The generosity guide: 4 tips for first-time philanthropists
Sure, you’re a fun, loving person. Your friends tell you how generous you are when you offer to buy them a drink or take them out for ice cream. And that’s cool. But if you’ve ever wanted to help others out beyond your immediate friends or family and just haven’t known where to begin, these small tips can get you started on donating to a cause you truly care about — without the random credit card charges or calls from strangers at 3am that leave you asking ‘how did you get this number?’.
1. Figure out what you’re passionate about.
It could be that you love animals beyond watching countless videos of cats falling off kitchen benches, or would rather tie yourself to a tree than see one cut down (sorry for the cliché, but I’m rolling with it). You could be passionate about encouraging opportunities for disadvantaged groups in your own society, or want to assist struggling nations overseas. Take the time to work out your priorities and what changes you want to see, and then you can start to help in changing those things. If you’re in Australia and want to donate to a home-grown charity, the handy guide Change Path (www.changepath.com.au) asks you a series of questions to find a charity fit for you. If you’re elsewhere, Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org/) is an international directory that provides charity approval ratings and useful tips for donating.
2. Do your research.
Once you’ve found a few charities that you feel are right for you, do a Google search (what a plug!). Are they registered with a national body or commission? Do they have a website that tells you what they’re about, and where your money is going? Will your donations be tax-deductible (and does it matter to you)? Has anyone shared a positive or negative experience with the cause on social media? If you put your investigator hat on (you know the one) and dedicate a few minutes to ensure the legitimacy of your chosen charities, you’ll save yourself the stress of finding out your money is going elsewhere (or that a charity CEO is sneakily taking massive pay checks) later.
(Image: Amazon)
3. Know your limits.
Once you’ve worked out that your chosen charity is a genuine and worthy cause, you’ll need to decide how much you are willing to donate and when. Will it be a set monthly donation to one charity, or one-off donations to many? Assess your finances — if you’re a bit strapped for cash but still want to make a difference, set a manageable amount (say, 10 dollars a month) and adjust it later if needed. Like they say, every dollar counts (I don’t know who ‘they’ are, but it’s a common expression); so don’t feel bad by starting small.
4. It’s okay to opt out.
Giving to others in need is important and should be taught at an early age; however, not everyone has the means to do so. Just as you are advised to put your own air mask own before your child’s in a flight emergency (sorry, kid), your needs come first and therefore your own living expenses should be dealt with before you start to help others. If you’ve picked the right charity, they will be understanding of your situation and allow you to easily pause your donations until you’re in a better position. You could even donate your time and volunteer instead — after all, it’s not about how much money you give, but your intention of giving in the first place.
Entering the philanthropic world is a bit of a labyrinth, but if you are able to donate you’ll be playing a role (however small) in changing our world for the better — and that makes it all worth it.
Pennybox is an app that teaches kids how to save and donate money.
Get early access to the app here, or — if you want to put your newfound donating knowledge to use — donate to Pennybox here! Sweet!
