Feature Article
Giving Back
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2011
You spend a lot of time building your career, but how much are you
giving back? Even very successful folks who have ample time and money to
contribute often are lax in helping others. Don’t be one of them. Make
time to make a difference.
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Donate Time |
Time is valuable. When you mentor someone, volunteer to help an agency,
serve on a Board, or staff the phones or a table at a special event, you are
making an important contribution to the organization. You give it the extra
hands or consultation it needs to carry out its mission. Even well-staffed,
well-established organizations need your help because you can provide unique
input and perspectives it wouldn’t get otherwise.
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Donate Money |
Money talks. Organizations can have the best of intentions, but can’t
operate without funds. So your contribution means a lot, no matter how
small. Find a cause you believe in. Donate as generously as you can. As a
child, many people learned the habit of sharing some portion of any money
they got with someone in need or a worthy cause. As adults, it’s now routine
for them to allocate funds from each paycheck or monetary gift they receive
to their “philanthropy” fund – making it possible for them to donate
generously to those causes and events that they care about. You can help
others locally, nationally, or around the world. And the fact that your
donation usually is tax deductable is an added benefit.
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Leave a Legacy |
While it’s intensely rewarding to give while you’re alive to see how your
efforts and money are helping others, let your resources continue to do good
work in your name once you’re gone. People often find this discussion a
little creepy because they don’t like to think about their mortality, but
we’ve grown as a society to the point that many can designate funds to help
a given cause after their death. Think this is only for “rich folks?” Think
again. Many legacies are quite doable, even for folks of more modest means.
How about a book scholarship to help a struggling student? Camp tuition to
expose a kid to new experiences? Some portion of college fees if you can’t
swing a full scholarship? And if you have greater means, how about
contributing to research or future building projects? The possibilities are
endless. What matters is the perpetuation of your support – and your name –
in association with your cherished causes.
Success means building yourself but also helping others along the way. Make
your money – but make a difference too!
