6 Tips for More Informed Giving

Hey everyone, Ashley has a background in non-profit management and philanthropic giving, so she’s stopping by to share a few ways we can be more mindful when we make charitable donations or think about using our money to support a mission. She created a Grant Writing Crash Course for anyone interested in finding funding for a public service project or community program with information on how to find grant funds, write a successful application, and plan a program. If you make a donation to the Equal Justice Initiative and email confirmation to ashley@yogabycandace.com, we’ll share it with you for free. Thanks for the support. xo - Candace

As I do the work of uncovering my biases, privilege and ways I have contributed to white supremacy and systemic racism in this country, I am feeling all the things - but mostly I feel angry. I feel angry at myself for my failings as an ally, an educator, a human. I feel angry that this is the legacy we’ve inherited. I feel angry that we haven’t come as far as we thought. I feel angry that even though so many are awakening to the need for change, there is still opposition. But my anger doesn’t help anything if I don’t allow it to fuel a concerted effort for change. Throughout the process of the learning and unlearning, I have to take action. If you’re feeling the same way, and want to learn how to make charitable donations with confidence, this is for you. 

The internet has become a lobby full of organizations asking for your money and support, and I’m sure in the midst of an economic recession and a global pandemic, you’re thinking twice about how you spend your dollars. It’s my hope that we’ll all start thinking about using our money as an investment in change. Here are a few tips for making informed, impactful gifts to support a better community.

1. Seek partnerships with aligned missions. 

This one may seem like a “duh,” but it’s where we start. A quick Google search will show you a list of organizations serving the need you’ve prioritized, so head to their websites and read their mission statements. Most non-profits have a concise statement that embodies the purpose of their organization and overall reason for existence. From there, look at the programs and services they provide in service of that mission.

• Do they communicate who they are and what they do well?

• Is it clear where and how to donate or show support? (It’s worth considering how many other donations they’re likely to receive or how financially stable they are as an organization if you’re considering this donation an investment in progress.)

• Do these programs make sense as effective interventions?

• Is there a more impactful way you think we can approach this need?

• Do you see any assumptions or things they may be overlooking in their model? Especially if you’re a community stakeholder or someone who could benefit from their services, your understanding of how they can help and the environment in which their work exists matters.

2. Creep their social media like you met them on Tinder.

Now is the time to break out your investigative skills and start lurking. Scroll through their social media channels and notice how they communicate and what their strategy for gaining support is like. 

• Does their message feel right to you?

• Do they respond to people’s comments/questions?

• What emotions do they call on in seeking support?

• Do they also share sound data to support their narrative?

• Have they established credibility?

3. Know their leadership and other partnerships.

Many times organizations will list their partners on their websites, but you can find more on this via social media and web searches. 

• What experience and investment do their board members or highest level of administrators have in this work?

• How do you feel about the organizations they align themselves with?

4. Check their numbers. 

Non-profit organizations still have to make money. Despite the misleading term, they have bills to pay and need money to keep the lights on and pay their employees, but they don’t exist for profit. They receive money from donors with the implicit agreement that they’ll be good stewards of that investment, and you can check their track record of fiscal management. Form 1099 is the IRS reporting form for organizations exempt from federal taxes, and they are public record. They include detailed balance sheets of an organization’s income and expenses, salaries of their highest level employees, and more information that gives you insight to how they manage their resources. You can find 1099s online at websites like Guidestar or Charity Navigator, or by issuing a FOIA request. FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests take time, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to the organization and ask them. If they’re unwilling to share that information with a potential donor, that’s a red flag.

5. Connect with them.

Reach out to them if you have questions about how your donation will be used.

• What programs will it specifically fund?

• Can you earmark it for a certain program?

• Can you use it to support the overhead of the organization, so they can worry less about keeping the lights on and focus on reaching more people?

• You might also ask to learn more about their logic model, the plan that details what they need to produce their desired outcomes. Ask them the specifics of how they aim to create long-term change with their services.

6. Don’t stop with one donation.

Consider turning your one-time gift into a relationship and a commitment of ongoing support. Even if it’s a small amount, monthly donations, or a designated budget for giving can really add up in terms of funding public service. Keep checking in with the progress of this organization. Notice if their responsiveness is consistent, how they communicate with their donors, and how they evaluate their own work. Be a source of accountability.

I hope this was helpful! If you haven’t already, please check out the work the Equal Justice Initiative is doing. If you make a donation of any amount, send confirmation to me at ashley@yogabycandace.com, and I’ll send you the Grant Writing Crash Course I made to help people find financial support for public service.