The Power of Giving: How To Make A Difference
Giving back to the community is a wonderful way to make a difference and improve the quality of life for others. It’s also a great way to live a healthy, happy life, too. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to give back to the people around you without spending a fortune or sacrificing your own well-being. Whether you’re looking for ways to volunteer or help your family, friends, or local community, you’ll find something here to inspire you.
From our earliest ancestors to our modern-day charitable givers, people have found meaning in giving to others. The joy of giving is an innate feeling that we all have the power to access, regardless of our socio-economic status or geographic location.
There’s been a lot of talk about money lately, but fortunately, not all of it has been about the recession.
Some people are worried that their wallets will be empty come tax time and others are wondering if they have enough to retire.
The answer may surprise you: yes, they can! In fact, if you’re smart with your money and have been saving regularly throughout your life, you can be looking forward to a comfortable retirement and contributing to a social cause of your choice.
Who's who in Philanthropy
Warren Buffet
Lifetime Contribution: $46 Billion
Warren Buffet is known as the biggest philanthropist of all time. He is a huge supporter of the Gates Foundation, which has allocated billions of dollars to poverty alleviation and disease prevention through vaccinations, access to clean water, and education. He has also donated to the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which focus on helping children get a good start in life. Buffet is also a big supporter of human rights. He and his wife have donated to a number of charities that are fighting to end poverty, reduce hunger, and provide better access to education. At a global level, the Buffet family has committed to giving at least 90% of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Bill Gates
Lifetime Contribution: $33 Billion
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has amassed a net worth of $133 billion. This puts him the 4th in the list of the top 10 world’s richest people even after he stepped down from his CEO position in the year 2000. This means that he has more money than most of the world’s population combined. He’s also known as the number one philanthropist with varied innovative projects under his belt and is more active in the giving business post-2008.
Bill and Melinda Gates, who married in 1994, created the foundation they had been planning to create together since 2000. This charity has helped eradicate polio and malaria with billions of dollars over time.
Gates also founded the company that created the world’s first malaria vaccine and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS. He’s also one of the people behind the eradication of smallpox around the world. The couple pledged $50 million to help fight Ebola at a 2014 summit held by President Obama. As of 2021, the Foundation has spent around $1 billion to combat the COVID-19 pandemic disease.
George Soros
Lifetime Contribution: $18 Billion
Open Society Foundations have supported a range of projects in the United States. In March 2018, the George Soros-funded National Network to End Domestic Violence, a consortium of more than 1,000 partner organizations, launched a national campaign to eliminate unprovoked domestic violence. The Foundation's endowment was raised from $3.9 to $5.5 billion, with a target of $7 billion by 2028. The Foundations maintain a presence in the U.S., with a regional office in New York City, as well as in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Soros continues to support several causes from human rights to government reform to climate change. In January 2019, he pledged $100 million to the U.S. Justice Department to help implement criminal justice reform. In March 2019, he announced the creation of a $125 million fund to help countries, particularly in Africa to address the migration crisis.
Reading these stories, lead us to insights and lessons that we can imbibe into our own daily lives. The concept of giving, especially to an organization, seems almost universal. Everyone loves feeling the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from making a charitable donation. In this article, we explore the idea of what philanthropy is all about and how it makes us feel.
How Philanthropy is evolving for you and organizations
Whether you’re just getting started in philanthropy or want to refine your giving strategy, chances are you want to make impactful donations that will move the needle in a meaningful way. But how? Setting and achieving philanthropic goals is key to helping your organization thrive and scale.
Today, more than ever, people are turning to their friends, family members, and professional networks for their philanthropic support. This is a positive step. However, this also means it’s more important than ever to understand how to set and achieve philanthropic goals.
The field of philanthropy is undergoing rapid change. Modern technologies, changes in societal norms, and the emergence of a new generation of donors are all driving new thinking and efforts in the field. To keep pace with these changes, donors need to set their foundations.
Setting goals for CSR activities will help you and your organization stay focused as well as set milestones you can achieve along the way. As with any goal, your philanthropic goals need to be realistic and achievable with a strategic objective.
NGOs driving Change and how you can Help
Onedrop.org
Mission: To provide access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for the most vulnerable communities.
Projects: Access to water and better living conditions across the globe
Support: Through online donations, sponsorships, fundraisers, and art partnerships
Donation Link: Make a donation | One Drop Foundation
Avasar Leadership Foundation
Mission: To develop underprivileged children and youth into independent and employed citizens.
Projects: School improvement, designing and developing facilities, and life skills training for employment
Support: Through online donations, sponsorships, volunteering opportunities
Donation Link: Donate Now – Avasar Leadership Foundation
Robinhood Army
Mission: A zero-funds volunteer organization that works to eradicate hunger. It gets surplus food from restaurants and communities to serve the less fortunate.
Projects: Provide meals, education drive for the underprivileged
Support: Volunteering opportunities only
Volunteering Link: The Robin Hood Army
Multiple Sclerosis Society of India
Mission: Sensitize, support and advocate MSSI.
Projects: Campaigns, Webinars, Conferences, and Public events to create awareness and advocate for MSSI Patient care. Other projects include home nursing, physiotherapy, and scholarship opportunities for MSSI patients.
Support: Donation and volunteering opportunities
Mammomobile Cancer Foundation
Mission: The primary focus is to drive awareness and early detection of cervical and breast cancer among women. The Healthcare outreach program serves over 40 million women living in rural areas of the South Indian states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu, India.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Projects: Custom-built Mammomobile Bus for cancer screening and mammograms.
Support: Art fundraising, volunteering opportunities
Contact Details: Get Involved (mammomobile.org)
Benefits of contributing to the society
Helps create positive change and a good feel factor
Giving is one of the most impactful things you can do in your life. When you part away with your time or money, you're helping others, making a positive impact, and leaving behind a legacy of kindness. You feel grateful for what life has to offer and experience immense peace from within. It also helps you build confidence and trust in yourself.
In fact, a study found that people who donate often experience bliss. Many people report that they appreciate feeling more generous and loving toward others. When we give, we feel like we’re on the same team - on a mission to resolve the larger problem. It’s also exciting to think about the ways you can use this power in your life. For example, you can volunteer for a cause you believe in or give to a charity of your choice.
Helps you feel connected
One common theme is that giving to an organization can help us feel connected to a community. Organizations can help fill this gap by creating spaces for community and team building. You can also use your resources to help other people and communities. For example, you can donate blood, volunteer your time, or donate money to a cause you believe in. Contribute to organizations committed to making a difference in the world. Find an organization that makes you feel valued, like a community, or like you are part of a team.
Giving can help us feel more powerful and connected to others. But the question is how can we use this to make a difference? This section explores diverse ways that you can make a difference with your giving. It’s important to note that you don’t need to do one thing in particular. Instead, make your giving process as flexible as possible.
If you have time to volunteer, do it. If not, at least make it a goal to volunteer once a month. Don’t let volunteering take a back seat because you’re preoccupied with work or lack resources. Giving has the potential to power up your life in many ways. Give with intention and patience and you’ll reap rich rewards.
How you can be the change and help contribute more
Even if you’re not a philanthropist, you can support someone else or even an organization that’s close to you. There are many ways to do so. One of the ways you can do that is by offering donations.
This doesn’t have to be money, either. You can also contribute time, love, or whatever it is that you feel is valuable. For some people, this can be something that they’re passionate about, and others can do it as a hobby. It doesn’t matter what it is that you’re passionate about, the important thing is that you like to help people.
To cultivate a culture of giving and make giving a habit, you can start small. Here are a few ways you can incorporate more giving into your daily life:
Educate Someone
Teaching someone new skills and helping them find an occupation are two ways to give back. Whether it’s with kids or senior citizens, it’s a better way to help someone acquire new skills and find a way to contribute to their community. A few ways to impart skills are as below:
Imparting new skills isn’t just about helping the person you’re teaching but it does a lot of good for you, helping you learn and grow as an individual, imparting wisdom.
Donate to the cause
There are several ways to donate — from insignificant amounts to large ones. You can also make a monthly donation to a cause you care about. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider donating to a cause close to your heart. Start researching charities, and you’ll soon be on your way to making a difference in the world. You can also donate clothes, electronics, or other items to a charity or societies that can use them.
Apart from monetary donations, there are avenues to donate blood, plasma or organs. For anyone who has watched “The Red Cross” blood drives, you might wonder that donating blood is an easy task. Well, not exactly. In the grand scheme of things, there’s a lot more to the world of blood donation than meets the eye.
By signing up as a blood donor, you can help someone in need. Whether that need is for a life-saving organ transplant, or for something as simple as a transfusion, there are many reasons why you should donate blood. Due to the dwindling population of donors, the demand for blood is getting higher by the day.
Volunteer
According to the National Council for Youth Camps, one in 10 American youth participate in a camp weekly. That’s more than 5 million American kids who spend some of their free time volunteering at camps across the country. From as young as sixth grade, campers are learning about sustainability. They’re practicing leadership and team work, and they’re bonding with their community. And now, a new generation of campers is launching their own programs to help others.
Volunteering is a terrific way to give back, and it helps acquire new skills and get some experience in varied domains. You can apply to volunteer at a museum, library, nursing home, animal shelter, or any other organization that needs your support. It also lets you connect with people from diverse backgrounds and helps appreciate life.
Sponsor a Child
Sponsoring a child is another way to give back. There are many organizations that support education for children right from scholarships to tutoring services. You can also donate toys, backpacks, and other supplies that will help your sponsored child succeed in school. Not only do you make the world better for someone else, but it also helps you see how your kind gesture transforms these children and contribute for the better good of society.
Feed the hungry or malnourished
There are a number of different ways that you can help the poor when it comes to donating food. This is something that many people do, and it’s a great way to help the less fortunate. This can be a great place to start, and it’s also something that you can do without much effort. Food banks are a great option for helping the poor because they can distribute food for free. This makes them extremely popular, and there are a number of different food banks that you can use in your area. The best part is that many of these food banks are actually run by non-profit organizations. This means that they have volunteers who distribute food to the needy, which makes things even easier.
If you’re new to the community or you’re unsure where to reach out, talk to your local bodies or charity organizations which cater to such needs. Whether it’s at a local food pantry or an organization that feeds the hungry, there are millions of people who go to bed hungry and need your support. Alternatively, you can volunteer at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or low-income neighborhood.
Organize a Charity event
Another great way to give back is by organizing a charity event. Whether it’s organizing a fundraiser through art auctions, a bake sale, or events like a sports tournament, you’re not only doing good for the community but also creating a great social event. It’s a win-win-win situation. Organizing a charity event can also be a wonderful way to associate with new people and form friendships. It’s also an opportunity to spread the word get your friends and family involved with a charity.
For corporates, charitable balls and dinners are a great way to spread awareness about your business. Whether it’s about your cause, or a specific aspect of your business, charity events are a great way to talk about it. Most people will already be familiar with the organization you’re hosting the event for, which spontaneously makes the event more likely to attract attendees.
Create awareness through Campaigns
Find causes you feel passionate about and connect with them. Find a foundation you believe in and ways to help them. Engage with their cause and become a part of it. Share their stories and promote them to avail sponsorships.
The Green drive
To help the planet and make a difference, consider volunteering with one of the many environmental or charity organizations available. You might also consider donating money for an environmental cause. Whether it’s planting trees, reducing your carbon footprint, or even taking public transportation, there are endless ways to do something for the planet.
Conclusion
Poverty is one of the most pressing challenges in the world today. There are over 7.2 billion people who live on less than $2 a day, and that number is only growing. The number of people struggling to get by is staggering, and it’s something that many believe is only going to get worse.
If you look at the root causes of poverty, it’s not hard to see why. There are many people who are poor for varied reasons, and it’s important to understand these before you try to help them. There are several ways that you can help the poor without donating money or helping them in any other tangible way.
Contributing to society is a crucial part of living a balanced and healthy life.
Whether you’re already passionate about it or you’re simply curious about the benefits it brings to you, giving selflessly - helps you find your happiness goal.
As always spread love and look forward to your valuable comments.