In bad financial times, many worthwhile philanthropic endeavors suffer because potential donors possess far less discretionary income. However, there is a crucial and effective way that individuals and businesses might help philanthropies and charities - volunteerism. Whether someone has suffered financially or not, lots of people will still be capable of volunteerism. The Jewish religions uses two terms: (1) Tzedaka- meaning charity or helping, and; (2) Tikun Olam- meaning repairing the world.
By volunteering, individuals can make a significant and valuable contribution. In today's economy, where governments are running huge deficits, and several worthwhile projects are now being put "on hold" or eliminated completely, especially by local and state governments, charities need volunteers as well as contributions to meet their important missions. Individuals can volunteer their time and their own personal labor, to help philanthropies better cope by reducing their expenses. If a philanthropy (or charity) can save money on expenses, it can often "stretch" its funds further into important programing.
Some forms of volunteerism include: helping out with local community cleanups; working with others on local gardens; assisting within the office, etc., at one's house of worship; transporting elderly, etc. to the supermarket or pharmacy; joining the Board of a local philanthropy; "pitching in" wherever needed, etc. All of these efforts reduce local charities overall expenses in times when government grants as well as other contributions may have been reduced and/ or eliminated.
In difficult financial times, donors need to be selective in their donations. A donor will want to look at the charity/ philanthropy's financial information, to look at just how much actually goes to programming. The bigger the
percentage that goes to programming, the greater comfortable a prospective donor should and does feel. Some excellent local charities still have high operating costs as a share of revenues, and if one feels strongly about one of those organizations, the best way to make others want to donate, is by helping the organization reduce its overhead. Which is another area where volunteerism is both necessary and worthwhile!
While financial conditions changed, and schemists like Madoff separated so many from their money, it's more important than ever for folks to be as generous as they can afford, because charities need help much more in bad times than good. In bad economic times, charities need to stretch fewer dollars further because there are numerous additional community remembrance needs that government has abandoned.
A donor should ensure that any philanthropy/ charity is responsibly discharging its duties, and striving to satisfy its mission, both effectively and inefficiently. Our politicians like to rhetorically support important causes, but many of these causes and mandates become unfunded, and charities and philanthropies must make up the funding differential. There are plenty of religions that urge charity as a doctrine of its faith. If each of us will make a personal pledge to maintain a minimum portion of donation, both in good time or bad, the world will be a better place and there will be less suffering.
By volunteering, individuals can make a significant and valuable contribution. In today's economy, where governments are running huge deficits, and several worthwhile projects are now being put "on hold" or eliminated completely, especially by local and state governments, charities need volunteers as well as contributions to meet their important missions. Individuals can volunteer their time and their own personal labor, to help philanthropies better cope by reducing their expenses. If a philanthropy (or charity) can save money on expenses, it can often "stretch" its funds further into important programing.
Some forms of volunteerism include: helping out with local community cleanups; working with others on local gardens; assisting within the office, etc., at one's house of worship; transporting elderly, etc. to the supermarket or pharmacy; joining the Board of a local philanthropy; "pitching in" wherever needed, etc. All of these efforts reduce local charities overall expenses in times when government grants as well as other contributions may have been reduced and/ or eliminated.
In difficult financial times, donors need to be selective in their donations. A donor will want to look at the charity/ philanthropy's financial information, to look at just how much actually goes to programming. The bigger the
percentage that goes to programming, the greater comfortable a prospective donor should and does feel. Some excellent local charities still have high operating costs as a share of revenues, and if one feels strongly about one of those organizations, the best way to make others want to donate, is by helping the organization reduce its overhead. Which is another area where volunteerism is both necessary and worthwhile!
While financial conditions changed, and schemists like Madoff separated so many from their money, it's more important than ever for folks to be as generous as they can afford, because charities need help much more in bad times than good. In bad economic times, charities need to stretch fewer dollars further because there are numerous additional community remembrance needs that government has abandoned.A donor should ensure that any philanthropy/ charity is responsibly discharging its duties, and striving to satisfy its mission, both effectively and inefficiently. Our politicians like to rhetorically support important causes, but many of these causes and mandates become unfunded, and charities and philanthropies must make up the funding differential. There are plenty of religions that urge charity as a doctrine of its faith. If each of us will make a personal pledge to maintain a minimum portion of donation, both in good time or bad, the world will be a better place and there will be less suffering.