50 Ways in 50 Days: Put your money where your mouth is

Now that you’ve had a nice long time to write some letters to folks in nursing homes, we’re going to catch up a bit on these fifty ideas. And today we’re talking about $$.

Idea #9: Remember on day #5 when you thought about that organization you really support? Well, if you’re volunteering there regularly, maybe you should consider supporting them with your money, in addition to your time. 

Before you give, make sure your money goes where it will do the most good. Websites like Charity Navigator analyze non-profits’ informational tax returns and score them based on financial health, accountability and transparency, so you can ensure that most of your donation is going to program expenses, rather than fundraising or administrative costs. The Better Business Bureau also rates charities based on its 20 Standards of Charity Accountability. Or you can contact an organization directly to request a copy of their returns, financial statements, proof of 501(c)(3) statues, and executives’ salaries — many charities post them directly on their websites. You should also look into how the charity measures the results of its work — sometimes this is not easily quantifiable, but you want to donate to healthy charities that are making progress toward their mission and are doing effective work. If a certain charity is in financial trouble, is reluctant to provide financial information, or can’t prove that its work is having an impact, that’s a red flag. Take your donation somewhere else.

(In case you were wondering, Smile Train hasn’t been evaluated by Charity Navigator, but it is BBB accredited, meeting all 20 Standards of Charity Accountability.)

This is a reason that I don’t give to charities I’m unfamiliar with, even if it’s just adding a dollar to my grocery bill to donate. And don’t feel pressured into giving, especially during an emergency or if a fundraiser calls asking for donations, if you don’t know anything about the organization. Stick with the charities you trust. Doing some research takes a little extra time, but you’ll know that your money is having the biggest impact.

Also, as part of planning your giving, check with your employer to see if they have any kind of matching funds available. Some companies will match employees’ gifts to certain charities, so it’s definitely worth checking into. Your money could go twice as far!

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Idea #10: Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to cough up the dough. But it’s going to a certifiably good cause, so you should feel good about it! Just like you build volunteering into your schedule, build your donations into your budget. Lots of charities get extra donations around the holidays or after disasters, but these organizations need funding year round. So if you’ve committed to supporting a charity, consider making a monthly donation — lots of charities accept donations directly through their websites, and you can usually set up a recurring monthly withdrawl. That way, you won’t have to think about donating all the time, and your charity of choice will have a more steady income stream. 

But it also means you’re making a commitment. By plugging your giving into your regular family budget, you are making taking care of those in need a priority. 

Bonus: every time your donation is deducted from your bank account, an angel does a little somersault of joy!*

*Somersault unconfirmed.

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Idea #11: Okay, now give a little more. If you’ve budgeted your giving at a comfortable level for your family…now try making it a little uncomfortable. Maybe it means cutting out a meal at a restaurant on the weekends and digging in to leftovers. Maybe it means putting off making a big purchase for a few more months. Maybe, at Christmas, it means not buying a few gifts on your list — and if you have kiddos, this is another good time to sit down and have a family conversation about your priorities for the holiday budget, needs and wants, and what it means to give to those who are struggling. I’m not saying you should deny yourself all comfort — but you should deny yourself some comforts. C.S. Lewis says it best:

 

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give [to others and to charity]. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them.” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity