Find the best ways to help people during the holidays
So you’ve Googled ‘How to give back this holiday season?’ or ‘What can I do to help others during the holidays?’ After all this is the time of year with the largest increase in giving and asking.
As a former fundraiser, the holidays are well known to be a very important and busy time of year for a charity; coupled with inspiring reminders to cherish those around us and be grateful for the little things we have.
Here are 6 interesting conversation starters regarding charitable giving for your next holiday party:
- Two-thirds of people making donations won’t do any research before giving.
- Female donors are more likely to make a donation because of social media (64% of donations are also made by females), whereas male donors are more likely to give based on an email.
- Many corporations donate through employee matching gift programs, however, and estimated $6 – $10 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed per year because employees don’t submit their donations or even know their company will match them.
- The average gift by mobile users is $79, while tablet users give $96, and desktop users give $118, even though the share of desktop nonprofit traffic has decreased by 9% over the previous year.
- Over a quarter nonprofits will raise up to 50 percent of their annual funds from just their year-end ask, so for example an email you get with a call to donate, one of those phone calls that come from a legit looking number but always catch you while you’re in the midst of running errands on a Saturday, or, and the most popular method of raising money (shocking as it may seem), is from the mailout you receive with those crappy pens and personalized address stickers or cards.
- And nearly one-third of annual giving occurs in December, with 11 percent! Happening in the last three days of the year (December 29, 30, 31). That’s some crazy post-Christmas giving.
Perhaps you’d like to connect with more people in your community and want to find a non-profit that represents your values and makes a significant impact on the lives of others.
Read on for ways to find a charity that aligns with who you are and the best ways to help people during the holiday season.
I want to help people this Christmas, but where do I start?
It can seem overwhelming this time of year when there are so many stories spanning the spectrum from elation and joy to downtrodden and devastating. Our heart strings are being pulled in so many directions. Every time you open social media or see another news story there is a request to raise money for kids by donating to a real life Spiderman that lived with poisonous spiders for 3 weeks, or to purchase the Naked Clown Calendar in support of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), or donating blankets through Projectlinus.org. From addictions, to the environment, to a litany of social ills, there is a cause out there for you to give to during the holidays.
If you want to make a focused impact through your holiday giving, but don’t feel called to one specific charity then it may help to approach this decision from a few angles such as: choosing to give based on the hierarchy of human need, choosing to give based on four categories of giving, or choosing your giving based on which organizations need help the most during the holidays.
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted
Aesop
How should I choose which charity to give to during the holidays?
If you’re not sure what or where you’d like to focus your contributions, then you may look to Maslow’s pyramid of human needs to make your decision.
See below for a list of ideas that fall within each level of need.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was first put forth in a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation” in 1943 by psychologist Abraham Maslow. Known as the “father of Humanistic Psychology”, Maslow’s work has gone on to influence the fields of sociology, business, marketing, communication and education.
Essentially human needs are built in layers upon one another and one can only satisfy complex needs if their basic needs have been fulfilled.
Shaped like a pyramid, physiological needs are the foundation of human existence (water, shelter, food etc) while the tip of the pyramid is self-actualization – the need to fulfill your calling: becoming who you were meant to be. Basically, if you’re starving, it’s rather hard to realize your dreams of becoming a professional golfer. Similarly, if someone feels devoid of love or belonging, they will have difficulty expressing respect towards others or themselves. Every one of us works within this pyramid of needs and can relate to how it feels if they are scarce or unbalanced, so choosing to give back from a place of empathy will make your giving feel more authentic and satisfying.
Encyclopedia.com describes these levels and the needs within them in more detail below:
Types of charitable giving based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Here are ideas for different ways to give back during the holidays according to each level on Maslow’s pyramid.
Physiological
These should be the rights of all people, but unfortunately meeting basic needs is a struggle. Nearly half of Americans are unable to pay for their basic needs , and 1 in 7 people in Canada and around the world struggle to meet their basic needs, thus living in some form of poverty.
Give back in these ways:
- Donate money to your local food bank or refer to their website for items they require for the holidays
- If you feel comfortable and it’s safe to do so, help someone out who is asking for money or who may be going through a difficult time. These past few years have been especially hard, so a helping hand, warm casserole, unexpected gift card for groceries/gas/entertainment are all thoughtful ways of being helpful but not intrusive.
- Donate warm clothes, hats, gloves, blankets, jackets, shoes to a women’s shelter or homeless organization
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen or meal service in order to provide hot food for others
- Leave a bag of quarters or a laundry bundle (bag of washing detergent, dryer sheets, and coins) in the laundry room of your apartment complex or a local laundromat. You never know if someone is there trying to clean their clothes in order to find a better job
- You can join organizations like Adopt a Family or Holiday Hamper or various other Christmas assistance programs and get paired with families in need. Google how to adopt or help a family in your area to see what programs exist
- Donate Blood. It’s literally the gift of life and the holidays can be a critical time for blood banks.
Safety & Security
Being safe from harm, free from illness, feeling secure in our jobs, and comfortable in our environment are the needs reflected in this level.
Give back in these ways:
- Family violence has been on the rise over the past several years in Canada and in the United States nearly 20 people per minute are abused by a close/intimate partner. Here is a link to charities aimed at violence and abuse in Canada and United States
- Shelters for women and children fleeing violence often have specific needs depending on your area. It’s best to call ahead to arrange a drop off and to inquire whether they may need diapers and baby formula, certain toiletries, feminine hygiene products, household goods, or monetary donations.
- The Canada Safety Council is a resource for safety education and prevention in order to reduce avoidable deaths and injuries. An example of endowments you could support are one aimed for child safety and another aimed at traffic safety, both in memory of individuals
- GuideStar is a US database that has over 1.8 million IRS-recognized charities and non-profit organizations. There are categories to make the searching easier as well as
- Parkades can be extremely busy and then just like that eerily empty. If you see someone walking to their car in a dark parkade or garage, stay with your vehicle running and doors locked just to ensure they are able to leave safely. Offer to walk someone to their vehicle if you find it appropriate, just having someone else around, especially as a single woman, can be reassuring. Albeit it’s a fine line to being awkward.
- An unusual concern, but a legitimate one nonetheless, 50% of Americans are worried that package theft will happen to them, and is the “most worrisome crime issue for Americans, followed by property crime”. Offer to check on your neighbors or friend’s homes during the holidays or even visiting a neighbor you know is alone, can help people feel safe and cared for.
Love, Esteem and Self-Actualization
Your time and attention are the most valuable ways you can contribute towards these needs and give back to those in your community.
Give back in these ways:
- Seniors Christmas Cheer – Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for individuals 60 years or older who are alone in our community.
- Be an Elf is an organization that finds ways to donate to children in need through gifts, donations or answering letters to Santa from kids in need
- Spending time with the elderly or someone you know who may not have family nearby (perhaps a neighbor, colleague, family at your child’s school). Sending or stopping by with a simple card or tin of cookies shows them someone is thinking of them this holiday season
- Volunteer or donate to organizations that help people return to or enter the workforce such as the Gateway Association which exists to support people with disabilities in finding work and support inclusive employment
- Organize a group to go caroling or volunteer or participate in a charity run – connecting with other humans feeds the soul
- Send a letter to those in need through any of the resources listed here
- Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls.
- Donate to LGBTQ non profits that advocate for safe societies and educate communities about LGBTQ rights.
- Mentoring a member of your community or in your industry is a wonderful way to share your knowledge and help others build their skills. There are many organizations available from children (Boys & Girls Club) to more industry specific ones that you can do in person or even online where both sides are vetted and matched accordingly. Giving back in this way can really help push someone to realize their full potential thereby putting them in a place to pay it forward.
- Offer your services for free. If you have a skill or knowledge that you can share with someone, whether it be pro-bono work, mentoring, a random one-on-one with a stranger asking for help from a Facebook group. Sharing knowledge benefits everyone.
- Smile at someone; you never know what kind of day they are having!
What charities should I donate to for Christmas?
Non-profit organizations will often run campaigns during the holidays depending on their needs, projects, and demand. There are a number of charities that need more help than usual during the holidays such as food banks, crisis centers, homeless shelters, or blood banks to name only a few.
A quick Google search for a particular charity in your area should tell you if they have certain fundraising goals they need met or special holiday campaigns they are running. The best charity to donate to for Christmas is the one that aligns with your values and impacts an area that you are passionate about, it reaches your preferred geographical location (local or global charities), it is trusted, and it can offer you a way to give back that works with your style of giving.
Give back by Choosing from one of these 11 Charity Categories
- Animals
- Arts, Culture, Humanities
- Community Development
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human Services
- Human and Civil Rights
- International
- Religion
- Research and Public Policy
To help you compare and pick from all the different organizations out there, a few websites exist that evaluate charities and what impact your giving can have through them.
GiveWell searches for charities that save or improve lives the most per dollar given. There are a few select charities listed on this site, but with the donation impact calculator you can see how much of a difference your donation will make. It’s pretty cool, and interesting way to determine the best way to give back.
Charity Navigator Evaluates charitable organizations based on a variety of factors to find the best ones that align with your passions and values. There are tips for donors, top charities listed by country, and with a track record spanning 19 years, it has a robust database of information and history. This website is informative and should make choosing a charity meaningful if you’re looking to do some research.
Charity Intelligence Canada Is a similar database of nonprofits throughout Canada and a snapshot of what they do, their funding needs, and direct impact on the cause. There is a helpful list on the homepage outlining the Top 100 Charities in need as a starting off point to where you may want to give back this holiday season.
Animal Charity Evaluators is a site similar to those above that examines where you can have the biggest impact for animal charities. Keep in mind, contacting your local animal rescue centers or SPCA can put you in touch directly with a local organization that helps animals in your community.
A website for those who care about sustainable living, conscious eating, want more intentional and ethical consumerism, and are prepared to take action on climate change. This is a website that has numerous articles and thoughtful information to help you in your research and choose the best places to give this holiday season.
Using 4 types of giving to help your community during the holidays
Giving back can come in many forms and sometimes putting $10 in a pot doesn’t feel like you’re contributing enough to be effective.
Not all giving is the same and it’s okay to give in a way that feels comfortable to you and to the organizations that you feel passionate about. Saying no doesn’t make you a bad person or any less caring.
Basically giving back can be broken down into four main categories, which you can apply to your giving approach.
6 Questions to ask yourself if you’re trying to find your cause
- Have I been personally impacted by a disease, event, or individual?
- What makes me angry or upset to see? How could I contribute to solving the problem?
- What are the things I’m passionate about? What do I spend a lot of time doing? Don’t worry if these seem very trivial or simple, for example I enjoy web development so I found a charity that helps single parents find the resources they need to support themselves and their families, OneParent.org
- Do I like the programs this charity offers? Does it focus on many or just one issue? Most importantly, does it have a clear mission and plan of action, otherwise it is likely to fail if it has no plan to reach the goals it has set out to attain.
- Does it align with my way of giving?
- Are there options to get involved in the way I want? Can I give back through time, money, effort or offering my skills?
Final Thoughts
In summary, the best way to help people in need during the holidays is contingent upon your capacity to give and what charitable causes you feel passionate about and whether they are in-line with your values. Because there will never be a shortage of areas looking for assistance, you should choose a cause that identifies a human need that is lacking, is a reputable charitable organization with values similar to your own, and one that works with the type of giving you feel comfortable with.
Hopefully this post has given you some ideas to make that choice easier.
Merry Happy Holidays,
Thank you for helping to make this world a happier place <3
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