Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

5 Excellent Charitable Causes

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One of the best feelings that you can have as a person is if you know that you can give money, time, or energy to a particular charitable cause. There are some cases where charities aren’t so above-ground though. And that’s why you have to do a little bit of research to find out which ones give the most to the people that they are supposed to give to.

So, five excellent charitable causes that have a great track record for helping people out are going to be charities that help with drug abuse, help prevent trafficking, give small loans to people in need, get wigs or other hair related items for kids, or the organizations that help to fulfill wishes for people in need. [Read more…]

A Few Ways (And Reason Why) Your Business Can Be More Charitable

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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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How Much Should You Really Give to Charity?

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Sharing one’s blessings is an admirable trait that people must practice in their lives. One form of sharing is giving to charity.

It should be understood, however, that while giving to charitable organizations is a good act, not everyone is obliged to do it. Give only on your own free will like when you have something, money or otherwise, extra. It is understandable when you can’t give to charity when you are having financial difficulties.

Remember that the amount you decide to give depends on your personal circumstances. But when you decide to share, give as much you can because there are many underprivileged people who will greatly benefit from your donations maybe not in your own place but in other areas and countries. [Read more…]

3 Surprising Items You Can Donate

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You can donate your time, money and of course certain products in good condition that you no longer use. However, it’s the products that seem to be so puzzling for many people. If the item is relatively costly, you may want to write it off as a tax deduction. While a 501(c)3 charity will give you a receipt, it’s your job to prove to the IRS at the end of the tax year that the item was worth a certain amount of money. This will require research and documenting like items/years/conditions and preferably taking photos before making a donation.

However, many people are also surprised to find out just what variety of items are eligible for donations. In certain instances, you might be able to donate healthcare items such as CPAP accessories or other monitoring devices. Check with your local hospital or care facility; they’ll likely have leads and recommendations. [Read more…]

Fashion Events Guaranteed to Raise Funds for Charity

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A growing number of people are now becoming more aware of their responsibility towards charitable giving. Developing this attitude is a good example especially to children and young adults.

There are a variety of ways a group or startup can raise money for charitable giving. One sure way is to organize a fashion event. But what particular types of events would it be? We share some of the most popular you can choose from.

Designer Auctions

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Fashion designers often come together to do auctions that can help non-profit organizations such as charities. Luxury items that command a price are normally put up for auction. [Read more…]

5 Charitable Things You Can Do with $10 or Less

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Just because money’s tight, it doesn’t mean you aren’t interested in supporting a charitable cause. Even if you don’t have a lot to give, your little bit can go a long way toward bettering the world around you.

If you’re looking for ways to contribute to charity, but not sure where a small donation might be well-received, then check out this list of five charitable things you can do with ten dollars or less. [Read more…]

Where to Look For Non-Profit Jobs

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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

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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.”

Donate Something Still Useful to Charity

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When we hear of solicitations, chances are our mindset would be to give away old clothes or canned goods just to say that we made a charitable act. But while this is something generous of us, it may be wise for us to use logic at times. Old clothes still have categories and this includes “still usable”. These days, people forget about this important necessity. We stock up old clothes and put them in sacks since we cannot use them. But before we placed them there, we already have an idea on whether they can still be used or not.

Old clothes are a big help to the needy. But apparently, we cannot discount the possibility of giving away clothes that are good as trash. Since we donate them, people receiving them do not have a choice of selecting and make do with what we can give. But personally, we should take out the clothing that are no longer usable.

Canned goods can be in any form. The normal ones we give out are the cheap ones such as sardines. For a couple of extra bucks, perhaps we can add something different like perhaps milk or something healthy. If all the poor people had to live on sardines, imagine at the level of help they can get.

All I am saying is that when you give to charity, mean it. It is not about taking something out of the closet or the kitchen cabinet to say you did a good deed. We are giving to people as well. Just imagine how you would feel if you were in their shoes.

Of Charities and Businesses

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ib29These days are not easy – not for charities, not for businesses. Indeed, giving to charities may not be high on your business agenda at this point, but hear me out. You can actually help others out, give a helping hand, and gain benefits for your business as well. I got this idea from an article I read, which is written by Jerrie Dean.

You know how most often, when we talk about helping charities, we think about actually giving money to them? I suppose that this is the norm – people do not have enough time so instead of volunteering, they offer financial help instead. What if I told you that there is a way to help charities without having to volunteer or give money in the traditional sense?

Jerrie Dean presents the idea of sponsoring a charity. There are many ways by which you can sponsor a charity without having to make an initial cash lay out. For example, if you have an online store, why not sponsor a specific charity that will receive proceeds from the sale of a specific product? This will not only encourage your customers to buy that product (because in effect, they will also be contributing to the charity) but it will also show how socially responsible you are.

Another way would be to simply create awareness for your favorite charity. Add a banner and/or a donate button to your favorite charity on your web site. Of course, an informative write up and a link to the charity’s web site will even be more helpful.

The bottom line is that just because you do not have the cash does not mean that you have to stop helping out.