Another Ways to Donate

First, What is the meaning of philanthropy? Philanthropy means give anything wholeheartedly. Here, wholeheartedly means that you give something to someone without expecting any rewards in returns.

Second, Who are the philanthropist? Maybe, for most of us, philanthropist is a person who donate lots of money or time in order to make positive change. However, just because you are not a billionaire doesn’t automatically disqualify you from becoming philanthropist. Everyone can be a philanthropist in their own way even you and me.

Third, What are the benefits of philanthropic activities? Giving something to others doesn’t mean that we are the one who will get problem. In fact, it brings some advantages for the givers.

• Experience: Philanthropic activities can be added to your CV as work experience, which can be especially helpful if you want to gain skills for the first time or in a new area. Many people get involved in volunteering while job hunting to keep their CV fresh and up-to-date while they’re out of work.
• The feel-good factor: It can be very rewarding to feel that you’re doing a bit to help a particular charity achieve its goals. The majority of charities depends on volunteers to perform behind-the-scenes roles and while it might not sound very glamorous, it’s often vital for successful day-to-day running of an organization.

Fourth, What are they usually give for the donation? For most of us, the meaningful charity for others only done by money. Because of that thought, many people donate their savings for the poors or orphanages or they’ll give their money for support education, health issues or natural disaster.

 Next, What do we have beside money? Everyday, the ordinary people like you and me can also become philanthropist. We have a lot to donate beside money. Remember, you have great assets beside money. You have your time, networks, energy, resources and your help spreading the words. All these together can be more powerful than money. Let me explain you how it works.

First, talent. For example, if you are an expert in technology or design and you notice a local organization is in need of a website or could use a better website, you could ask if they would like your help in creating one. This would allow you to offer your skills and maybe even work from home in your spare time while providing a valuable service to your charity. In the end,  they don’t need any web designer and your talent could save them hundred thousands or even million of rupiahs. Another example, donate the profit from your talent to the poor. If you are a good singer or dancer, you could join some of the competitions and then the cash from won that competition can you give to the poor. This kind of activity not only beneficial for the poor whom you give but also you who already shown everyone that you have a great talent and behavior.

Next, time. Organizations are in great need of volunteers for all positions, and will always welcome your assistance. Charities need both money and volunteer service to keep running smoothly and effectively. While many people may feel overwhelmed by their already busy schedules, it’s always possible to fit in time for a volunteer commitment. You’ll find the consistent attendance of a regular service time to be a calming, stabilizing force in your life, and you’ll find yourself looking forward to seeing those individuals that you work with. Volunteering your time can heighten your levels of satisfaction, and you can be proud of the effort you put into giving back to your community.

Resources. Turn off the lights you aren’t using and finally make the switch to energy-saving bulbs. Take a shorter shower. Turn off your computer monitor when you aren’t using it. Write family members’ names on the different cup and use them all day rather than getting a new cup every time. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. How can these activities become charity? Through these activities, you can promote energy independence and make the changes in your lifestyle that conserve resources and reduce emissions.

Energy. Inspite of their time, a volunteer can also give their energy. While it’s easy to feel that your contribution isn’t worthwhile if it doesn’t come out of your own pocket, charitable giving comes in a range of different forms. Volunteering for an organization or helping them to raise funds can be just as valuable as giving money directly and most charities will be extremely grateful for your support.

Stuff. Donate unwanted items. Wherever you live, chances are that there is at least one charity that would benefit from unwanted clothes, toys, and other items that are still in good condition. Beside giving it directly, you can also engage your antique stuff to the fund raise. After you get  the cash from the fund raise, you can give it to the poors or orphanages. Other example, a supermarket or mall gives a free coupons for the costumers in some condition sometimes. You can switch the coupons for something and give it to the beggars.

Organs. You can donate your organ such as your blood. Most people between the age of 17 and 65 can give blood, with men able to donate every three months and women every four months. The most time-consuming part is finding your local donor center and setting up an appointment; actually pumping out a pint of the red stuff can take as little as 10 minutes. If you’re able to give blood, you can make a big difference to someone’s life. Moreover, you might even save one.

Without spending lots of money, we can all make others feel welcome in our meetings and our conversations and our communities. Even a day or an afternoon of volunteering can be incredibly full-filling. Hold the elevator door for someone running late and let someone with only a few items go ahead of us in line. These small things are what we call being “gracious,” or “charitable.” To truly be charitable, we don’t have to give our money so much as we have to give of ourselves.