What New Year's resolution
can you stick to and feel
like you're making a difference
in the world
This
time of year, many Americans are setting (or already breaking) New Year's resolutions focused on getting
healthier, saving money, spending more time with friends and family, etc. These are great resolutions, but perhaps this
year, you're thinking about ways you can make a difference. Giving back by donating to a nonprot can help you feel
more connected to your community and more gratication in knowing your New Year's resolution will have a lasting
impact for someone else.
In many cases, however, starting the process of where to donate your hard-earned funds can be overwhelming. After all,
the array of groups requesting donations is substantial and includes 1.5 million registered nonprots in the U.S. alone.
In 2016, generous individuals donated a whopping $281.9 billion to U.S. nonprots, a 4 percent increase from 2015.
Because there are more than a million nonprots to choose from, the decision of where to donate requires serious
thought. When looking to donate, you should set some key criteria for choosing a group that means something to you.
During that process, you should consider seeking answers to the following ve questions:
1.
Does the organization have a history of success? Take a good look at when it was founded, exactly how it has helped people and
what it has accomplished to date. Do its achievements align with your ideas as to how the world can best be improved? Will this nonprot
have a real and lasting impact on a cause that you deeply care about?
2.
Do its contributions appeal to you emotionally? Contributing to a specialized nonprot that pulls at your heartstrings can be the
most fullling option. As such, you should seek an organization that clearly communicates how your money will be spent and how it will
help people in real, tangible ways. For example, for more than three decades The National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) has
supported the families of nearly 42,000 children battling cancer, providing more than $65 million worth of transportation, emergency
and emotional assistance, helping families stay strong, stay positive and stay together.