Holiday Giving That Lasts all Year Long
Christmas is just two days away, which means that New Year’s is almost here, as well. At this time of year many of us find our thoughts turning not just to the holiday meal we’ll be cooking, or the gifts that we’ll be wrapping, but to how we can give back. For many Vancouver moms, holiday giving is an important part of the Christmas season, connecting us to something bigger and more meaningful. Giving isn’t just something we do for other people – it’s something we do for ourselves, too, because giving feels good. We know that the need doesn’t end when we take down the tree, pack up the decorations and get back to normal life. So why should the feeling end?
Make Good Feeling of Holiday Giving Last
This holiday season, as you’re choosing charitable causes to support, why not consider how you can maximize your benefit all year long? Let’s face it, the holiday season can be a bit of a pinch, financially speaking. As you choose charitable causes to support through your holiday giving, think about how you can maximize the benefit by giving not just once, but regularly. In the process you’ll be helping out, making a difference and inspiring your kids and your community.
Many charities offer programs that allow you to set up automatic donations, so that you’re giving a set amount each week, each month, each quarter or each year. When you give this way the amount you donate each time may seem small, but over time it adds up. These types of donations also allow charitable groups to plan, because they know how much money is coming in. When they know what their income is going to be, they’re in a better position to decide how they’re going to use that money.
Plan Your Giving
If you don’t want to support just one cause, or if you want more flexibility around the timing of your donations, you may want to look to organizations like Chimp. These groups allow you to support multiple charities, on your schedule. It’s a way to make holiday giving (and year-round giving) work for you, so that you can choose causes that are meaningful to you, in a way that fits within your budget.
One of the biggest questions that many people have when it comes to holiday giving, or any kind of charitable giving, is how their money will be used. We want to know that the people we’re entrusting with our donations will use those funds as wisely as we would ourselves. Before you give, take the time to research your charitable cause. Once again, groups like Chimp can help here, as they compile information on their charities to help you make your decisions. You can also find lots of information online. Look into what fees are being charged on your donation, what each organization’s overhead is, and how the charity is structured.
Cause We Care
Here at VancouverMom.ca we support a local charity called Cause We Care. We interviewed Andrea Thomas Hill, their founder and a Vancouver Mom herself, for our podcast last year. We’re teaming up with Chimp to create our own giving group to support this worthwhile cause. Any donation as small as five dollars helps. In fact, all donations up to $25 will be matched, to a total of $500, if you contribute before December 31, 2013. On top of that, as part of Chimp’s “Give On” campaign, all fees are being covered by HootSuite. This means every dollar you donate – times two – will go to support single mothers and their children in need right here in Vancouver. To take part, and to feel that great feeling of helping out this holiday season, visit chimp.net/groups/vancouver-mom.
This article was sponsored by Chimp. Chimp invites you to give to what you care about — simply, intentionally, and with confidence. You deposit charitable dollars in your account, budgeting your giving, your way. Search for a charity to support by cause, location, and program. Until December 31, 2013, HootSuite is sponsoring “Give On” at Chimp, covering up to $50,000 in fees, for approximately $1 million in donations. That means, all of your giving goes to the causes you care about. Whether you give to a friend, a family member, your community, or charities, giving is powerful. It connects us with the world around us. It empowers us, and inspires others. Giving feels good. Giving 100% feels even better. This December, give on 100%. #giveon
