Giving back to the community is good for businesses. It is an excellent way to promote one’s products and services while combining the pleasure of a great exposure with the pleasurable sense of helping others. Also, in addition to gaining customers, doing charitable works will open doors for opportunities to meet other business people – thus, networking. [Read more…]
A Few Ways (And Reason Why) Your Business Can Be More Charitable
Being charitable is a great idea for your business, whether you are a solo business owner working out of your home or you own a large corporation with many employees. Giving to charity has benefits that range from helping you get tax breaks to allowing you to be more of a helpful part of your own community.
Charity has so many good benefits, whether you are donating to something local or to something national. Take some time to do some research on the charities you are considering donating to in order to make sure they have a good reputation and that your money will be going to what you expect it to.
Donate Locally To Help Your Community
Things happen in each and every community, from house fires that take a family’s entire belongings to tornadoes ravaging entire neighborhoods. It is through different charities, local and national, that families are able to rebuild their homes and communities are able to get their businesses back up and people’s lives back on track.
Local charities are those that keep the donated money in your own community. By donating to this type of charity your business gets a better reputation in your own home town, which can in turn lead to more clients and money for you.
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Can Charitable Donations Offset Self-Employment Taxes?
If you’re self-employed, it’s common to struggle with finances, especially when quarterly taxes come due. Maybe you look at your bank account and wonder where that money is going to come from. You might even consider seeking a loan or borrowing money from friends or family. But what if you could reduce your financial difficulties by doing good works?
Donating directly to charity or even offering pro bono services are good ways for financially strapped individuals to both reduce their tax burden and give back to their community. If you’re considering this course of action, here’s what you need to know.
Know The Tax Schedule
Self-employment taxes are typically paid quarterly, based on estimated income. This can make it harder to balance your charitable deductions, but there are ways to make it work. Try to get a sense of your financial outlook and how much you need to reduce your tax burden by. Then, if you’re having a good quarter, donate a larger portion at that time.
Many self-employed individuals find it harder to afford their quarterly taxes later in the year, so try to make larger donations during the first half of the year. This will reduce your year-long tax burden while taking advantage of your current financial balance.
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How to Get More Donations for Your Fundraisers
When done correctly, fundraisers will raise money so your nonprofit organization can increase awareness to your cause and help make the situation better in any way you can.
The challenge now is to get more people to donate to your fundraisers. Since money is a limited resource for these organizations, they rely on donations and sponsorships. Both come from fundraising activities in line with the organization’s mission and objectives.
If your organization is having trouble in generating donations for your fundraisers, here are tips that you should follow to get the most out of your events. [Read more…]
Top 3 Reasons Learning First Aid Is Useful
Becoming educated on the basics of first aid can help you save a life. Whether it helps because you know how to appropriately perform CPR when needed, or you simply know what not to do in case of an emergency, it’s a skill everyone should acquire. Proper first aid training is essential in any situation, at any time. [Read more…]
Where to Look For Non-Profit Jobs
When looking to find a job in the non-profit world, the first step is to ask around. Network by telling people you know ( family, friends, colleagues) and consider doing some unpaid volunteer or internship work to get your foot in the door, so to speak.
Although most internships are not paid (or paid very little, perhaps just covering food and/or transportation expenses), it can be a wonderful opportunity to also discover your strengths and become aware of the roles and environment when working in the non-profit industry.
The next best resource for work in the non-profit world is obviously the internet. Nearly all of the non-profit organizations and groups have websites which post career opportunities and volunteer positions, and job sites are also useful as many of them have sections featuring jobs in the non-profit sector.
Not only does online research make sense financially (it costs nothing to email!), but it also allows you to learn about the various organizations to discover what suits you best.
Other good places to look are local newspapers, non-profit organizations magazines and newsletters, and bulletin boards at your community center or church.
Remember that only 20-25% of jobs use advertising, so it pays to think out of the box and be resourceful. Perhaps after finding organizations which interest you, you could contact them directly to know first-hand if they have any possible openings. Their websites should also have some useful information and contact details.
And lastly, don’t give up! Always check up on your resources often as new jobs and openings appear daily. Keep on researching, and don’t be afraid to apply even if you are worried that your qualifications won’t suffice. If you have passion and commitment for the job, you could be the best person for it.
The Origins of Charity
What does the word CHARITY mean, exactly? The word has many connotations these days – from simply giving alms to the poor, to a more divine, selfless way of giving.
So just in case you were wondering, here are the word’s origins. The rest is up to you.
“….The word “charity” entered the English language through the French word “charite” which was derived from the Latin “caritas“.
In the twelfth century it indicated a state of benevolance towards the poor.
In the fifteenth century charity was used to indicate ‘the state of love or simple affection which one was in or out of regarding one’s fellows; an occasion or body of people seeking to embody that state; the love of god, in both directions.
The fraternity was the embodiment of this ideal. In 1700, it meant ‘an optimistic judgement about the good intentions of others; an act of benevolence towards the poor or needy; an institution erected as a result of such an act.”
In Christian theology:
“…Love, in this sense of an unlimited loving-kindness towards all others, is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form such love can be self-sacrificial. Confusion can arise from the multiple meanings of the English word “love.”
The love that is caritas is distinguished by its origin, being Divinely infused into the soul, and by its residing in the will rather than emotions, regardless of what emotions it stirs up. This love is necessary for salvation, and with it no one can be lost.”
Thirst Aid
The non-profit group has been running for quite sometime since the Tsunami’s of past and they have been filling the gap that left millions of people without clean drinking water. Founded by Curt and Cathy Bradner, an American couple who have given up everything to help the poor people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) many of whom lack basic necessities for safe and healthy living as most of Asia’s developing countries. Myanmar, being run by a Military Junta has been cut-off from the rest of the world by a military that reports directly to their generals. Suspicious of Westerners (mostly Americans) whom they distrust due to criticism they receive from most of the West.
The couple have been working in the country for quite sometime and have bought Visas (long term) which is a rarity in the country. The tsunamis devastated much of the effected areas contaminating water tables, decaying animals and people who were left without proper burial have also contributed to the pollution which if not corrected, would kill just as many people that were killed during the disaster itself. Disease is the aftermath of any disaster and many of them are spread through contaminated drinking water. Many of the developing world’s diseases are water-borne and the couple who started it all has been working ever since to get safe and clean drinking water to all who needs it. They have focused their efforts on Myanmar due to the utter isolation of the country from the rest of the world.
They sold everything they had and made a promise to get clean and safe drinking water to all who need it. The tsunami ravaged Myanmar was a perfect area for them to operate in due to little or no contact with the outside world. They designed simple filters made of pottery and lined with coconut husks that are capable of filtering out almost all of the harmful bacteria and other contaminants that may be present in the water. It is estimated that every 15 seconds, a child dies form disease caused by drinking untreated or polluted water and they have been fighting ever since to bring their low cost water filters to poor people who do not have much cash to purchase commercial filtration systems. The coconut and earthen filter removes all but the tiniest contaminants with a colloidal silver solution mixed in to kill any deadly pathogens that may still be left in the water. They are then safe for all to drink, especially children whose small bodies can be easily ravaged by disease.
The country is so poor that most live in huts outside of the capital with not much in terms of modern infrastructures to support the country’s growing population. They need help in their projects and their children back home manage and maintain their web site which is one of the ways they earn money for their many projects. They have managed to produce filtration systems that run from car batteries and they are in urgent need of money for funding and other purposes for them to continue helping those who need it the most.
Newborns Need Your Help
Charities of all sorts abound these days, but here’s one that will tug your heartstrings. Denver Health Medical Center has released statistics that show that more than eight out of 10 newborns are in need of assistance. These babies are born to families which are not well to do. As such, they struggle to provide for the needs of the babies.
That is why the charitable organization Denver Health’s Newborn in Need was born. This organization caters to the needs of mothers who have just given birth and their babies. The money that the organization gathers is used to provide for essential items such as diapers, milk formulas, and blankets among other things. If you would rather give goods as opposed to cash, the organization will gladly accept your donations as well. In fact, the hospital has a dedicated room to house goods that have been donated.
The sad fact, however, is that the shelves in the rooms are starting to become depleted. It seems that the needs are much higher than the donations that are coming in. That is why the organization is now actively seeking gifts from those who are willing to give them.
According to a story published by 9news, the mothers who have received these donations have expressed their gratitude. For those in the area, donations can also be made when shopping at King Soopers, where donation cards are available for $3 and are added onto your grocery bill. For more information, you can also visit the organization’s web site.
Children Generosity Without Prejudice (From the Archives)
Charity abounds and it is not limited by age as the charity event sponsored by Save the Children showed many people when they flocked to several locations to support a “Sleep-over” program that aimed to raise awareness and funds for less fortunate kids all over the world. The event was held in June when they also broke records for the most number of children who have participated in an event of the sort anywhere in the world.
Children should be educated in the roles they are to play in this ever troubled world for they are some of the most affected by strife and misery when problems occur. May it be economic turmoil, conflicts or even victims of long past wars, they are the most scarred and abused which leaves them helpless and maimed both physically and mentally unable to deal with life that should have been in front of them.
Most of the world’s displaced children suffer from poverty, crime and other illegal activities such as child labor that they sometimes feel nobody cares for them and their future. Organizations who aim to help them like the UN through UNICEF and other Non-Governmental charities aim to change that and again bring hope into their lives educating them and teaching them all they need to know that would allow them to face tomorrow and see it as bright as it could be.
The event, in partnership with the Autism charity TreeHouse, was successful in showing that children where ever they may be have the power to change and influence their world in their own little ways. More power to the people who makes such events and charities possible, and to the millions of people who give to others in need as we all make this world a better place to live in for all.