
is happening with their donors and potential donors.
Never be afraid to ask specific questions... and if you
don't get the right answers, move on.
- Request
written information from the charity about its financial
picture, needs and work. Reputable
charities have this material in abundance and are thrilled
to give it to you, knowing it will make
you a more committed supporter.
- Be cautious
with door-to-door and telephone solicitations that you
did not initiate. Scam artists love to
bilk well-meaning people out of their charity contributions.
For some excellent tips to
keep in mind in this regard, visit the
Federal
Trade Commission's seasonal
donation tip sheet. There are also links
to other excellent resources on the site.
- Just say
NO to high pressure tactics. Again, reputable
charities do not have to resort to this kind of thing.
Practice saying, "No, thank you, I have already given
my charitable contributions for this year," or something
similar until you are comfortable delivering it when pressured.
Tactics like these should
alert your scam antennae.
How to select a charity
to support.
It sounds odd, but some people
want to give... they just don't know who to give TO. If
you find yourself in that position (or if you want to give
to a charity in the name of someone else, and want to give
appropriately) keep these tips in mind.
- Follow
your passion. Why would you want to give
to something you feel luke warm about? There
are thousands of charities, and bound to be one that fits
your passions and interests. Seek until you find it.
The internet is a great place to start -- but review the
cautions above, as well. Just because someone has a razzle-dazzle
website does not make them legitimate or fiscally responsible.
Think about what you're interested in -- helping the less
fortunate, animal causes, environmental groups, your alma
mater, medical research, cultural organizations, zoos,
religious organizations... the possibilities are endless.
- Utilize
the resources at your fingertips to check out charities.
An excellent site is
Charity
Navigator (subtitled, "Your guide to intelligent
giving.") This site has a
searchable database of over 3,400 charities and gives
information about the mission and financial condition
of each charity. It also hasHighest andLowest
rankings for myriad categories of charities (such as "Animal
Rights, Welfare and Services", "Diseases, Disorders and
Disciplines", and "Performing Arts".) There are also other
excellent tips about choosing a charity you love to support.
- Customize
your workplace giving. Americans
give about $4.8 billion to charities through workplace
fundraising campaigns each year. Often
you are given the opportunity to give from your paycheck
throughout the year, which considerably minimizes the
pinch and allows you to budget your giving easily. You
can usually either give to a fundraising organization
(like United Way) or select from among the many organizations
the umbrella fundraiser represents. To
get the most out of your donation, really evaluate those
many choices and select those that you feel most committed
to. Many employers have donation-matching
programs that stretch your contribution even further.
- Give a
REAL gift -- instead of just money, target your money
to something specific. For example,
$10 pays for a floor joist in a Habitat for Humanity home,
$40 pays for 5 gallons of paint; a lifetime of clean water
for one person in Burundi costs $38. These are great
gifts to give in the name of someone on your list, too.
To read more about this kind
of giving, check out GiveSpot,
which has links to many other
charitable sites along these lines.
- Follow
up before next year. Don't just blindly
give each year to the same organizations. Check their
websites and literature to see how they are doing and
what effect your donations are making in the community
at large. If the organization
changes mission or direction, you may want to channel
your funds in a different direction. You'd
never know, though, if you don't keep up.
It's nice to take a tax deduction each year for your charitable
contributions -- but most people don't do it for that
reason. If you let your heart
get you started, then use your head to do a little research
before giving, you'll be happy with what you can accomplish.
One last
tip: Consider
giving of your time, as well! If you truly
believe in a cause, don't limit your donation to money.
Spend time at the pet shelter; go help paint backdrops for
the local theatre; join a walk-a-thon; plant a tree; get
involved in the community activities at your church, synagogue,
mosque or other religious organization. You'll
be amazed at the way that you'll get back much more than
you give, no matter how hard you try to do the reverse! |
