Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

How to Register Your Nonprofit

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Nonprofits are a lot of work to get up and running. But the hours are a small price to pay to become part of the important role these organizations play in society.

Before you consider registration and obtaining a Basic Business License, you need to make a few key decisions. What is the organization’s mission? Who will serve on the board of directors? What are the long-term goals and how will they be reached? Where will the funding come from?

Once the structure of your nonprofit has been decided on, you can take the first steps toward registration. [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 29, 2013 @ 8:00 am

How to Choose Charities in Asia that Help Poor Children

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Giving to charity is a worthy endeavor and should be practiced by everyone. It does not only help the underprivileged people but it also provides a rewarding feeling to the giver for being able to share part of his earnings.

Contrary to what many people believe, one doesn’t have to be rich in order to give to charity. Did you know that in the U.S., it’s those who earn less than $50,000 each year that donate more to charitable institutions? A report from Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy revealed that those who have more actually just donate two percent of their income compared to the four percent given by those who earn less.

More important, however, than how much you give is where your money is going. When donating your hard earned money, it is vital to do a little research first about charities available and determine the group of people you’d like to help. Ask yourself if you want to help the poor children, the disabled people or the elderly.
[Read more…]

Originally posted on December 17, 2012 @ 1:57 pm

Putting Excess Food And Clothing To Good Use

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donating food

With the economy treating so many people roughly these days, there are a lot of families who could use a helping hand. Food, clothing, and other general use items are at the top of the list of things impoverished families tend to need. Also, by cleaning out your closet of unwanted wears, you will be making additional room for those designer furs you always wanted. As you take a look through your pantry, canned and boxed food items are generally the most useful items to donate. these items generally have a longer storage life than the food in your refrigerator. They are often the easiest for poor and homeless people to store — especially if a person does not have a refrigerator of their own. Although that is hard for some to imagine in our modern age, it is a situation that is more common than people might expect.

Giving to Churches and Food Banks

A lot of people would like to get involved, providing food items to the poor and needy, but are not sure where to begin. Generally, the poor and homeless obtain their food from shelters, food banks, and churches. In some cases, food that makes it into these centers is derived from the USDA surplus and other food redistribution projects. Though the redistribution of food from such sources is helpful, it generally does not satisfy the great need that exists. Most food pantries and food bank services still rely on other community members to donate to their cause, which helps to support the many efforts made to keep economically challenged people fed. If you have ever wondered how great the hunger problem in America truly is, according to the Feeding America website, approximately 49-million Americans struggle to obtain adequate food each day. [Read more…]

Originally posted on December 8, 2014 @ 9:06 am

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.

Originally posted on August 29, 2011 @ 1:37 pm

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.

Originally posted on February 17, 2011 @ 12:00 am

Do You Check Before Giving To Charity?

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charityHow do you give to charitable organizations? Do you have a specific list of groups and causes that you regularly help out? Or maybe you’re the type that gives whenever you can, whenever someone comes up to you? It does not really matter how you choose to give to charity – it is the intent behind the giving that counts.

However, we have to face the stark reality that not all charities and fundraisers give everything they raise to their clients – those in need. And no, I am not talking about scams. In fact, we have to realize that fundraisers and other similar events cost money. As such, part of the money that people give for charity goes to operating costs.

Now the question is just how much do organizations use for expenses and how much of the money raised actually goes to those in need? The answer varies depends on the organization, naturally. I just saw some figures at the Yakima-Herald relating to this:

To that end, check out the Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report, compiled by the office of Secretary of State Sam Reed. The report, which is available online, tracks third-party, paid fundraisers who operate in the state. There are some 8,800 charities registered in Washington, of which nearly 600 use paid fundraisers.

The 2009 report found that an average of 58 percent of contributions were returned to charity clients. However, while the top 10 fundraisers gave back an average of 89 percent to charities, about a third of the paid fundraisers returned less than 20 percent to their clients.

Less than 20 percent?! It is outrageous, isn’t it? That is why, in my opinion, it is so much better to give directly to causes that you support. Fundraisers are great, but only if you can get assurance that most of the money will go to the deserving.

Originally posted on April 5, 2011 @ 7:30 am

Investigate Before You Give To Charity: What To Ask

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Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause – especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

[tags]Charity tips,investigating charities,questions to ask charities,donation tips[/tags]

Originally posted on November 29, 2010 @ 4:12 pm

Investigate Before You Give To Charity: 4 Simple Tips

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With Halloween just around the corner, it also means that the season of giving is practically upon us, so many of us are starting to think about ways we can give.

Well, without wanting to sound like a Scrooge, the fact of the matter is that there unfortunately are many scammy operations out there, or even simple red tape or massive overhead costs that makes it more difficult than ever for your money to actually reach those in need.

So my next few posts will be dedicated to some easy advice on how we can do the best we can to make sure what we give goes to those who really need it.

To start off, here are 4 simple tips when giving to charity:

1. Double check NAME of the charity. Some may just be named that way to confuse you to think it is a well-known charity with a similar name. Check their credentials online and visit the place yourself if possible. Other good ways to check out a charity is through your local charity registrar and or with the local better business bureau.

2. Remember that giving to charity is tax deductable. Keep records of all your charitable donations as well as costs you may have incurred while volunteering.

3. Always give by cheque – and make it payable to the charity, never to an individual. Stay away from cash donations.

4. When receiving an appeal in the post – check to see if there is the name and address of a reputable charity, and what they are already doing to solve the problem. Be wary of sob stories.

[tags]charity tips,investigating charities,donating tips[/tags]

Originally posted on September 17, 2010 @ 3:44 pm

Simple Charity

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Smile its xmas.jpg

When we talk of charity most of us begin thinking of how much we can spare in terms of cash. We start analyzing what of the things we plan to discard can still be donated. Most of the time we think in terms of material things. These are good ideas. People always need money or goods. Things we no longer need can be useful to someone else.

There are other ways though to be charitable. It can be as simple as doing any of the following:

  • Smile at everyone. You never know who may just be in need of the ray of sunshine that your smile brings.
  • Skip dessert today and donate the amount you would have spent to a charity that feeds the poor.
  • Promote peace and harmony. Don’t squabble with your kids or argue with your spouse. Teach by example what harmony is.
  • Be even more loving than you already are. Love does the greatest good. It changes people when they are treated with love. They walk taller, become gentler and strive to be their best. Isn’t that a great gift to give them.

Originally posted on August 4, 2010 @ 1:45 pm

The First Step in Giving Back

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If you’ve been thinking of giving your time or money to a charity or non-profit organization, the first step to consider is WHERE? As first-timers will quickly find out, there are thousands of people, places and organizations to choose from, and choosing the right one for you can be a daunting task.

The best way to begin is to ask yourself this question: “What means the most to me?” Think about the things most important to you, what you have a passion for, or perhaps a health concern that has affected someone close to you. Reflect on this, and it should be easier to find the charity for you.

Whether you have a lot of money or not is irrelevant when it comes to giving financially or otherwise. There are many ways to give money, online and offline, through direct gifts, donor-advised funds, giving circles, or through your place of employment. Giving of your time, on the other hand, can be a much more rewarding way to help, as this offers you some first-hand experience with those you wish to help. This does take more thought, however, as there other concerns such as proximity, time constraints, safety and the impact the experience could have.

Whatever you choose, it really doesn’t take much to get started on giving back through a charity. With the right organization or issue, some time and energy and the willingness to help, everyone can make a difference in the world today.

Originally posted on August 18, 2010 @ 1:41 pm