donations

10 Charities to Donate to This Holiday Season

November 30, 2018 By Tamila McDonald Leave a Comment

As the days continue to get shorter, the weather grows colder, and the Thanksgiving Day leftovers finally disappear, it’s a clear sign that the holiday season is upon us. Many people, including children, are food insecure, spending nights on the street or in shelters, or simply struggling to make ends meet. So, if you want to make a difference in the lives of those in need, knowing charities to donate to is important.

Charities to Donate to This Holiday Season

Donating to charity is a great way to give back to your community or the world-at-large. Giving allows you to help support individuals and families in need. It also serves as a chance to reflect on what you have and how you can do your part to make the world a better place. By giving donations of food, clothing, toys, and money, you too can make a difference.

Here are a few charities that would be happy to have your contribution.

United Way

One of the largest charities in the world, the United Way works to help disadvantaged individuals and communities. They focus on income assistance, health, and education. They also work with a range of other worthy causes. Additionally, they provide assistance during natural disasters. They provide support to areas ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires, and more.

Save the Children

An international organization that focuses on supporting children in developing countries, Save the Children is an excellent charity to select. They strive to provide educational opportunities, healthcare, and financial assistance to kids in need. Further, they also help areas ravaged by natural disasters and battling the impacts of war.

Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club aims to provide opportunities to children, particularly in poverty-stricken areas. They create environments where kids can feel like part of a larger, supportive community while also giving them access to opportunities that help them become productive and functional members of society.

Kids Alive International

A Christian charity, Kids Alive International provides care for at-risk youths. The organization has chapters throughout the world and provides assistance through schools, children’s homes, and care centers.

Map International

Another Christian organization, Map International works with groups in poverty-stricken communities. Their aim is to improve the overall health of some of the poorest individuals and families by supporting the community and providing access to assistance that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Local Food Banks

Food banks are always looking for donations of non-perishable food items. By providing support, you can help families have access to filling meals this holiday, ensuring that those who are less fortunate can still enjoy good food this season.

Toys for Tots

Operated by the U.S. Marine Corps, Toys for Tots gathers new and gently used toys and distributes them to families with children who are in need. This allows less fortunate kids to experience the joy of having a gift this holiday season.

Books for Africa

A charity that looks to improve the lives of children by giving them access to books, Books for Africa gathers, sorts, and ships reading material to some of Africa’s most underprivileged areas. This is a great organization to support if you want to promote reading on an international level.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army works on an international scale, striving to support some of the most impoverished individuals, families, and communities in numerous ways. The organization operates homeless shelters and charity shops. Plus, they provide support during disasters and humanitarian relief. When it comes to what you can donate, The Salvation Army can accept anything from money to vehicles to household items to clothes.

Ronald McDonald House

Working to improve the health and well-being of children in need, the Ronald McDonald House makes specialized medical care more accessible to low-income families by providing access to low-cost or free housing near hospitals. Additionally, they make sure vulnerable communities can get basic medical and dental care.

Why You Should Donate to Charity This Holiday Season

The season of giving is upon us, making it the perfect time to support your local area and those struggling in other countries. Whether you can donate your time, money, or items, you too can help improve the lives of people in need, so consider giving today.

Do you have a favorite charity? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Return to the True Meaning of the Season – Get In on Giving Tuesday

November 23, 2018 By Jennifer Clark 1 Comment

Giving Tuesday is a way to de-emphasize some of the commercialism of the holiday season, by remembering what the holidays are really about – not Black Friday riots or Cyber Monday deals. But, instead, giving to the less fortunate, fostering goodwill toward all, and helping your fellow man. So, what is Giving Tuesday? Here’s a brief explanation and some Giving Tuesday ideas to get you started.

What Is Giving Tuesday?

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 as a way to counter the consumerism encouraged by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales. Founding organizations included the United Nations Foundation, the 92^nd Street Y, Skype, Mashable, Phoenix House, Starwood Hotels, Microsoft, Case Foundation, Aldo, Sony, Cisco, and Heifer International.

Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and represents an international day of giving that allows nonprofits, charities, and causes to push for a big boost to year-end fundraising. The intention is to create a new, unselfish habit of donating to charitable causes at the end of the year. In just a few years, Giving Tuesday has exploded in popularity, generating $274 million in donations in 2017. This year, it’s sure to be even bigger, and your organization shouldn’t miss out.

Giving Tuesday Ideas

Your organization can join the fun at GivingTuesday.org. Most organizations take to social media to promote their Giving Tuesday campaigns using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. Designate a point person within your organization who can round up volunteers from your network, spearhead the fundraising efforts, and collate the results with lessons for next year. Then get creative with some of these ideas to make the most of your 24-hour fundraising drive:

Ask each person who donates to tag five friends and ask them to donate. People are more likely to respond to a personal appeal from someone they know and trust – that’s why the Ice Bucket Challenge was so successful. Amplify your fundraising power by asking each donor to challenge specific friends to participate, too.
Start your campaign early. With Black Friday sales starting earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving Day, it’s fair to start your Giving Tuesday event on Monday night.
Promote the event on social media. Don’t be afraid to use hashtag power to get the word out. Use a platform like Hootsuite to schedule posts. Use YouTube or Facebook Live to run a traditional telethon event, announcing new donations and interacting with donors. Make things exciting – put your CEO in a dunk tank, show a progress meter, or hang donor’s names on a wall of giving.
Encourage supporters to use the hashtag #Unselfie to identify them on social media. If you’re having a brick-and-mortar event, use temporary tattoos with your logo, or some other identifying mark that supporters can photograph and post on social media.
Match gifts. Offer to match gifts given within the 24-hour timeframe to incentivize donations.
Collaborate with other organizations. Find out what other organizations or local businesses you can collaborate with to promote your Giving Tuesday event. Perhaps a local business can help you match donations, or contribute prizes to give away to lucky donors.
Perform challenges. Your staff can celebrate campaign milestones by performing challenges, such as posting a silly video of employees singing and dancing, jumping into a frozen lake, or getting an interesting haircut.
Ask supporters to donate the price of a morning coffee. Lots of people buy a coffee on the way to work. Ask supporters to donate the price of their drink, and when they get to your fundraising page, use price anchoring to encourage a larger donation.
Make Giving Tuesday a regular affair. Now that Giving Tuesday is becoming more established, many organizations are extending the holiday into First Tuesday, a monthly day of giving. Encourage donors to commit to a regular, monthly donation.

Giving Tuesday gives charitable and nonprofit organizations a chance to ramp up year-end fundraising numbers. It’s the perfect time to celebrate an international day focused on giving to your favorite causes and organizations. Don’t miss out on the fun! Last year, supporters gave $274 million, and they’re sure to give even more this year.

Is your organization ready to rake in some year-end donation dollars? Who will you be donating to this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Fall: The Season to Donate

October 20, 2017 By Jacob Sensiba Leave a Comment

The season of fall brings around new colors and new weather. It also precludes the season of winter, as well as a few significant holidays. During this time of year, we often reflect on the things that we have and the people in our lives. When thinking about what we are thankful for, we often think about people who are not as fortunate as ourselves. A great way to help those people is to donate. Donating can come in many forms, including time, money, and things. Below are some ways you can donate this season.

Hurricane/Wildfire Relief

With the four hurricanes that hit our southern border and the wildfires ravaging the west, the victims of these natural disasters should be first that come to mind when donating. Easy and useful donations include toilet paper, diapers, items for hygiene, and non-perishable goods (e.g. canned food). Go to FEMA to find out specifics as to what they do and don’t except.

Blood

In addition to all of the natural disasters our country experienced these last couple of months, we also had the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history. Donating blood is a great way to help the victims of this horrendous act, as well as those injured by the hurricanes and wildfires. Go to American Red Cross to find out how and where you can donate.

Halloween Costumes

With Halloween around the corner, local Children’s Hospitals are filled with children who will not be able to celebrate the holiday like the rest of the kids. Being able to dress up in a costume and participate in the holiday will help them have fun while they are recovering in the hospital.

Time and Food for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is also right around the corner. Though many of us will be fortunate enough to sit down with family and friends to enjoy a nice meal, there are also many of us who aren’t so lucky. Take time this Thanksgiving to volunteer at your local food pantry or your local chapter of Feeding America. If you don’t have time, they could always use more food. Check out Feeding America for more information.

Toys

What follows Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of giving. During the December holidays, those lucky enough will gather with family and friends to celebrate togetherness and exchange gifts. Your local children’s hospital, as well as local orphanages and foster homes, are a great place to donate toys. You can also check with Toys for Tots for more details on donating.

Winter Gear

Depending on where you live, this section may not apply. However, those that live in parts of the world where it gets cold for winter, donating coats, hats, and gloves can be a great way to help those in need make it through the cold months. Also, if you live in a city where homelessness is more prevalent, tie scarves, gloves, and coats to corner light posts. This is also a good way to help those make it through winter, who cannot do so on their own.

Money

There are many non-profit and religious organizations, like the ones above, that do so much for their community and for people in need. Doing so comes at a cost, so donating some money to help them continue their mission is a great way to help. An incentive, though you shouldn’t need one, is most monetary donations are tax deductible.

Conclusion

This fall and holiday season, do what you can to help those that are less fortunate. Donate resources for those effected natural disasters and blood for victims of the massacre in Las Vegas. You can also donate food, time, and money to help people and organizations that aid those in need every day. This season, do your part to provide a bright light for those in a dark place.

Photo: WP Kube

Embrace Minimalism: 10 Things You Should Donate Today

July 23, 2015 By Will Lipovsky 3 Comments

One beautiful aspect of minimalism is that you can help yourself while helping others. You can free yourself of overabundance while helping someone else. Sometimes in life, win-win opportunities really do arise. This post is about how to declutter your home through donations. We’ve even included a few unorthodox way of giving donations (especially numbers three and four):

1. Paper Shopping Bags

Paper shopping bags are a great item to donate. Often, donation centers will use them to organize small items they receive. Donation centers can also simply reuse them as shopping bags. A lot of charities also use paper shopping bags to store or deliver items, such as delivering boxed meals to the homeless.

If you visit a grocery store that still gives out paper bags, you probably have a couple hanging around your home. These paper shopping bags are great to use in your own home to store or carry things, but if you have an overwhelming amount of them, consider donating to a charity.

2. Cards

Have you ever bought a stack of greeting cards and then never used them? Maybe you have a couple boxes full of holiday, birthday, or thank you cards. You probably never thought about donating these items but a lot of non-profit organizations will happily take them off your hands. You may not use paper cards anymore but others still do.

3. Bone Marrow

If you’re someone who is incredibly generous and doesn’t mind undergoing surgery and a stay in the hospital, you could consider donating bone marrow. Bone marrow is the tissue found inside of human bones, contributing to 4% of a person’s total body mass. Bone marrow diseases can be fatal and patients often rely on bone marrow donations.

4. Plasma

Plasma is the largest component of human blood. It’s another resource you could donate to help save someone’s life. Plasma patients often suffer from such diseases as blood clotting, immune system deficiencies, hepatitis, liver or lung conditions, or bleeding disorders. This is another epic form of donating. It’s probably not something you would think of when trying to declutter your home.

5. Crutches or Prosthetic Limbs

There are organizations out there that will gladly accept lightly used or unused crutches, braces, wheelchairs, or prosthetic limbs. These are often donated to hospitals, healthcare centers, non-profits, or people who cannot financially afford such items. You might find it unusual to donate a prosthetic limb, but someone who receives it might be incredibly grateful.

6. Cars, Construction Equipment, or Agricultural Equipment

In this economy, most people are trying to sell their old cars or equipment. But if you have some you can’t get rid of that are still in working condition, there are non-profit organizations who will take them off your hands. For instance, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a Cars for Kids’ Sake program, asking for donated vehicles of any kind. Habitat for Humanity also accepts vehicle donations.

7. Coat Hangers

If you ever get your clothing dry-cleaned, you probably have a ton of hangers in your closet. If you have more hangers than clothing, consider donating the hangers. You can send them back to the dry-cleaners or you can offer them to a secondhand clothing store. Stores like that are always in need of coat hangers. Even just a few hangers help.

8. Writing Tools

Do you have a lot of pens, pencils, crayons, or markers lying around your home? Maybe some are leftover from your children or maybe you just have a habit of buying too many writing utensils. We’ve all had a surplus at some point. With the amount of technology we have today, most writing utensils can be donated. If you’re looking to get rid of them, you can donate them to places such as schools, day cares, community centers, or libraries. There are also plenty of charities that accept writing and drawing utensils for lower income communities. Some people may be really grateful.

9. Hotel Toiletries

Have you ever gone on vacation and packed away the small hotel toiletries in your luggage? Those toiletries are the perfect size for traveling. But sometimes you end up taking more of them home than you actually need. If you have a pile of them, donate some to a local shelter. They’ll be more than happy to accept them. Also consider donating fast food items.

10. Bedding and Towels

Do you have a lot of extra sheets or towels stuffed in a closet? Maybe some of them have a tear or are worn down enough that the colors have faded. Maybe the towels aren’t as fluffy as they once were. If they’re still in a decent condition, you can donate them to a homeless shelter. The sheets and towels that are worse off can be donated to an animal shelter. Please make sure that any sheets you donate to a homeless shelter are either new or lightly used, and that if they’re used, they’ve been washed.

Remember when donating to ask yourself, “Would someone else want this?” Don’t ask yourself, “Would I want this given to me?” A lot of people end up throwing stuff away just because they don’t think of things from someone else’s perspective. Another person will want what you don’t.

How To Avoid Wasting Money When Giving To Charity

May 17, 2010 By Jennifer Derrick 7 Comments

We know that those of us who are fortunate enough to have extra money should give some of it back to society. Not only is it good for others, it’s good for us. We get a feeling of satisfaction and goodwill from giving that’s hard to duplicate. Giving is part of a healthy financial plan. However, it’s hard sometimes to get over the feeling that giving is really wasting money.

I overheard a conversation the other day between two seemingly well-off women who were bemoaning the fact that they had given to a charity that had then put most of their money toward the CEO’s salary. They felt like the money was wasted and hadn’t helped anyone except the already loaded CEO. They ended up declaring that they wouldn’t give to charity again, having decided that the system is crooked and a waste of their money.

I don’t think these women are alone. We hear all the time about the bloated overhead costs of many charities or the overblown salaries of charity or church executives. Tales abound of people who gave to a charity, only to discover that their donations were stolen by unethical employees or given to those who were not truly needy but rather “working the system” to get freebies. When you give to the church but the minister drives a tricked out Hummer, or when you give to a needy family only to discover a brand new BMW in their driveway, it’s easy to become jaded and decide that all charitable giving is a scam and a waste of your hard earned money. But despite the fact that some charities are flawed, giving is still worthwhile.

So how do you deal with the feeling that you’re being taken advantage of and make giving a good use of your money?

Research the charity: Don’t give to just any charity. Research your choices thoroughly to make sure that they are legitimate and that they will use your money wisely. Good charities make it easy for you to determine how your contributions are used. They provide information about how much donor money goes to overhead, salaries, and to the cause you’re trying to support. They make this information publicly available on their websites or in their printed publications. Some charities also let you specify how your money is to be used while others simply pool the money into a general fund. Give to those who give the most money to the people or causes you’re trying to support.

Watch out for scams: Charity scams abound. Never give in response to an unsolicited email or phone call. These are often (but not always) scams. Research the group in question and then, if you feel moved to give, give to them directly through their website or by calling them yourself. Use your credit card for your donation as it provides you some extra protection over cash or check. If you doubt the legitimacy of the charity, be safe rather than sorry and give elsewhere.

Give to an individual rather than an organization: If you’ve been burned by a big bureaucracy, you might prefer to give directly to individuals that you know. Perhaps your church keeps a list of members in need of assistance that you could help. Maybe you can give money to a neighbor’s child who wants to go to college but can’t afford it. Maybe you just know someone who is out of work and could use some financial help. Private donations to individuals aren’t tax deductible, but you still get the joy of giving and a reasonable assurance that the money is going where it’s needed.

Give time or goods instead of money: If you are wary of giving money, try giving your time or goods instead. Clean out your closet and give your gently worn clothes to a woman’s shelter or Goodwill. Donate old children’s books to a hospital, library, or literacy program. Volunteer to clean up a stream or roadside. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house. Donate an old car to an organization that can use it or sell it to make money. You don’t have to give money to make an impact. Time and items can make a big difference to many charities and you have some assurance that your time or goods were used wisely.

Set up your own charity: If you have a lot of money to give, think about starting your own charity. There’s a lot of legal paperwork involved in starting a charity, but you can retain control over your mission and make sure that the money goes where you want it to. If that’s too much trouble, you can start a scholarship at your alma mater and designate the qualifications students need to receive the money. You can also start an independent scholarship that a student bound for any university can apply for.

There are lots of ways to protect what you give and to make sure it will do the most good. Charitable giving should be a joy and not feel like a waste of money. Take these steps to direct your efforts to where they can do the most good.

Charitable Giving When You Make No Money

April 10, 2009 By David G. Mitchell 18 Comments

Although I am frugal, I like to at least think that I am neither stingy nor greedy. I am quick to spend if it will make my family happy and I have always been quick to donate to a good cause. When I go through the checkout line at my grocery store, I always try to give to whatever cause the store is supporting and we always put our envelope into the collection basket at church on Sunday. When neighborhood kids are selling candy or candles for school fund raisers, we always buy something, even if we know that we will never use it. We like to help others and we enjoy the feeling that we get by doing so. Charitable giving is a win-win situation for us, or so I hope.

Lately, I have been wondering whether we are being irresponsible by giving to charity. It’s been almost ten months since I last drew a paycheck and cash has definitely been headed out the door much faster than it’s coming in. At what point, do we need to heed the adage that “charity begins at home” or the maxim that “God helps those who help themselves.” After all, every dollar that I contribute to help with a school fundraiser could be a dollar that I need in another few months to pay for some necessary item that my family might need.

With our church, the issue of charitable giving is particularly interesting. The church asks that we give ten percent of our income. I am pretty sure that very few people at my church are doing that but even so, does that mean that the church wants us to give ten percent of nothing? After all, if I am making nothing, I can give ten percent, twenty percent, even a hundred percent, and still give nothing. I am pretty sure that the church would give me a different way to calculate my weekly donation if I tried to fall back on simple math to avoid a donation.

Thinking about charitable giving, which is down in all sectors this year, I think that all of us, can and should donate to charity, even if we are out of work. Here are a few reasons to consider:

There is Always Someone Needier than You: I donate small amounts because I know that there are many people in far worse financial condition than me. Even if that were not the case, I would want to believe that there are people in far worse financial condition than me. Giving to charity makes me feel better about myself and that is well worth the contribution.

Any Contribution is better than No Contribution: If I donate one dollar to a good cause, that is one less dollar that the cause needs to raise. If everyone tried to find a way to part with an extra dollar in the checkout line at the cash register or when the collection plate came around on Sunday, a lot of good would come of it and we would all benefit from it. Think of that the next time you buy a bottle of soda at the checkout stand.

Contribute Time without Spending Money: You do not need to donate money to contribute to a charity. You can volunteer your time. I have time on my hands so this week I will be donating twenty-five hours to various local charities. I know I won’t be able to do that when I have a new job so I need to take advantage of my free time now, and who knows, by volunteering you may meet someone who can lead you to your next job or a better job.

Contribute Skill without Spending Money: Perhaps you have a skill that you can share with a charity. Are you a plumber, a craftsman, a cook or a seamstress? Many charities need skills such as yours. Take a day each month and set aside a portion of it to assist a charity that you support.

Support a Charity by Going to Its Events: Even if you really cannot afford a donation, you might still be able to find the time and the money to go to charitable events. If a band is performing a benefit concert, buy tickets and enjoy the show. If a restaurant is hosting a tasting to raise money for a charity, go to the tasting. The charity will get some money and you will be entertained or fed or otherwise get a benefit.

How and why do you give to charities? Does the current economic climate have you donating less? Are you relying on charitable assistance? Whatever your relationship may be with charitable giving, tell us about it.