The Philanthropic Family

You’re so much more than money. When it comes to your ability to support causes, and ultimately bring about the world you want to see, the line item in your budget that is reserved for “donations to charity” is just the beginning of what you have to offer.

I see at least five additional categories that comprise your power to bring about positive social change.

1) You are a consumer

Linking our consumer purchasing decisions with our values is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal as a community. Think of how much you spend every week on groceries, drug store items, eating out, buying clothes, etc. In short, every one of those purchasing decisions can be a statement about the things you believe in.  Sound overwhelming? Start with a few baby steps.

1. If you have an iphone, arm yourself to make good purchasing decisions on the go with the free goodguide app, which will allow you to type in the bar code for products on the shelf and get back a rating that will help you understand the social and environmental impact of that product.
2. When you shop the Amazon catalog, do it through Alonovo, which pairs the search results with corporate social responsibility ratings for the company so you can include your values in your decision-making.
3. Or better yet, shop local bricks and mortar business to help your community thrive, as advocated by The 3/50 Project
4. Want to get started right away? Hand out fair trade chocolate this Halloween.
5. With the holidays fast approaching, shop for gifts at stores that support the artisans and pay them a fair wage instead of exploiting cheap labor. You can find all kinds of ideas for clothes and gifts through the Case Foundation’s Dressed to Give blog series.

2) You are an investor

The old model of screening out “evil” companies is falling by the wayside. Instead, talk to your investment advisor about finding green tech or clean tech stocks or other socially responsible funds. And when you get those proxy notices in the mail, instead of pitching them, look at what the corporation is going to do and use your position as a shareholder to advocate for responsible decisions. For more info on working in partnership with corporations to address environmental concerns, check out Ceres.

Don’t have a big stock portfolio (yet)? What about your 401k? Could you talk to your HR department about including socially responsible investment choices for your retirement plan?

Old myths that you have to sacrifice performance to achieve social or environmental benefits have been easily dis-proven, although many financial professionals continue to spout this old trope. So come armed with evidence.

3) You are a person with a reputation

Have you considered how your name as a supporter and contributor might be used to lend credibility and even a “stamp of approval” to support the charities you care about?

You have “reputational capital” that might be valuable among your peers. Offer it up, via testimonials, public appearances, attending events, etc.

4) You are a person with skills and talents

If your professional expertise is accounting,  have you considered how your knowledge of cash flow and accounts receivable could help the smaller charities you care about manage their money more effectively? If you are a school teacher, have you considered whether your skills as an educator might be put to use? Lots of charities need their walls painted and their envelopes stuffed. But I always find it more rewarding to use my professional expertise to help the charities I care about, because it’s something not everyone can do for them, and it’s something they really need.

5) You are a person with a social network

Your friends and acquaintances are also more than money. If you’re not a graphic designer but you have a friend who is, you might recruit them to the cause. They could design a logo, a program for the big event, table tents, web design, etc.  If you have a twitter following, can you recruit those folks or mobilize them to take action on behalf of your favorite organizations? Putting a badge on your Facebook page or changing your icon to the charity logo lets your friends know you are passionate. And when your favorite charity asks you to take action, pass it along to your friends to magnify your effect.

More and more people are using celebrations in their lives to ask people to engage with their favorite causes.

For her 40th birthday next year, my sister has asked my, my other sister and my mom to join her in a three-day walk-a-thon to raise money for cancer research.

Or you may consider a note for your next party that goes something like this: “We look forward to celebrating our [occasion] with you. In lieu of gifts, please consider making a donation to our favorite charity.”

Informal get-together? Ask friends to bring a few canned goods or gently used clothing that you will donate to charity. It doesn’t have to  be a big production, just a thoughtful gesture.

Live an integrated life

It is no doubt easier to write a few checks than to integrate your values into so many areas of your life. But a greater consciousness about our actions and how they affect the causes we care about helps us to feel empowered and in control. Maybe you can’t write that many zeros in your donation, but we can all live a fulfilling, integrated life.