A friend recently asked me how I decide to make a donation. We live across the country from each other, and she was surprised when I made a pledge for her in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in her area.
After I thought about her question, I realized there were some key factors that helped me decide to give.
1) It was a cause that I felt strongly about.
2) The donation showed my friend that I supported her.
3) I did not feel any guilt, or pressure to donate. If I had not made a donation, I know that we would still be friends. I didn’t feel like I had to make a donation or I would be considered a bad person if I didn’t make a pledge.
4) I had the money to make the donation.
5) I felt that the money I donated would be used wisely to support the organization’s mission.
Don’t donate money just so that you can get a free tote bag or a CD of the month club. Don’t donate just so your name shows up in the quarterly newsletter. If you are making a donation because you feel guilty or pressured, you’re trying to prove something to someone, or you don’t have the money to donate, then you are donating for ALL of the wrong reasons.
You must decide if you can afford to donate money to an organization. If you decide you can’t afford it, there are still other ways you can be generous. You should also investigate the organization to make sure you agree with their mission and to have an idea of how much money goes to administrative costs. I personally don’t support organizations that spend a large portion of their money on administration.
Giving should also be done from the heart. You must determine what causes are important to you. You must determine your values and goals.
Giving should make you feel good, not just about yourself, but about the world around you, too.
Related posts on Northern Cheapskate:
