Resolutions are OUT!

Intentions are IN!

What does that mean, exactly? Resolutions are specific, limited goals that usually focus on fixing something about yourself or your lifestyle. Naturally, then, a resolution starts from a place of negativity: Something is broken and needs to be fixed. An intention, on the other hand, focuses on creating abundance and motivating us to live an even better life. It’s more of a guiding principle than a specific list of goals. Here’s a simple comparison:

Setting an intention starts with your values. When it comes to your philanthropic intentions, think about these questions:

What excites and inspires you?
What change do you want to see in the world (or your local community)?
How do you want to be a part of the change or preservation you want to see? (Philanthropy includes time, talent, relationships, and financial support.)

From there, you can find the organizations that most closely match your answers to those questions in terms of their missions and programs, and consider your budget (i.e. “How much time, talent, and/or funds can I afford to give this year?”).

Combine all of this to set your philanthropic intention and brainstorm a few specific ways you might express that intention. Again, we’re not talking about strict goals like volunteering a certain number of hours a week or month, or raising a certain amount of money, but rather combining what you value with what you can feasibly do. Write your intention down and put it somewhere you’ll see it regularly. You could even program it as a reminder in your phone or include it on your weekly to-do list.

Then, as opportunities arise – and they will because nonprofits always need help! – you can choose the ones that honor your values and fill your cup.

What will your giving look like in 2023?

For many nonprofits, the end of the year means one final appeal for donations. And for many individuals, it means an avalanche of letters and emails full of stories that pull at our heart strings and compel us to make a donation. Few of us can afford to give to all of the organizations or causes we want to support, so how do we decide which ones should receive our hard-earned money?

Your Budget. Sorry to start off with math and spreadsheets, but it’s important to know how much you can afford to give. Decide if you want to make one bigger donation or if you want to spread your charitable dollars over several organizations. Does your employer offer a match?
Take Inventory. List the organizations that you had a personal experience with over the last year. Did you adopt a pet from an animal shelter? Did you spend a lot of time at your public library? Did you enjoy a trip to a zoo, museum, or science center? Did you take in a performance at a ballet or community theater (virtual or in person)? Chances are, most, if not all, of these places are nonprofits that rely on annual donations.
Take Another Kind of Inventory. What are your core values? What inspires you to take action? What topics or causes inspire you to speak up or speak out? Now, match those core values with organizations that address those values in some way. Contact your local community foundation if you need help identifying those groups.
Play Detective. Once you’ve figured out your charitable giving budget and narrowed down the list of organizations that are most important to you, investigate what your chosen charities need the most. Cash is always nice, and if you prefer to make a simple cash donation, you absolutely should! For some organizations, however, goods may be what they need the most. While they could purchase the goods they need with the money you give them, they may appreciate it more if YOU purchased what was needed and donated it to the organization. You might also consider holding a mini-drive by asking your friends and family to contribute. The best way to find out is to call or visit their website.
Give Local. National nonprofit organizations have a lot of resources when it comes to fundraising. When you give local, often you’re supporting a nonprofit run mostly by volunteers who don’t have a lot of time to fundraise. It’s also much easier to see your dollars at work.

That’s it! Be sure to keep your donation receipts somewhere safe and accessible for tax time.

This post was originally published Nov. 2021 and updated Nov. 2022.