HOW CAN I
SERVE?
"To give away money is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in any man’s power nor an easy matter" -- Aristotle
Resources
Time
Skill / Talent
Ideas
Sharing your resources with those who lack resources can be done through cash donations to charity. Other charitable contributions can involve other things you own such as clothes, furniture, and vehicles. Setting up an estate can also be done to ensure that your resources are distributed in a manner in which you approve and in the most efficient way possible (i.e., going to those who need it the most).
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Keep in mind that any asset in your possession is a potential resource that can be used for the greater good of society. One creative illustration of this involves frequent flier miles. There are several charities and causes that can use/accept frequent flier miles (e.g., to help transport volunteers, or to help with emigration out of impoverished countries). Another resource people often forget: blood.
This can involve volunteering your time to devote to a specific cause. This might involve something as simple as answering phones for an organization, or as complex as organizing a national fundraising campaign.
Fundraising is another way of spending your time to collect money for a cause or organization utilizing the spending power of the community.
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Another way to utilize your time to help others is through advocacy. This involves drawing attention to a particular issue/cause and, hopefully, inspiring and motivating others to take action. Often, this will involve political action and activities, but can also involve use of the news media, internet/social media, or can be as simple as discussing important issues with friends.
What do you enjoy? What are particularly good at (e.g., cooking, computers, design, languages, music, physical fitness, sewing, writing)? Perhaps you have an area of expertise due to your education or employment history (e.g., business, counseling, engineering, law, medicine, teaching). Chances are that these skills, because they are not available to everyone, can be a valuable resource to someone. Many times, your skills and talents can be directed toward a worthwhile cause to help others.
This will likely involve a combination of your treasure, time, and talent. It involves coming up with creative new solutions to existing problems and putting them into action. For example, you might have an idea for reducing hunger in your community by establishing connections with farmers, grocers, and restaurants and developing a system to help distribute their perishable overages to those in need. A successful example of this is the Nobel prize-winning "bank for the poor" which created the concept of microcredit.
RESOURCES
LOCAL
RESOURCES
EMPLOYMENT
Idealist
The world's best place to find volunteer opportunities, nonprofit jobs, and internships."
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"Apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community."
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"Jobs that change the world."
The most direct way you can help is often by focusing on people in your community. Most localities have crisis centers, homeless shelters, food banks, domestic violence shelters, tutoring centers, hospitals, blood banks, and correctional facilities. Many of these will accept donations and also have volunteer opportunities.
Getting involved in city or state politics is another way to help serve others locally. It is often much easier to affect change at the local level. For example, you can communicate with members of your local city council and attend town-hall meetings. These opportunities can be used to affect public policy and promote services and programs for those in need.
Finally, you can get creative in trying to help those in your local community. One example involves granting a reprieve for people who are about to have their utilities cut-off. This can be done by going to the local utility office and offering to pay for one or more accounts that are set to be shut off that day. There are many possibilities.
There are always opportunities to integrate service to others with training and/or work.
RESOURCES
VOLUNTEER
There are a number of nation-wide organizations that rely on volunteers to help provide service to others. Many of these organizations also accept monetary donations.
"The nation's premiere donor and volunteer-supported youth mentoring organization."
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"Building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need."
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"Travel overseas to make real differences in the lives of real people."
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"A national system of volunteers, contributors, and local charities."
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"Dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential."
CHARITY RESOURCES
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Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to make a difference where it is needed the most. Many of these organizations also have options for those who wish to volunteer their time. For those looking to support a very specific cause, JustGive and GuideStar are great resources that includes a database of 1.8 million charities that can be searched by locale or through different cause categories. Charity Navigator, Give Well, Giving what We Can, and The Life You Can Save are also good resources for evaluating the accountability and transparency of thousands of charitable organizations.
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United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
"Send cash directly to poor households in the developing world."
"Help children -- humanitarian aid and emergency relief."
"A global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger."
"Provides medical assistance to improve the health of people affected by poverty & disaster."
"Responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises."
"Rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression."
"An online charity that makes it easy to help students in need through school donations."
For those that are entrepreneurial self-starters, have some connections, and have a specific cause they would like to advocate, fundraising is a good option. By enlisting the charitable spirit of others, you can donate financial resources that go far beyond your personal means.
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GoFundMe "Free fundraising for the people and causes you care about."
Fundly "Turn your dream into reality. Tell your story, raise money, and change the world."
Contact your U.S. Senator
Contact your U.S. Representative
Contact your state governor
Contact your state legislature
Contact your local mayor
Contact your local city council
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Contact a specific government program
Like fundraising, advocacy is a way of making a larger impact by enlisting the help of others (i.e., getting others to help you help others). Click here for advocacy tips for writing/calling/meeting legislators, making public testimony, and interacting with the news media. The Advocacy Planning Cycle is a helpful tool that outlines specific steps to help you get started advocating for a specific cause.
Change "The web's leading platform for social change, empowering anyone to start petitions."
FUNDRAISING
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
ADVOCACY
