In Elgin there are no shortage of amazing non-profits that ensure our community members are taken care of and thrive. Many people around the United States give donations to various organizations and I am no exception. According to Giving USA 2017 report of Philanthropy, individuals donations accounted for 72% of overall charitable giving in 2016 which equaled to $281.86 billion charitable dollars overall. Often people are hesitant to donate and some studies have shown because they may feel that their donation will not make an impact, but that is simply untrue! As an individual donor you wield more power to an organization than you may realize. Here are some ways to show yourself and others that your charitable giving makes an impact every day.
- Craft your own donation declaration
Donating to an organization can be fulfilling when individuals are open with friends and family about the how and why they donate. I have found that making a personal donation declaration can encourage others to donate as well and spark interest in why you give. I encourage you to make your declaration however you like, be it through email, social media or word of mouth. My experience has found that by making a simple declaration I am assisting organizations get the word out about their mission and highlighting the work they do. - Make donating fun
Everyone remembers the ASL ice bucket challenge that overtook social media a while back? That was successful for many reasons but the main was it was FUN! It showed the world that donating can be fun and exciting using everyday tools. Why not use your daily bike ride and have friends donate for each mile during the month OR have your rec basketball teammates donate every time a three point shot is made? Remember donating to an organization shouldn’t feel like a chore or a daunting process. Many of our local Elgin organizations make it easy and simple to donate online and no more so then on November 28, 2017 through their #ILGive pages. - Make donating automatic
After your #ILGive online donation why not make your donation automatic all year long? I enjoy the convenience of automatic giving payments. I sometimes have felt intimidated to donate a huge amount in one lump sum but if I spread out the donations monthly or quarterly, it becomes doable for my financial bottom line. Your donation, at any level, then becomes part of your household expenses and gives to your community continually all year long! This type of automatic giving some have suggested actually may help you even budget better your overall finances while allowing you peace of mind knowing that every day you are making a difference.
I hope these ideas can help you think about how being an individual donor makes a difference, is impactful and empower you to keep giving at any level to your favorite Elgin organizations.
References:
https://www.classy.org/blog/overcoming-the-4-barriers-that-keep-donors-from-giving/
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=42
https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/blog/id/1319/three-ways-to-reach-your-giving-goals
https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/blog/id/200/9-positive-effects-of-donating-money-to-charity
About Hannah Walters
Hannah Walters lives and works in Elgin. She is currently the Development Coordinator for PADS of Elgin, Inc. and before that worked for the Elgin Area History Museum.
Founded in 1989 PADS provides a safe environment 365 days a year for 45 to 50 homeless men, women and children each night. Both individuals and families are welcome at the shelter.