https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 18:32:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2652136 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:43:03 +0000 PeaceLily 2652136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in fundraising for a non-profit. Depending on your capacity, I would say a monthly gift throughout the year would be very beneficial. We have over 600 mid-level donors at my organization and most donors in this bracket give a monthly reoccuring gift. Also, from a fundraising perspective it's ideal to give your gift as unrestricted, which means the organization will put the money where it is most needed. All non-profits are in need of unrestricted funding, it really helps, but is often the most difficult to raise since most major donors prefer to donate toward a specific project/cause that they feel strongly about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651720 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 07:06:24 +0000 erinbaderin 2651720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: If you donate in Mike Pence's honour and put his address in he'll get a certificate of donation sent to his office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651703 Sat, 12 Nov 2016 22:35:54 +0000 DesertDreams88 2651703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I identified causes that were important to us and charities that work on them (mostly local, one international). We set up monthly reoccurring donations for them all. We also usually donate to large international organizations 2-3x a year for international or national disasters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651516 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:07:57 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2651516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our YMCA annual campaign is going on right now and 100% of donated funds go back into the community to support families and at risk kids. Some is for tutoring programs at our local schools, some pays for camp for kids who would be hone alone in rough neighborhoods during the summer. Theres a whole slew of programs we run through generous donors, and the Y covers all of the overhead to make the most of the gifts. </p> <p>You may be able to find a similar local organization. And if you had an interest you could probably give time to their programs as well. We can never get enough volunteers. There is always more need than we can meet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651514 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:57:19 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2651514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NorCalWayfarer: I like all your suggestions and I love that idea of in someone's honor donation. So clever </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651513 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:56:30 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2651513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: I see that and would love to add international organizations to my list, but specifically I am trying to find organizations that may directly help horrible things that may start happening with the new presidency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651477 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 18:39:05 +0000 PawPrints 2651477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The most impact you can make with your donation is made by giving internationally. Some tips: <a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7434741/holiday-giving-charity-donation" rel="nofollow">http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7434741/holiday-giving-charity-donation</a></p> <p>Against Malaria, Deworm the World, and Give Directly are all very highly recommended for their lives-saved-per-dollar value. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651469 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 18:15:30 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 2651469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, one of my friends recently donated to Planned Parenthood and apparently you can donate in someone's honor so she included Governor Mike Pence as her honoree. I thought that was great so I'll probably do that too just to bring a little levity to my life right now :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651468 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 18:14:16 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 2651468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm part of a giving circle (part of the 100 Who Care network) where we get 100+ local women together to donate $100 to a select charity each quarter -- so each charity gets a $10,000 check for a 1 hour presentation. There are chapters all over the country. It's $100, four times a year. <a href="http://www.100whocarealliance.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.100whocarealliance.org/</a></p> <p>I also donate to organizations that my friends/family are part of -- my mom is on the board of a local non-profit that helps adults with developmental disabilities; we donate/ride in Cycle for Survival in honor of our friend who passed away; I'm on the Board of a couple local education/women's organizations so I donate money and time to those organizations. It's totally not organized in any fashion but I just follow my heart and interests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651456 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 17:27:46 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2651456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: I know. There are many deserving causes and organizations. But I try to remember that we can't be all things to all people, and to do my best.</p> <p>Other thoughts: instead of giving money, there are many other ways to effect change and support organizations at a local level. For example: you can get deputized to register voters, you can volunteer as a precinct worker, you can knock on doors or make phone calls for local candidates, and you can give food/clothing to local emergency support organization. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651455 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 17:19:30 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2651455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I have had a couple of local organizations talk to us about donations (during the federal donation drive), they all stated that a small recurring donation was very helpful. This included as small as $5 a month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651449 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 16:59:53 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2651449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLonghorn: this is the exact thing I wanted to know. It's just overwhelming because there are many categories that I consider important to me. So my monthly donations would be a lot smaller in that case :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651445 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 16:56:56 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2651445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been thinking about this a lot and am planning on the following general strategy, while still working out the details. Of course, you should do what you are comfortable with, and what fits your budget. </p> <p>National: large, powerful advocacy and legal organizations (eg: ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center. You mentioned climate, and I would put it in this category)</p> <p>Local: the direct-service organizations that are going to see an increase in needy clients at their doorstep. This will vary by city and interest. Personally, I am looking at proven organizations in my community that support women's health, LGBT, immigrants, etc... </p> <p>Local: news organizations. Local papers were generally hurting lately (not related to the election) but their reporters are now openly being targeted. I plan to support my local reporters via public radio and newspaper because they are the people/orgs who will fight to keep me informed.</p> <p>Broadly speaking, as a grant maker, unrestricted operating funds are invaluable and always greatly needed. This allows the organization to spend the money where it is most needed at any given time.<br /> As for your idea about "donate to a different organization for a specific issue each month?" Recurring/annual gifts are also worth their weight in gold, because they provide steady, reliable income. Some organizations will prefer recurring gifts in small amounts monthly, some prefer larger annual gifts -- mostly, just knowing that it is coming at a regular interval (whatever that is) is very helpful. If your gift will be a one time thing, and you need to spread out your giving throughout the year and across multiple causes, then feel free to switch every month. But if you are wanting and/or able to make a longer impact, I personally would not recommend that approach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651440 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 16:33:17 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2651440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: good idea! I'll probably do a Mix of local and more national. Like Maybe sierra club or green peace, I am so worried about the climate (among other things). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651436 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 16:30:29 +0000 youboots 2651436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This time of year is usually 'fundraising season' for charities. I'd go to facebook pages of local charities and see if there are any events coming up. Recently I went to a benifit luncheon for a local group that runs a relief nursery and diaper bank. I donated a one time check and received a receipt the next week. It's a legit charity if you can write it off on your taxes. I think the more local you go the more oversight you have- you can go to events and have the chance to be hands on. Not to say large worldwide charities are not amazing- I'm passionate about helping children in my rural county. You just need to reflect on your priorities and choose based on that. I think fundraisers are a good way to see what their philosophy is and get a lot of great information. </p> <p>ETA I think picking one or two charities and giving them a monthly amount helps with their yearly budgeting- if it's $10 or $100 a month they know they can count on it. I think it's called sustainable donor ship or something along those lines. Someone who has worked for a charity would know better though.</p> <p>What an awesome question. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-make-donations-count#post-2651431 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 16:22:09 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2651431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As one of my personal ways to stop reeling and feeling helpless from the election, I am planning to get back on track with charitable donations. What's the best way to make impact? I am going to add this into my monthly budget because I have embarrassingly let this category slide completely since I bought my house a few years ago, aside from random things that came up. So, Choose one issue, research best organization, and make recurring monthly donations? Choose two or three and split the amount in between? Donate to a different organization for a specific issue each month? I've seen some great roundups for where to donate and I also want to go back to some lists of boycott suggestions. I am also looking into some really neat local places that help refugees in my community for potential volunteering. You smart financial bees have to know the best way for me to make my dollars count. :heart: </p>