So if yesterday’s retail-a-thon was not quite your thing, here’s an even better alternative. There’s giving, and then there’s giving.
Feed the hungry, save the earth, cure disease, give sight to the blind, teach someone to read.
You have the power to do it all–how cool is that? Here’s my favorite tool for charitable giving: Charity Navigator. This site rates organizations with respect to how much of your donation is actually used to help the cause. PLEASE check out a charity before you fork over your hard-earned cash. You want to make sure the organization isn’t drowning in administrative costs.
Here, in no particular order, are just a few of the places I’ve given to this year. All have 4-star or better ratings from Charity Navigator–
- the Bainbridge Island Land Trust
- Fidelco Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Westsound Wildlife Shelter
- Planned Parenthood
- Feed My Starving Children
- Field’s End–a Writers’ Community
- Partners in Health
- public libraries all over the place
- SOS Children’s Villages
- Kitsap Literacy Council
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure
- The Author’s Guild Foundation
The cool thing about making charitable contributions is that a) it’s instant gratification so you don’t actually have to shop, b) it’s tax deductible and c) it’s so very, very necessary. To honor someone with a gift in their name, you can just print out the acknowledgment page and put it in a card. This is a huge problem solver, especially if you want to do something nice for a large group, like your entire literary agency. Do it! Do it now!
So–where do you give each year? Post in comments!
0 Responses
In Vancouver there are many homeless teens – as a family we give to Covenant House. It is one of the charities which has a great success rate.
Some years we give a goat or a well or some chickens to families in poor countries. I forget the charity – will remember it as soon as I log off, of course.
Always give to the Salvation Army too – lots of street people get meals and shelter.
I am grateful each member of our family has a home, a job, and more than enough. We are blessed.
In Vancouver there are many homeless teens – as a family we give to Covenant House. It is one of the charities which has a great success rate.
Some years we give a goat or a well or some chickens to families in poor countries. I forget the charity – will remember it as soon as I log off, of course.
Always give to the Salvation Army too – lots of street people get meals and shelter.
I am grateful each member of our family has a home, a job, and more than enough. We are blessed.
It is just soooooo true…the real joy of life comes from GIVING…especially to those who have nothing or to those who serve those who have nothing.
LUV the pup picture!
It is just soooooo true…the real joy of life comes from GIVING…especially to those who have nothing or to those who serve those who have nothing.
LUV the pup picture!
I always give to the Salavation Army, as well as the Make a Wish Foundations.
I am so glad that my family that my family have homes, food and clothing and a wage to cover everthing and that our kids are all healthy. I count my blessings everyday!!
I always give to the Salavation Army, as well as the Make a Wish Foundations.
I am so glad that my family that my family have homes, food and clothing and a wage to cover everthing and that our kids are all healthy. I count my blessings everyday!!
I am very grateful for what I have as well, which is why my my family and I give to Make a Wish, the Salavation Army and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
I am very grateful for what I have as well, which is why my my family and I give to Make a Wish, the Salavation Army and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.