Giving from the heart this holiday season.

By Sensible Life Editorial Staff
Published November 8th, 2009

Between now and the end of the year you’ll see those red kettles at store entrances with the bell ringer greeting you while attending the post to which he or she is assigned to collect money for the Salvation Army. In the malls and businesses, you’ll see Christmas trees adorned with angel cut outs containing the name of a child in need that can be adopted for the purpose of providing them with clothing needs. You’ll receive material in the mail with holiday themed address labels from various charities in hopes you’ll send a check in return for these. But, how do you choose? Do you just send a little bit to each one, or perhaps do nothing at all. The choice is really yours and a personal one at that. You’re not required to share your thoughts or giving habits with others, even if they ask, so don’t worry about anyone judging you for how you handle giving to others. For those of you who aren’t sure which charity, Sensible Life’s advice to you is research, research, research.

First, you’ll want to make sure it’s an authentic charity, and not one created by an individual as a scam. Once you have a few in mind, here are some good questions to ask yourself and thoughts to ponder.

1.    Am I giving to this charity out of an assumed obligation, or am I giving from my heart?
2.    Do I feel passionate about this charity and feel they are doing good in the community/world?
3.    Do I want to claim any giving as a tax deduction. If so, be sure to give in a traceable form such as a check. Also make sure your organization is a 501 c 3 non-profit, so you can claim the deduction.
4.    Have I researched this non-profit organization to see how they take care of those they sponsor? For example, the Salvation Army has numerous programs for the indigent, the homeless, substance abusers and children, as well as victims in disaster stricken areas. Donations going into the red kettles serve a wide variety of causes in the community.
5.    Do I want to give to many, just one, or a select few? The staff at Sensible Life tends to give to a select few that touch our hearts, such as organizations that rescue animals and those who help the homeless and the hungry.
6.    Not all non-profit organizations are for the needy, though. Some promote other agendas, such as our own community organization called Fund for the Arts. This organization supports arts programs in our area for both adults and children to provide them with opportunities they might not otherwise have. These charities are important as well.

These are just a few things to think about to get you started on the path to giving. Anything you give is sure to touch the lives of others, and no matter how small or how large the donation, ALL contributions are equally important.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.