Giving to Your Community

How to Find Reputable Charitable Institutions

Donating time, money, or goods to charity is a very rewarding experience. Unfortunately, there are many fake charity organizations that exist simply to scam people out of their money. On the other hand, with a little research you can find a charitable group that is legitimate.

Decide what type of charity you want to support. Charities cater to a wide range of needs and issues. You can choose from any number of these including those that work with homeless animals or those that help the environment. When finding an organization that you wish to donate to, one of the first things you can do is search online directories such as Canada 411 for a list of these groups. You can also find out what kinds of donations are preferred. Some charities do prefer a monetary donation, while others may be looking for in-kind donations of services or labor.

Various charity directories can also help you find a reputable charity. In addition, there is an IRS online directory . This directory is pertinent if you are planning to take a tax deduction for your donation. You can determine if your chosen charity is registered with the IRS, thus allowing you to claim a tax deduction.

Many phone books also include a special section dedicated to charities. In addition, many newspapers also list charitable organizations as a public service.

Finally, because approximately 70 percent of U.S. households contribute to charity organizations, you can use your friends and family as a resource for finding a reputable organization to which you can donate.

Filed Under: Charitable organization, Charities, Society Tagged With: Charitable organization, Donation, Internal Revenue Service

Effective Management of Volunteers

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Managing volunteers may be more challenging than it appears. People who sign up to volunteer are often motivated by some personal reason or devotion to a particular cause. However, human beings are imperfect and their dedication and commitment can fluctuate based on changing moods and life’s multiple priorities. Managing a group of volunteers requires a few effective strategies.

Creating Reminders About the Initial Commitment

By virtue of not being paid for their work, volunteers may treat their obligations with lesser priority. Tardiness and leaving the task midstream are common challenges associated with volunteer positions. Although many volunteers are conscientious, their day-to-day actions may vary, delaying the completion of important projects.

The most effective way to address these problems is by creating a regular routine that continually reminds the volunteers of their initial reasons for signing up. Volunteer reminders may include pictures and other visual images displayed on desks, walls and the surrounding areas of the people the volunteer organization is seeking to serve. Assisting the poor, the disenfranchised and other groups can be brought to the forefront of volunteers’ minds when relevant pictures serve as instant reminders.

Establishing Incentive Plans

Keeping volunteers committed to their tasks can be enhanced by establishing a rewards system. Recognition awards for excellent work and gift certificates to favorite stores may encourage some individuals to maintain their commitments when their motivation is at a low point.

Holding encouragement circles is also an effective strategy. In such activities, volunteers take turns praising one another for specific qualities they have displayed throughout the volunteer project.

Filed Under: Volunteering Tagged With: Opportunities, Philanthropy, Volunteer

Culture and Fashion: Dictated by Hollywood

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You often see Hollywood portraying the future with people dressed in “street” clothing or more intimidating clothing. This is usually repeated by Hollywood on the red carpet or by similar means. Once an outfit hits the red carpet or is worn by a teen’s favorite actor, that fashion trend is then launched into the general public. Many people will replicate the look and wear it as their “street” clothes. Dereon shirts are one such example of new cultured fashion.

Over the last several decades, we have seen fashion come and go, from bell-bottoms to shoulder pads and one thing remains constant, personality. We always want to portray a look that reflects our various personalities. Dereon shirts can do just that, they allow the personality to shine through in such a diverse mash up of culture. Not a single person is the same, and we need a design that can reflect those differences and Dereon shirts are the best example out there, with many various styles and designs, it is impossible to “not” find a particular design that fits a particular personality.

The most popular at the moment are the clothes that portray an intimidating attitude. While the person wearing such clothing may not indeed be intimidating the clothing can give that particular vibe. Dereon shirts are an excellent way to portray attitude and fashion sense. Culture plays a large role in or fashion choices and with every decade comes a new trend, however our need to remain unique and express our personality remains the same.

Filed Under: Society

Charity Giving Tips When Natural Disasters Strike

What do hurricane Katrina, Haiti and Chile earthquakes and the Japan tsunami all have in common? Each natural disaster saw huge world reaction resulting in nations giving their time, resources and money to help the people affected. Thousands of people spend their time and income trying to help organizations who were working to help the people involved.

Most likely more natural disasters will occur and countries will call on people to help provide food and supplies. One of the best reactions is that people will turn to charities to help meet the need. Here are some charity giving tips to consider before texting or sending out your check.

When looking to give money to a nation devastated by an earthquake or tsunami, do a little research to find a well-established charity in that country that was already working in the nation. Avoid giving to newly founded charities.

In order to make sure your donation goes to a family affected by the Haiti earthquake, designate where your investment needs to go through that organization. A charity will normally let you know what individuals are lacking in their struggle with their loss. This tells the charity you want the donated money to go to the family instead of somewhere else.

Check out the charity by researching what the organization does and where its money goes. You should check out the charity’s website. Many websites such as Charity Navigator are available help you figure out this information. Ask yourself what the charity’s nature of work and their focus for help with the disaster. For example, do they provide medical care? Do not be afraid to find the answers to your questions before giving online. This is something noble to do before you throw out the free samples that come in the mail, the Rocawear clothing that you bought without trying it on, or the second hand toys your kids don’t play with anymore.

Filed Under: News