How to Organize a Family Charity for the Holidays
Perhaps there is no time more appropriate than Christmas to reach out to others in need. By coordinating and organizing a family charity effort, you can help those less fortunate while creating a new, meaningful family tradition. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Contact information for potential charities
- Contact information for family members
- Christmas cards
- Blank card envelopes
- Postage stamps
Instructions
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Make a list of potential charities to adopt. You can gather information for charities at a number of Internet sites, including Charity Navigator. Since you are coordinating the event, select a charity that your family as a whole can feel personally invested in.
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Contact family members and get their input. Give them the opportunity to participate or to opt out without feeling any pressure. For the venture to be a success, those who participate need to be excited and on board.
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Create Christmas cards specifically for family members who are participating. Send them the cards and ask them to write their reasons for wanting to join in the effort. Include a blank card envelope and postage for them to return their card and contribution.
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Complete the event by sending the charity the total contribution. Be sure you send the gift in your family's name, or the individual names of the participants.
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At your family gathering, read the cards that were returned to you with the contributions. Without giving out details of individual contributions, announce the entire amount raised for the charity. With a few timely and simple gestures, you have hopefully created a family tradition to be handed down for many years.
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Tips & Warnings
Prepare simple flyers to send with cards that give information about the charity.
Be open to the idea of sponsoring two charities.
Keep individual donations private to prevent anyone from feeling uncomfortable.
Do research on a charity, rather than just picking one at random.
