Alex Mosher
Staff Writer
It’s officially “giving season,” the time of year where people feel encouraged to generously give back to others.
In 2007, the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana State University found that there is a 24 percent increase in the total amount of giving between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Some people are hesitant about donating during the holidays and don’t know where to begin. Here is a list of tips to keep in mind when donating this holiday season.
1. Create a list of charities you’re interested in, both local and national.
For example, a few local charities in Pocatello are United Way of Southeastern Idaho and Gods Home of Compassion. A few national charities are Oxfam America Unwrapped, Hope International and Better World Books.
2. Check in with charity recommenders.
Outsourcing while doing research will allow you to see which charities will do the most good with your donations. Charity recommender websites such as GiveWell, Charity Navigator and Guidestar are all great resources.
3. Don’t give to big charities.
Larger organizations tend to be less transparent about where the donated money goes.
“Overall, our impression is that your donation to these organizations is very hard to trace, but will likely supplement an agenda of extremely diverse programming, driven largely by governments and other very large funders,” writes GiveWell cofounder Holden Karnofsky.
4. Give to the less fortunate directly.
If you are weary as to where your donation goes when donating through a charity, donate to the less fortunate yourself. Gathering items and creating gift boxes and dispersing them amongst the community is a great way to get you and your family involved in giving back.
5. Give more than just money.
Charities are always willing to receive any donations related to their cause aside from money. You can donate your time, skills or old, gently used items such as clothes, shoes and backpacks (items will vary given what the goal of the charity is).
These are tips that can be applied year-round when donating, not just the holiday season. It’s encouraged to do so and remember that your time and donations are always appreciated by the charities and those receiving the donation.
Charities wouldn’t be successful without the community reaching out and doing all they can to help.
