Philanthropy 101

[peanut]

Okay, so I realize a lot of us don't have any extra cash to give to charities/causes, but seeing as this is the season of giving I thought this thread might be appropriate.

Philanthropy in my mind also involves giving of time and talent. I'm currently reading [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Giving-2-0-Transform-Your-World/dp/1118119401/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322867332&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World (9781118119402): Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fERKTERuL.@@AMEPARAM@@41fERKTERuL[/ame] by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen in which she discusses different types of philanthropy and different levels of philanthropy. Also how to go about giving.

I'm wondering...

~ What have your experiences with giving been like? Your volunteer experiences? Your money giving experiences? Both big and small?
~ Would you do it again? Or not? Why?
~ What have you learned from your experience? How would you change things next time?
~ Know any really good charities where you can see where your money is going for sure?
~ Or ones with less administrative costs proportionately to their givings?
~ Any good online links for assessing various charities?
~ Any general information on philanthropy you want to add to the discussion?

I'm trying to think of a game plan to focus my giving for the next while, rather than the helter-skelter approach that's been my life up till now.

In the past I've given a lot of my time and talent to groups. I've volunteered to teach kids stitching and rug hooking. I've given demonstrations. I volunteer at the local Fair. I volunteer at church. I've quilted for charity, knit for charity, and then sewn for the church this year. I'm starting to experience volunteer burnout.

Have you had this happen and how did you deal with it?

[moasmom]

I'm a big fan of giving time in lieu of money. Obviously both are important, but my budget is extremely tight. That is, I have more time than money these days.

I have, however, experienced volunteer burnout before, so I know what you mean. I voluteered at the county animal shelter 1 evening a week for 18 months. At the end of that, I just couldn't take it any more. So, I stopped for awhile and then found a different place to volunteer.

Currently, I donate blood (which requires only about an hour of my time every 8 weeks) regularly and my husband and I both volunteer at with our greyhound rescue group once or twice a month.

So, those 2 regular commitments get my conscience through until I can get back to also donating money to carefully chosen charities. I will continue to give blood every 8 weeks as long as I am healthy and I can't see us quitting greyhounds any time soon, either.

But I do think it's important to only pick volunteer commitments that I enjoy and am passionate about. No organization needs grumpy volunteers. The great thing is that there are literally endless volunteer opportunities for every interest and ability.

I do miss being able to give money to causes we feel are important, but, in the end, volunteering time feels more satisfying than writing a check anyway.

Good discussion topic, thanks.

Kara

[Momto5RN]

i try to pick things up year round on clearance that i can use to help others
whether its free after ECB or walgreens bucks toothpaste when my stock is full- or seeing a deep clearance on diapers and getting some for the church pantry or local pro- life/ support for woman who are pregnant and need help center ( also will do deep clearance baby blankets clothes for here also ) alot of times its really 0 or under 10 out of pocket for me that will do alot for others ,

and when you can help others in some way whether by volunteering or donating you are empowered by what you can do even when your own $ is tight . makes you feel less like money controls you .

our kids do alot thru the school ( we are currently getting together items for the family from camden NJ area that ds's class has adopted - ) and i am helping a cousin with a family she knows that needs help ( trying to get something for each of the children and the parents and adding in a shell 10 gas card i got from CVS deal over the summer )

most of it i am able to get from stock of gifts i pick up year round or for under 5$ a person for something worth over 20$ by using sales - store coupons - GC i earned or deals i see etc

our 17 yo is in the church youth group they had a "senior" prom for local seniors in september - the just 2 weeks ago had a rake and run where they spent a day as a large group raking and running to next house - they raked leaves for people unable to do them and unable to afford to pay for help .

for thanksgiving they baked banana bread to add to the thanksgiving baskets .

last meeting they made gifts they will take to a nursing home when they go caroling there .

and the best part is these youth group kids just take it in stride- no look what i did -its just doing it because they enjoy helping others !

[Momto5RN]

i should add i prefer to give to local actual people than to a group sometimes families cannot afford extras because of financial committments or bills that are not taken into acct when the organizations that help let you apply and they may make just 10$ too much but that 10$ isnt enough to do what they need or they dont want to ask for help - too proud etc . when i give $ to a big company even a non profit part of that $ is funding other things and although many may do it fairly and well many have CEOs making 6-7 digit salaries running said non profit . if i cannot be sure how much actually goes to the charity - i find a better way to donate that $ to that charity in a more local direct way

[shoiji]

Have volunteered at a food pantry and museum. Also knit scarves to donate to the food pantry. When I match coupons with sale items and can get an item for free I do so. These items are then given to someone who can use them.

I live on a very limited income but am always aware that my circumstances could be different.

[oheoh's momma]

I help out at the church ( its Catholic and I am not) but I help clean the kitchen, and volunteer in the resale shop. should do more.

[monkeywrangler71]

~ Know any really good charities where you can see where your money is going for sure?
~ Or ones with less administrative costs proportionately to their givings?
~ Any good online links for assessing various charities?

All registered charities in Canada have to submit financial information to CRA, which is then posted on their website. You can check on any that interest you to see how much is actually spent on projects and how much is spent on overhead.

Check them here: CRA - Charities Listings , click on advanced search if you want to find by type/location/etc.

[FrabjousDay]

Victim's advocate with an emergency women's shelter, mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, board and committee work over the years for a variety of non-profit agencies, staffing fundraising events, etc. Several times a year our family participates in events such as winter clothing drives, food donation and materials for literacy. Part of my paycheck is allocated for donation to several local groups. We also give directly if we are aware of a family in need. Giving time and money to others is something we value as a family, and my experiences have been very positive.


I'm starting to experience volunteer burnout.

Have you had this happen and how did you deal with it?

Yes, when I get that feeling I know it's time to change focus and try something new.

[peanut]

Thanks for the link MonkeyWrangler. I've been checking it out. Great stuff! It will help a lot!

[erinalexmom]

I also like momto5 use couponing to help others. For example:right now my church is collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste because a mission team is going overseas in Jan. and they want to pass those out to the people there. So I am getting all I can for free with coupons and Walgreens and CVS.
Now for my Christmas giving this year:there is a little boy in my son's preschool he is 5 yrs old. He has an innoperable brain tumor. That he has lived as long as he has is a miracle. He is still feeling good and going to school and living a "normal" life as much as possible. His parents want to take him to Disneyworld while he is still able. We dont have much money at all this year but I gave $20 to the teacher and she is giving it directly to the parents. I know its not a big difference but I am praying the Lord makes my $ tenfold and some other peoples $ tenfold and that little boy gets to Disney!

[erinalexmom]

By the way, I always let people know that if they are crafters they should check out project linus. They make blankets for sick kids or kids in a scarey situation. Its a wonderful organization and you can donate blankets in your area. I just know about them because I volunteered in a shelter once during a flood and they brought blankets to all the kids it was really great

[bookwormpeg]

I believe in giving till it hurts...we don't have much money and even less now that I retired and am paying for my health insurance but my greatest blessing is The Box Project. Thru this organization I was matched with an Native American family on the reservation in SD. My obligation is to send this family a box once a month. It is a shame the way they live there...shacks..no indoor plumbing, no running water, they heat with wood...very sad... my family is an older man & women and their 38 yr old mentally challenged son. Sometimes they have their grandchildren live with them....sometimes 8 sometimes 2 or 3...there are no jobs and alcohoism & drug adiction is very high there...nothing to do...no library, no movies, no stores, no beauty shops, no Wags & CVS (!) Yikes......right now they are homeless and live in a motel...I have been matched with this family for about 4 years....I had another family for two years and it was single mom with 4 boys....that ended on a sour note for me so asked for another family.....boxes go directly to family. You are able to build a relationship with the family. We talk once a week now....they are not allowed to ask for big ticket items or for money. I never send money....I buy things on sale....The postage can kill you tho...when I was working, I was sending three and four boxes a month...now I am down to one box...usually one price $14.95...I mostly send food now since they use a large portion of their money for the room..they do get food stamps but not much..in the four years I have had this family I have sent just about everything you can think of. They are warm and have running water...winters can be brutal there..it's extremely hard to heat with wood.....no insulation...etc.
I have actually traveled to SD twice and my SUV was packed with supplies....the kids were there both times and u should have seen their faces....priceless......
I use to give to the food bank at the church I worked for but I stopped doing that....I sometimes give to the Red Barrel at the grocery stores.

One Sunday I prayed that I be a blessing to someone before going to church and that is the Sunday they announced they needed HBA for a mission trip...I went to my stockpile and was able to give lots..what a blessing!

We tithe to two churches...this is a personal choice.

I buy lots of food, HBA, & paper supplies with coupons and when I find someone who can use a helping hand, I fill a box.

I think if we all do a little to help others the world would be a better place.....

[Sophiasmama]

Giving is very important to our family...we do it with money, until Sophie is in school FT then I will be helping out feeding times at Long Term care here in the hospital and reading to those with poor sight. For December we do our biggest money donations...$400 to Santa's Elves(gifts for those who can't pay for them),$500 to a Domestic abuse shelter, $50 to Covent house for troubled teens, and $50 to the FB...once my inheritence come in, hoping to donation $2000 more to local charities. I give because you never know, one day it could be you in need of those services.

[RaineyDaye]

There is a charity here for foster children that I like to support. When my daughters were in their early teens, we would get the wish lists of a child, buy the gifts, wrap them and deliver them to the charity. It made a big impression on my girls. This year my grand kids and I did this for several children. It wasn't as meaningful an experience for the grand kids this year because I ordered the gifts online rather than shopping at the stores, but at least they got to wrap them.
What I'd like to do is sponsor two children in the names of my grandchildren at Save the Children or something similar. The grands could correspond with the sponsored child through out the year, and I think that would really be meaningful for them. I looked into it this year, but it is something I will have to budget for.

[peanut]

I started a Giving Journal to record all my giving. I am amazed at how much I've done this year. No wonder I feel burnt out. It's not been just Crafting for Missions. It's been my whole life this year! I definitely need to focus and channel this into something cohesive and meaningful to me.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I am fighting giving with DH. He doesn't like to give anything to anyone...period. I barely am able to squeeze a little out for offering for the church each week (he doesn't attend).

I think whatever monetary giving I do will have to come from my own money. My time giving will have to come after him and the house. He's happy to see my stuff leave the house, though he'd rather I sold it. Hmmm...

I just let people know I am a re-distributor of wealth. They give me stuff and I find a new home for it. So far I've been able to pass on a lot of things this year to a variety of people.