The Case for Giving to the Cause Next Door
We are living in no ordinary time. The winds of change that have come to pass in recent months have, at times, risen to the intensity of a hurricane. Tens of millions of Americans have become significantly more concerned that their voices, and especially their values, need to be heard, with many of them taking direct action to achieve this. Non-profits and social service organizations that have become part of the storm have seen astonishing increases in charitable giving, giving them and their causes a new lease on life.
To all those who have “found” their voice through actions such as these, and are ready to led their actions speak louder than words through their charitable giving, we must ask ourselves: what are the best ways to make a difference through charitable giving? Where can I make the most impact in making a difference in the lives of others? We may not have realized it but the best places to make the most impact are often right next door: the communities and charitable causes where we live.
This fact is due to a simple matter of proportion. A massive, national organization will benefit from a gift of $500, but it doesn’t make a huge impact in a budget running into hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. By contrast, many local non-profits are struggling to stay afloat in the post-Great Recession economy, even though they provide critical services to families and communities affected by the fraying of the social safety net. To them, $500 goes much further and has a far greater impact, since it is going to professionals who know just what is needed to make the best progress possible on the local level, an area most nationally-focused non-profits do not support. For example, every dollar given to United Way of Greater Union County sees over 90 cents go directly towards our programs that strengthen our communities, a much higher “bang for the buck” than a dollar sent to an organization with a national presence and thus significantly greater operational costs.
Even as we watch and attempt to shape the changing landscape of the world around us, it is critical that we also “live our values” in our own towns and communities. By making charitable contributions to our local non-profits, we not only prove our commitment to others but do it the best and most effective way possible – by giving to the cause next door.