Finding Motivation in Philanthropy and Social Impact
If you've ever hit a low point in your life or career, it can be tough to get motivated and push through. Sometimes, this happens because we're not as connected to society and all of the people who rely on us for their well-being. But, there's good news! Philanthropy is on the rise - social impact work is being taken more seriously than ever before. And with charities like crowdfunding sites Kickstarter and GoFundMe, there's no excuse for you to overlook an opportunity to contribute to a cause that matters most to you personally.
With the rise of social impact work, more people are today trying to solve problems and make life better for the world as a whole. This is because, you know what? There's a whole lot of people out there that other people can help who you don't even know. Imagine how empowered we'd feel if we realized all of those people needed our help? Why not take a few moments to look into the causes that matter most to you and see if you can donate some money or effort towards making your world just a little better?
New ways to do philanthropy
There's been an increase in the amount of research being done on effective types of philanthropy. One of the main factors to consider when choosing a philanthropic cause is your reason for doing it.
One of these reasons to consider donating to charity is because you want to help others. Some people want to donate because they're highly motivated, while others are more reluctant. Of course, there are many other reasons that people choose to give back - maybe you're passionate about a particular cause or you believe in the work that it's doing.
The artists at Beneath the Salt
"Philanthropy is doing good with no expectation of reward. It goes way beyond guilt. It's about doing something as a response to what you believe."
The impact of your donation
When deciding whether or not to donate, it's important to know the full scope of what you're donating to - if you're donating to one organization or many, make sure you know how they are using the money so that you can be satisfied with your decision. While some people may choose to donate large sums of money, others may want to give a smaller amount, go on a study abroad trip or take part in an event and showcase their work.
By taking this into account, there's no reason why anyone should ever put down their big cause and pick up another one. The money they donate makes it possible for others to give back and make the world just a little better. Another big factor to consider when deciding whether or not to donate is the type of person you are as well.
"It doesn't necessarily mean you're doing something different than anyone else, but you might be leaving out people who need to hear from somebody...If there are people who lack representation in the dialogue, that's where it becomes important." - Sara Kamel, CEO of Beneath the Salt
How you can donate
Maybe you have a steady job that pays well and your boss is completely okay with your volunteering. Maybe you're in a position where you know that your boss is fully on board with donating time off and money. Or, maybe you're on a tight budget and aren't sure if giving money to charity is even possible.
If the first two examples don't work for you, there are plenty of other ways to donate to various causes. Perhaps one of the easiest ways that people choose to give back is through volunteering. Volunteering can be the perfect way to get involved in helping others - and it's something that most people can do with little hassle or stress.
Additionally, non-profit organizations in your area are always looking for volunteers for their cause and companies are searching for employees who want to help out locally with charities. Whether you're passionate about volunteering or don't know where to get started, the good news is that you don't need to be highly qualified in order to make a difference.
Take your time looking at causes that matter most to you and weigh your options of what it would be like for you to donate. Not only will you want to select the best cause, but keep in mind that there are countless other people out there who want the same thing as well - they just are unable to give their money away. Plus, by choosing a cause that reflects your interests and beliefs, it's easier for you to stay motivated and feel even more connected with society than ever.
Philanthropy is something that is incredibly important to many people - it's changing the way that people think about themselves and the world. Social impact work helps to make the world a better place, which in turn, makes it easier for us all to find reasons to give back.
Unless you're out there volunteering or donating money, you may not even realize how many people are out there in need of your help. What if you could change the lives of others and feel proud of yourself? This is something that most people take for granted - we don't realize how lucky we are until it's too late. But now's your chance to stop looking at life from a small perspective.
Give the world a hand today and you'll find that opportunities to do so are everywhere.
How do you give back? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Stay tuned for more from Beneath The Salt !
Check out my previous post about Positive Thinking here . I also wrote about Social Media for Nonprofits here . Connect with me on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Google + . If you liked this article, please subscribe or share it with a friend. Thanks for reading! :) Photo Credits: Feature photo - Policy Mic from Flickr.com Resource photo - Beneath the Salt from Flickr.com Image from Policy Mic and Beneath the Salt , respectively - if you use any of the images, please link back to this blog. Thanks! Positive thinking background photo by: Serion via Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) license .
Posted by Gina at 9:00 AM
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Conclusion
Nonprofit organizations are constantly looking for ways to make their impact felt around the world and raise money that can be put towards their cause. The biggest challenge for them is getting people to give, while the biggest challenge for donors is finding a cause they can feel passionate about. There are hundreds of people out there who could use your help - but don't get overwhelmed by trying to find the best one. Instead, take your time and think about what's most important to you in life; you won't go wrong by donating money or time.
Creating everlasting change is not something that happens overnight; it's a process that takes time, patience and dedication.