Holiday fun and togetherness can be even more joyful and satisfying if you incorporate charitable giving into some of the traditions you typically celebrate. Here are a few fun tips, and a few warnings, about charitable giving that might help your philanthropic dollars do the most good in 2008.
Holiday fun and togetherness can be even more joyful and satisfying if you incorporate charitable giving into some of the traditions you typically celebrate. Here are a few fun tips, and a few warnings, about charitable giving that might help your philanthropic dollars do the most good in 2008.
1. Make giving fun and easy. Instead of bringing wine or a small gift to your holiday party hostess, donate to her favorite charity. The charity will send her a thank you card, and the amount you give can be any you choose, $5, $10, $20 or more. If you’re not sure which charity your hostess values, go to CharityNavigator.org, and search for a charity located in her town, or working in a field that interests her. This might even introduce her to a new charity she can engage with.
2. A great way to bring holiday cheer to Christmas morning is to spend those magical hours writing your charity checks. Many people rush to get their charitable giving mailed before the end of the year – why not write your checks, and mail them, on December 25th, and start a new family Christmas tradition.
3. Pool your extended family’s charity budget and donate to a charity. This is an idea that I got from an audience member at a recent workshop. She has a very large family, and everyone was overwhelmed every year by the quest for holiday presents. Now, they pool their collective holiday gift budgets into one account, and then they donate the pooled money to a local homeless shelter. Spend some time with your family selecting a charity each year, then enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your family is making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
4. Come to the aid of people hurt by the lending crisis. The subprime lending mess has hurt a lot of people who depend on some of the more historically underfunded charities. Food banks, utility assistance programs and other community organizations all desperately need your help this year.
5. Besides CharityNavigator.org, another good charity information source, and a great place to explore for the names of charities you haven’t yet heard of, is NetworkForGood.org. Both sites contain information about nonprofit organizations, and NetworkForGood offers tools that enable you to donate directly through its Web site, for a small fee.
6. As you research charities, lean toward those in which at least 75 percent of the total budgets pay for programs to be sure your donation has maximum impact. Small or new charities might not be able to quite achieve the 75 percent mark because of the large proportional allocation to director salary, but might still deserve your consideration.
7. Avoid telemarketers. Some charities hire professional telemarketers to do their fundraising, and the telemarketers charge a hefty fee. If you get a call on behalf of a charity that you think might be interesting, research their Web site and their entry at CharityNavigator.org, but don’t give by phone.
8. Ask your company about matching gifts. This is a great way to double your gift, and many companies are happy to help you support meaningful causes.
Comments