I was thinking of you when I wrote this blog.  I know December can get crazy, and it often does, so I just want to remind you that when it’s all set and done, what really matters about this month, is the “people who will be sitting around your Christmas tree.”

I did some research and found that December giving accounts for 21.8% of online giving, which represents a pretty big proportional piece of the giving pie. The average annual household charitable donation is over $2500, but the fascinating thing to me is how much Americans volunteer their time. In 2015, 62.8 million Americans volunteered 7.9 BILLION hours which adjusted for monetary value represents $185 billion. Isn’t that amazing?

I had someone contact me recently asking me what military organizations would be a good fit for them to support.  Many people want to give but often times they don’t know where or to whom they should support. Maybe you’re like the person who contacted me and unsure of where to start. This post is for you! Below are some tips and things to keep in mind when it comes to finding— and loving — the charitable organization you give your time and money.

Research the Charity: This one is important because we want to make sure that funds are getting where needed.  A few places that you can find out more about the charity you are giving to are Charity Navigator, BBB.org Charity Reviews, and Charity Watch. You can get an idea of how the charity runs financially, what their activity is, and what their mission is. And even more critical, when we talk about giving, you can find out how transparent the charity is. These are all wise ways to give and keep charities accountable.  

Think Local: While national organizations can pool a lot of funds together and they do fantastic work, devoting some resources to build stronger local communities is really important, too. Local food banks, shelters for women and children, pregnancy centers, and animal shelters are all places that always need help. It may be as simple as putting together an Amazon order and shipping essentials to the shelter, rolling your sleeves up and packaging holiday meal boxes, or helping a neighbor shovel their snow.  The point is that when we look around, there are always ways to connect and serve in our neighborhoods and communities. It doesn’t always have to have a price tag or take all weekend.

Find a Good Fit: Finding a trustworthy charity that matches what you’re passionate about may take a bit of research and some thinking.  Be realistic with what you can do, but do something. Are you in the stage of life where you’re so busy you can barely get everything done in the day? Adding more into an already bloated schedule may not be the best idea. But if you don’t have time, can you send a care package to a local shelter? You may not be in a financially sound place, but is there a neighbor going through a hard time, surgery, or birth of a baby? Coordinating meals with neighbors, shoveling their snowy driveway this winter, or reaching out in some other way connects you and builds community on a micro-level. And that is how we grow better communities.

I leave you with this, “It is better to give, than to receive.”  

What are your thoughts on charitable giving and connecting in your community? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Thank you for helping us grow our community by sharing our posts on social media.  We are here for YOU!

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug