If you’re like most people, you want to be generous. But you may not know the needs around your area or be confident about how you can help fulfill them. There are many ways you can become a giver. Begin by trying one of the following.
Look Around and Respond
First, if you want to become a giver, look around to see who needs to receive. You may notice your local food shelf in need of donations or an organization that builds houses for low-income families in need of volunteers. When you start paying attention, you’ll see plenty of opportunities for you to give. So respond! You have what it takes to help, so never sell yourself short. You can make a huge difference in your community.
Give of Your Money
First, give your money. Even if you don’t have much, you can be generous with what you do have. Organizations appreciate small donations, and they’re good at getting the most out of them. They aren’t hesitant to ask either, especially through promotions like giving Tuesday emails and special fundraising campaigns. Don’t hesitate and say that your gift will not make a difference. It will. You might also sometimes make a gift to a family in need. Pay a bill, or purchase a couple bags full of groceries. It’ll make a huge difference for a struggling family.
Give of Your Expertise
Money, however, is not the only thing to give. If you have special skills, put them to work for your community. You may be an accountant or electrician or marketing professional. Nonprofit organizations almost always need your help. Offer to provide your services for free on a special project or at a discount over time. For an organization operating on a tight budget, your contribution may be a life saver.
Give of Your Time
Organizations constantly need volunteers, too. Many nonprofits never have enough people to perform all the necessary tasks they offer to the community. So pitch in and help. You might spend an afternoon a week volunteering at the food shelf, or get involved in a tutoring program at your local library. If you’re a member of a faith community, ask what needs to be done. You’ll most surely get some ideas for how you can help.
Even if you don’t volunteer for a specific organization, you can still give of your time. Start at home. Perhaps you have a family member struggling with some problem. Sit down and listen. Offer to take over someone else’s chores if that person needs a break, or don’t say anything at all, and just do them. Your loved one will get a special surprise.
Keep your eyes and ears open for friends and extended family members who need help. Offer to babysit or cook a meal or clean a house. These little tasks won’t take all that much of your time, but they can make a huge difference to those on the receiving end.
Start Your Own Organization
Finally, if you notice that some need in your community is not being met, then consider starting your own organization to meet it. You’ll have to do plenty of research about starting and running a nonprofit organization, and you should talk to others who are already doing so. It isn’t an easy task, but it can be especially rewarding when you see how much difference you can make in other people’s lives.
There are many people in your community who could use your help. So look around, and then respond to what you see by giving of your money, time and/or expertise. You’ll find yourself becoming more and more generous and feeling great about it. In fact, you may finally become the giver you’ve always wanted to be.
