I had the joy of working in the field of philanthropy for decades before I retired. You know, they say that giving away money is harder than asking for it, but I disagree. Grantmaking has given me such satisfaction for many, many years. My favorite quote is from Aristotle who said, “To give away money is an easy matter, and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.”
So, instead of the ABC’s of Charitable giving, I want to share the YVC’s of charitable giving, but the idea is still the same!
I’d like to start with, not the letter Y – but the word “why.” If you’re new to charitable giving, I believe the first step is to find your “why.” Why is this charity’s mission important to you? Why do you want to support an organization? When you determine your why, you find your passion, then you can fund your passion.
For example, many people choose to support their church or perhaps the school they attended because they feel a strong connection with these organizations. And others may choose to support organizations like the American Cancer Society or the Heart Association after having a loved one who has battled a serious disease.
I would challenge you to find a nonprofit organization whose mission aligns with your passion, because then, supporting them will bring you joy and feed your soul.
Here’s what I learned about myself… I don’t have a passion for just one charitable organization. The common thread in my charitable journey has been to support groups of organizations that either elevate women or support organizations that work to improve life in Milwaukee, so any organization that works to make Milwaukee a better place to live and work touches my heart.
The second letter in the ABC’s is V. V is for “vet.” If you are new to charitable giving and you have chosen a charity that you want to support, you may want to examine it more deeply and do a bit of research on that organization. This may be especially important if it’s not a well-known organization or if it’s based in another state. And there are numerous websites that provide this information.
A few of the commonly used ones are guidestar.org and propublica.org. You can usually find additional information on the organization’s mission, programs, and financial information on websites such as these. Sometimes you may want to look at a few different websites as each one may list different organizations.
The last letter – C – is for choose – you can choose HOW to engage with the organization you would like to support.
Perhaps the most well-known way to support an organization is to write a check. And most organizations also offer the option of donating through their website, which is important as some not in my generation may have never written a check!
Many organizations throw fundraising events that their supporters love to attend. These events can be a run or a walk where you get pledges as you participate. Golf outings are another very popular way that nonprofit organizations raise money. I think one the most unique fundraisers is the Zoological Society’s “Snooze at the Zoo.” How fun it is to camp in the zoo grounds overnight! And, if you like to get all fancied up, a lot of organizations hold formal galas or dinners.
Another way to support your favorite nonprofit organization is to volunteer. Seniors are the perfect demographic to explore the possibility of volunteering. There are so many different opportunities to volunteer in our area, I will devote another segment and blog to volunteering.