How to Be a Giver

Altruism means caring about other people. When you're a giver, you make the world a better place for everyone, including yourself. What you give comes back to you. Your generosity encourages others to be generous. There are so many ways to give. It doesn't have to be complicated or take a lot of your time and money.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Begin with your family. Listen to the family gossip and find ways to help your relatives. Perhaps your aunt is going through cancer treatments and no one's around to take her to doctor appointments. Offer to babysit your niece and nephew and give your brother and his wife time alone that they never get otherwise.

2. Help a stranger whenever you can. Give someone on the street breakfast or a cold drink on a hot day. Help a homeless woman and her child find a shelter. Convince your employer to hire at-risk youth as interns around the office.

3. Save a small amount every month to give to charity. The amount you give isn't as important as how long you give. Sign up for monthly giving programs. Show your generosity on your birthday by giving a larger amount to charity than you normally would.

4. Set an example by being a giver and find ways to get involved in charitable work in your town. You'll make your community a better place to live. Choose activities and causes that speak deeply to you so you'll stick with them. Find volunteer opportunities on the Idealist web site.

5. Encourage others to participate in charity. Spend a couple of hours a month volunteering with the kids. Bond with your partner by doing charity work together. Get involved in a big way with a local charity.

Tips & Warnings

• Set up your own monthly giving program for charities that don't have this option. Place a certain amount in an envelope every week and at the end of the month, deposit the cash and write a check.
• Look critically at your weekly expenses if you think you just don't have money to spare. Instead of buying a latte every day, treat yourself to one every Friday and set aside the money you saved for charity.

Resources

• Find articles on philanthropy and generosity at Learning to Give
• Be a giver by volunteering. Find opportunities at Idealist

[YouthServices]

on 3/11/2009 Great tips. If more people would just give "one" hour a month...what a difference. Plus, like you stated, get your employer involved in a youth mentoring program.