How to Decide What Charity to Support

There are so many charities out there asking for donations that sometimes it’s hard to decide which one we should support. It’s obvious that we can’t support them all but we can support at least one. Which one? Research? Feed the children? Helping the poor? Here are a few suggestions on how to choose a charity that you can support.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• paper and pen

How to Decide What Charity to Support

1. Write down on a piece of paper the issues that concern you--for example, the need for research for diseases such as cancer or diabetes, controlling issues such as drunken driving or drug abuse, poverty issues at home and/or in the third world, or political issues such as campaign support to help govern your community.
2. Write down what you personally hope to achieve through your contributions regarding each of your concerns.
3. Decide if you want this to be a one time contribution or an ongoing support of the cause.
4. Decide whether you want to support just one cause, or if you want to support more that one--one local cause and one out of country need.
5. Select the organization(s) that you are most passionate about and make a commitment.
6. Set up a bank account with a direct monthly transfer deposit from your regular banking account and then initiate an automatic withdrawal from that account for your charity. This way, your commitment becomes a financial priority and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are faithful to your charity.

Tips & Warnings

• When you can include your involvement in a charity as part of the big picture, it is gratifying to know that your contributions have now become part of the answer.