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How to Get Into Philanthropy

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As defined by Merriam-Webster, philanthropy is the giving of money and time to help improve the lives of others. Despite the straightforward definition, philanthropy can relate to a broad range of actions, which is why a question many of us ask is how does one get into philanthropy?

When exploring this question, ask yourself, “What causes do I care about most?” With numerous organizations supporting a variety of causes, it can be difficult to choose among hundreds of philanthropic organizations.

As a result, many donors are strategic in their giving, meaning that they ensure that their donations will yield the best results coinciding with their beliefs. To help realize what causes you care most about, rank organizations according to the categories that they address, such as people, places, issues or philosophies.

Sites like CharityNavigator.org and GiveWell.org are helpful when researching and ranking organizations. Don’t be shocked if your rankings change over time. Like everything else, this is a learning process, so allow yourself some time to learn the best ways to donate.

Although monetary donations keep organizations working toward their specific cause, giving time is just as important as giving money. Organizations are always looking for volunteers and even full-time employees dedicated to the organization’s cause. The most popular position people typically apply for in a philanthropic organization is that of program staff member, whose main responsibility is grant-making; but there are so many more positions available that applicants may typically overlook.

Employment opportunities typically available at a philanthropic organization include: member of the foundation board, senior management, finance, programs, communications, administration/human resources, donor relations, research and grants management. All of these positions play a major role in an organization’s daily operations and in the achievement of its core mission.

An increasing amount of volunteers are serving the world’s poor in both the U.S. and foreign countries. Although the common perception of volunteers is that they are merely young and inexperienced college students or graduates volunteering to simply pass the time, volunteers are just as important and influential as employees. With the timing of assignments ranging from weeks to months to even years, volunteering can directly correspond with one’s schedule.

Volunteering has become more than just an easy way to assist international development efforts or humanitarian relief work; anyone can learn new skills and share their knowledge with others. With various opportunities available across the world, finding a volunteer position that is related to your interests or expertise is easy, thanks to sites like Volunteermatch.org and Idealist.org.

Even though philanthropy is commonly associated with donations, it goes beyond donating money. While considering how to get into philanthropy, remember that every action helps, whether you contribute your finances, time, or even your gifts and talents.

– Meghan Orner

Sources: Merriam-Webster, Philanthropy New York, Devex, Bridgespan
Photo: MillanCPA

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Tour de Meals: Biking to End Hunger

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We all think of biking as a great way to exercise, but 67-year-old Tony Fritz found another great reason to ride his bicycle: ending world hunger. Fritz began this 1,500 mile route at the Global Aid Network (GAiN) Headquarters in Plano, Texas on June 30, and he estimates his arrival at the GAiN Distribution Center, which packages and ships food for humanitarian aid, in Mount Joy, Pa. on July 30.

Some of us may question why someone would commit themselves to this daunting task. Fritz provides a very straightforward and honest answer, “Because many people living in impoverished or war-torn areas do not have enough to eat, and because many of them die needlessly, I am raising money to send food.”

The U.N. estimates that 842 million people are suffering from hunger around the world, which is why Fritz is biking to raise awareness of this global health issue. According to Fritz, “If only one child in America died of hunger or related issue it would be a travesty and reported nationally. Tragically, it does happen thousands of times daily throughout the world and morphs into an impersonal statistic.”

Along with raising awareness, this bike ride known as the “Tour De Meals” is also a pledge-per-mile fundraiser. A mere penny given for every mile Fritz bikes equals a $15 donation, which will feed a child in need for a whole month.

In order to prepare for this 1,500 mile bike route across the country, Fritz began training indoors during the winter for at least an hour five days a week, and he rode up to 80 miles a week outside during the spring.

His hobby of bicycling with his son also helped him prepare for this long journey. Fritz has been riding bikes with his son for 15 years now, and they even planned a cross-country bike ride from San Diego to Pennsylvania together about four years ago. Although Fritz was not able to complete this 2,800 mile route, he was able to bike about 55 percent of it.

A native of Reamstown, Pennsylvania, Fritz has been volunteering at GAiN as a Food Process Manager ever since retiring as a math teacher in 2006. GAiN is a humanitarian organization that works to help the world’s poor and needy through relief and development projects in the Americas, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia.

Since its launch in 2003, GAiN has created five programs: food, agriculture, clean water, education and relief. Through its Food Program, more than 13 million meals were given to children and their families across the world in 2012. This specific program is mainly responsible for packaging projects, shipping food and providing lifesaving food aid to those most in need.

Fritz is a perfect example that anyone, by any means, can make a difference in the fight against global poverty and hunger. He sums this idea up perfectly: “There are a lot of good causes out there, a lot of things to pour your life into, and this is one of them. I don’t think everybody needs to do this, but everybody needs to have awareness of it.”

To follow Fritz’s bicycling journey across the country, read his blog and even donate to the cause. Visit TourdeMeals.org.

– Meghan Orner
Sources: Global Aid Network,, Tour de Meals, Mission Network News, Greene County Daily World, UN
Photo: Auto Europe

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Zach Braff’s Wish I Was Here

“I can’t do this all on my own” are the familiar musical lyrics that introduced each episode of “Scrubs” during it’s nine season run.  Though “Scrubs“ turned actor Zach Braff into a television and indie star, his new film project certainly shows how Braff cannot achieve his artistic goals “on [his] own.”

“Wish I Was Here” is a film written, directed and starring Zach Braff, picking up on the themes he first explored in his well-received debut film “Garden State” back in 2004.  The film follows a thirty-something actor, played by Braff, searching for a purpose in life and struggling to make ends meet for his two young children.

Other actors featured in the film include Kate Hudson, Anna Kendrick, Jim Parsons and “Scrubs” co-star Donald Faison. The film premiered to a standing ovation at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

What makes “Wish I Was Here” unique, however, is the fact that fans independently financed the film.  Braff, moreover, launched a Kickstarter campaign with a stated goal of $2 million since, according to the film’s Kickstarter page, Braff rejected traditional funding methods to avoid “signing away all artistic control.”

Braff also saw an opportunity for his fans to have a direct impact on the filmmaking process.

Incentives for donating to the film range from a production diary at $10 and a meet and greet with Braff for $600 to being cast in the film as a featured extra for $7,500.  These incentives, matched with the originality of the fundraiser, led to a final total of $3,105,473 donated by 46,520 individuals.

Though a $10 donation to Zach Braff’s film garners a production diary, 80% of the world’s population live off of less than $10 a day, with 660 million living on less than $2 a day.

What could you buy for the fight against global poverty with a $10 donation?

With $3, you could buy a bed net to protect one of the 18,000 children who die daily from mosquitos carrying deadly diseases while for $8.50, you could feed an entire family in a developing nation.  Though Braff’s film is no doubt an artistic achievement, it is easy to wonder what kind of impact his 46,520 backers could have made for global development.

– Taylor Diamond

Sources: Kickstarter, UNICEF, Global Issues
Photo: Bustle

5 Most Charitable Companies

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Sometimes, it can be curious to put certain large corporations in perspective, analyzing what they give to the world versus what they earn. The large sums of money below constitute only miniscule percentages of companies’ total earnings – what if efforts were combined and doubled among these firms? Presented here is a brief account of last year’s (2012) top five most charitable companies in the U.S., and how much each respectively donated:

1. Wells Fargo & Company – Bank giant Wells Fargo tops the list, having donated a hefty total of $315,845,766 USD for various charitable purposes. This constitutes the estimated share of 2011 pre-tax profits donated to 1.3%.

2. Walmart – The American convenience store that has it all, Walmart donated $311,607,280 USD in cash in the past year, and gave away $755,868,381 USD worth of products from the store itself. The share of 2011 pre-tax profits donated is 4.5%.

3. Chevron Corporation – A chain of gas stations across the country, Chevron Corp, too, has had a hand in philanthropy. In the past year, the company has donated $262,430,000 USD (0.6% of 2011 pre-tax profits).

4. Goldman Sachs Group – The luxurious department store gave $241,278,912 USD in cash in 2012, making it a 3.9% of their profits in 2011.

5. Exxon Mobil Corporation – Another favorite gas go-to destination for Americans, Exxon has donated $213,374,183 USD in cash and $2,433,200 USD in products – 0.3% of their total earnings the year before.

– Natalia Isaeva 

Sources: Forbes, Huffington Post

7 Organizations To Donate to This Christmas

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The holiday season is underway and many of us are starting to focus on buying gifts and organizing family reunions. As Christmas Day approaches, thoughts become more and more occupied with getting that last important gift or buying that last ingredient for a favorite holiday dessert. According to a recent Gallup Poll, the American citizen expects to spend an average of $786 this Christmas, up slightly from last year’s estimates. In addition, 30% of respondents said they plan to spend $1,000 or more this year.

But aside from their importance to retailers, these predictions also show how important Christmas is in American culture. But what could this caliber of spending do for world issues? It has been estimated that all it would take to eradicate world hunger completely is $30 billion every year, a figure that could easily be reached every Christmas season if a percentage of holiday spending were diverted to the cause.

1. UNICEF United States Fund Donations to this branch of the UN would make an impact for poor and malnourished children around the world. You can choose to make regularized monthly gifts or a one-time gift. Money goes toward vaccines, emergency relief, and new opportunities for education.

2. Books For Africa Perhaps consider giving a Christmas gift to African children. Giving just 50 cents provides a child there with a new book. According to its website, this organization sent 2.2 million books to Africa in 2012, and you can donate to help them send more.

3. Against Malaria Foundation This foundation fights malaria worldwide. Donations go toward the purchase of nets that protect against infectious mosquito bites. Nets cost $3 each, and to date it has raised $21 million and bought over 6 million nets.

4. Give Directly This organization was founded by students at Harvard and MIT. It allows people to donate on the web, and then the organization finds a needy family in Kenya and sends the donation to the family’s cell phone. According to their website, many families there own cell phones, and for those that don’t they provide solutions. Over 92% of funds donated go directly to Kenyan families.

5. Oxfam America This organization is part of the larger Oxfam International, which works in many ways to end wrongs and problems worldwide. The entire organization works in over 90 countries and has 17 branches. It is involved in a variety of areas, including disaster relief, microfinance and aid efforts in Sudan and Syria.

6. Proven Impact Fund This fund is part of Innovations for Poverty Action, an organization founded by scholars who conduct research on the best methods of helping the poor. Money donated to the fund goes to programs that the IPA has found to be reliable and successful based on its research. According to its website, all of your donation goes to these programs. Funds are also given based on what needs are most pressing around the world at a given time.

7. The Hunger Project This program seeks to end hunger in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It focuses on building self-reliance in the poor and also on helping women. It works in microfinance, safety and nutrition for mothers and children and HIV/AIDS, among other areas.

– Sarah Wieberdink

Sources: Gallup, FAO, The Life You Can Save, Charity Navigator
Photo: Commons

Black Friday Cost Comparison

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In an American tradition lasting a few years short of a century, the day after Thanksgiving has heralded one event above all others: Black Friday. Although not coined as such until the 1960s, the last weekend in November for millions of Americans now represents long lines, cheap goods, and exceptionally surly customer service.

Last year, a reported 247 million shoppers took part in the seasonal shopping extravaganza, spending $423 each, approximately $59.1 billion in total. Not to be outdone, the National Retail Federation projects $602.1 billion in holiday sales this year (From Thanksgiving to Christmas), up from $579.5 billion in 2012.

T.V.s are important, especially when they’re on sale for a limited time only. And the joy of scoring the Big Bang Theory DVD from Wal-Mart at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day cannot be understated.  Unfortunately, Black Friday affects more than just the endorphins of the stalwart shopper. As the truly devoted consumer grits their teeth and fights for every last deal, the plight of Typhoon Haiyan survivors diminishes in the wake of the bustling holiday season.

Although Americans are noted for their generosity when it comes to international disaster relief, the amount of spending achieved on this one day highlights how much more could be done.

According to charitynavigator.org, in 2012 individuals donated around $223 billion to charities, comprising 72% of the $316.23 billion annual total. An entire year of donations makes up just under 40% of the total spent on Black Friday alone.

Instead of purchasing that ultimate box set collection for dad, Magic Bullet for the college student, or the absolutely essential new PlayStation 3 game for yourself, try diverting that potential spending toward charitable organizations dedicated to aid.

For perspective, as of September, a 25 kilogram bag of locally imported rice was priced by the National Food Authority as 1,880 Philippine Pesos, which converts to less than one U.S. quarter. For the amount of money expected to be spent this year, an astronomical 2.4 trillion bags of rice could be purchased for the Philippines.

For considerably less effort than it takes to brave the crowds this weekend, shoppers could divert funds to a charity of their choice. The Red Cross offers an SMS service where $10 is automatically donated to disaster relief every time someone texts REDCROSS to 90999. Every time you’re waiting in an hour-long line in the next few days, think of the good you could be doing, even from the comfort of your warm couch.

– Emily Bajet

Sources: Red Cross, Statistic Brain, Syracuse.com, Charity Navigator
Photo: Fleet Feet Sports

How to Make Christmas Merrier

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For the world’s privileged, the Christmas season means mistletoe and hot chocolate, evergreen conifer trees with glistening ornaments, piles of presents and stockings hung on the fireplace mantle. In fact, Christmas is the largest global market stimulus due to an astounding proliferation in sales that account for almost a fifth of the retail industry’s annual sales.  In the United States alone, consumers collectively spend a whopping $469 billion during the holiday season with the average family allocating roughly $800 purely to holiday indulgences and travel.

However, a substantial portion of the world’s population is deprived of such blissful and lavish holiday revelry. In many areas of the world, Christmas is not celebrated as a joyful commercial and religious event comprised of frantic trips to the local mall and family bonding; it marks just another day of struggle and survival. Even in America, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, poverty plagues about 45 million people.

Due to this, many organizations provide methods in which individuals are given the opportunity to help impoverished families and communities during the holiday season. For example, since its founding in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has given gifts to over 100 million impoverished children in approximately 130 countries worldwide. In order to make a donation to Operation Christmas Child, individuals are instructed to fill any durable shoebox with child-geared gifts and a $7 shipping donation.

Furthermore, Alternate Gifts International also allows people to lend aid during the holiday season. Unlike Operation Christmas Child, AGI focuses on distributing gifts such as nonperishable food, shelter, vegetation, livestock, and medical supplies. All of which promotes sustainability and community health. To facilitate the donation process, a catalog of needed resources are listed for prospective contributors to choose from.

Much like AGI, UNICEF released a poignant campaign urging consumers to purchase their Christmas cards and gifts online through UNICEF with the tagline of “we go where Santa doesn’t.” According to this endeavor, the purchase of each gift goes towards providing life-saving items, such as mosquito nets and water kits, to impoverished children. Hollywood actor and goodwill ambassador Orlando Bloom supports the campaign by stating “I like the fact that [it] does not simply provide people with the humanitarian aid, but also elaborates on the tools to solve problems and improve the life of children and women.”

Although simply donating to these charitable organizations provides gifts and assistance to communities in need, staying informed and enlightening others about global poverty is also an additional, albeit less direct, way to give back during this holiday season. In doing so, poverty is pushed to the forefront of national agendas.

– Phoebe Pradhan

Sources: Statista, Last Throes, Investopedia

How to Teach Kids to Give Back

Teach Kids to Give Back
1. Teach kids to be empathetic toward others in need. Children naturally want to help others, with a little guidance and encouragement it comes easily. For example, when a child at a playground sees another child fall down, their automatic instinct is to help. Foster this instinct and lead by example.  When you’re walking into a store with a food drive bin, toss in a can of soup. Offer change to a homeless man on the street or water to a stray dog. These simple yet impactful acts of giving will instill empathy in children. Also, allow them to see you do this and they will have questions. This opens up conversations about giving at a very early age.

2. Take advantage of every opportunity to give back. There are always times when someone is in need of help. When you spot that need, fulfill it. The help could be as simple as holding a door open for an elderly woman or as big as volunteering at the food bank holiday drive. Moms and Dads are a child’s first and most important role model.  Let your kids see that helping others is simple and an everyday occurrence.

3. Create a list of annual charity events the whole family can be involved in. There are many organizations that allow whole family involvement and help from smaller kids. In fact it’s encouraged. For instance, make it a point to give change every time your family sees those familiar bell ringers with their red kettles. Doing this each time will cause your little ones to become excited to give.  Use those opportunities to start the dialog about who the money in the red kettles benefits and what a difference they are making. The Tree of Sharing is another great campaign held annually.

Children feel good knowing they are making another child’s Christmas gift wish come true. Trick or Treat for UNICEF is also a fun way for children to give back to others globally. For over 60 years UNICEF has joined little ghosts and ghouls on their journey for treats. Children simply say trick or treat for UNICEF and hold up a UNICEF print out box to hold donations. Participating in the various walks and runs for charity is a perfect way to give back in the warmer months, as well.

Make giving a part of your everyday life and it will become a part of your child’s as well.

– Amy Robinson

Sources: Giving Tuesday

Gift Ideas that Help the Poor

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As the holiday seasons quickly approaches everyone is starting to brows stores and write shopping lists for their friends and families. This year take a few moments to consider an alternative gift list for your loved ones.  There are some innovative organizations that make donation gifts a lot more fun. Instead of giving classic material gifts like scarves or chocolates to your family you can help families struggling with hunger and poverty around the globe.

Heifer International Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty. When American Dan Heifer worked as an aid worker during the Spanish Civil War he realized that distributing cups of milk to the hungry was only a temporary solution.  He thought to himself “why not give them a cow?” This is the philosophy that drives Heifer International.

Their holiday gift catalog titled “The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World” allows individuals the chance to give a very meaningful gift to those on their list. In the catalog you can chose from a variety of options including donating an animal, providing women with empowerment, supporting sustainable farming, or providing families with basic necessities. Here are some of the great gifts you can give:

1.     Heifer – $500 (full) or $50 (share)

2.     Sheep – $120 (full) or $10 (share)

3.     Bountiful Harvest Basket – $72

4.     Gift of Irrigation Pumps – $150

5.     Launch a Small Business – $365

World Vision World Vision has a similar program called the “World Vision Gift Catalog” that allows people to give gifts that aid people living in poverty both in the United States and globally. They have a large assortment of gifts ranging from emergency aid to care for orphans and widows. Some of their most popular gifts are:

1.     Goat and Two Chickens – $100

2.     $350 Worth of Medicine – $35

3.     Hope for Sexually exploited Girls – $35

4.     $250 worth of necessities in the USA – $25

5.     Share of a Deep Well – $100

Charity Choice If you would like to let your loved one chose a charity that will be particularly meaningful to them consider Charity Choice Gift Cards.  Founded in 2004 by Mark Finkel, Charity Choice allows buyers to make a donation and receive either a paper card or eCard. This gift card entitles the recipient to select a charity for their gift to be donated to from an online list of over 250 charities.

– Lisa Toole

Sources: Heifer International, World Vision, Charity Choice

Pizza Hut Donates to Philippines

It is almost impossible to watch a program on television without seeing an advertisement from one of America’s top pizza restaurants, Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. and is known for delivering more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant in the world. The Pizza Hut name has come very far since its invention in Wichita, Kansas 55 years ago.

Pizza Hut is also a top partner of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world’s largest effort to fight hunger worldwide. Pizza Hut has been involved with WFP since 2007 and has donated over $10 million in the form of over 40 million meals to fight hunger in the United States. Pizza Hut also founded the Pizza Hut Harvest Program to independently donate meals to shelters in the United States.

Pizza Hut recently declared that a designated percentage of its World Hunger Relief donations will go to the Philippines. The recent typhoon in the Philippines has left 2.5 million survivors hungry and in need of food. Scott Bergren, President and CEO of Pizza Hut, emphasized the importance of aid to the survivors when he said “the purpose and intent of our partnership with the World Food Programme is to provide relief through food to those most in need, and nowhere is that need more urgent now than in the Philippines.” Bergren also took a moment to thank the WFP for allowing Pizza Hut and Yum! Brands to help so many people.

Other major companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, FedEx and Google have also donated to those in the Philippines in light of the recent tragedy.

– Lienna Feleke-Eshete

Sources: CNN Money, Market Watch
Photo: Entrepreneur