Here at the BisMan Community Foundation, we think about charitable giving and generosity all year. But this time of year—from #GivingTuesday to the Salvation Army’s red kettles and beyond—is the peak season for giving.
When you add the holiday spirit to our desire to help others, charitable giving is more visible in our culture right now than at other times of the year. But remember: Giving happens year-round, as nonprofits need our gifts of time, talent, and treasure to deliver their programs throughout the year, not just during the holidays or for a year-end wrap-up.
As you make your charitable giving decisions, here are some ideas to guide you.
Choose Your Cause(s)
Nonprofit organizations address a wide range of social problems and provide numerous public services. Because there is no shortage of worthy causes, you need a way to make decisions about what is most important to you.
First, think about organizations that you already know—ones that you are involved with as a volunteer or you have attended their special event.
Consider the organizations you have benefited from: as a camper at the Y’s summer camp, a season ticket-holder at the local theater, or a patron of your local library.
Giving to organizations that you already know and have seen or experienced their impact is a great place to start.
Do Your Homework
If an organization comes to you that you aren’t familiar with, you may need to do a little homework before making a gift.
First, consider the person who is asking. Is it someone you know and trust? Has that person been involved with the organization in some way? If you don’t know who the asker is, it might be easier to say no, or you might need to do some homework.
An easy place to start your investigation is the organization’s website. Are the staff and board listed? Is financial information made easily available? Is there data about the organization’s impact? Is there an annual report?
Unfortunately, charitable giving is not as easy as going to Amazon, reading three customer reviews, and clicking one button. Giving requires us to discern how we can give in a way that aligns with our values and consider how we can have the greatest impact with the resources we have to give.
Match Your Values
When giving, think first about the community where you live.
What do you love about your community that you want to preserve? How can your philanthropy make the community better or address a particular social need?
Is it your public library and the awesome things it’s doing to promote lifelong learning? Is it the school-based pantry that sends kids home with food for the weekend? Do you care about the environment and your community being green and beautiful? Maybe you want to support organizations that are planting trees or doing a public arts program.
If you are unsure of which organizations are most deserving, give to the BisMan Community Foundation. Our annual grants support a wide range of quality-of-life projects and programs - check out our Mini Grant and SuperGrant pages to learn more.
A final thought is a more reflective and philosophical exercise: Think about what you want your legacy to be. How can your giving be an expression of your values and your vision for a better future?
Elevate your giving in a way that makes it a lifetime journey—not something that you only do during the holidays —and includes your children and grandchildren. May you experience the joy of giving this season and throughout the year!