You Get What You Give
Charitable giving is surely a major highlight of the holiday season as fundraisers and procrastinators scramble to take advantage of tax deductions before the year runs out. Sharing our financial resources is indeed an important way to give back and many worthy organizations depend on that generosity. When you give financially, you get the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting good works. When you make a more personal gift – of your time and talents, you get back so much more. Let me show you what I mean with a real life example of how your charitable activities can be fulfilling on many levels.
My Family Case Study: Brookline Teen Center
I’ve created a business plan for my life that addresses finding a good balance among my activities in the four major aspects of life: family/relationships, career/vocation, community, and mind/body/spirit. This year, my relationship with the Brookline Teen Center (BTC) touched all four. Let’s take these one at time.
Family
Each year, as we celebrate Chanukah, my family devotes one of the eight nights to supporting a charitable cause. Rather than exchanging gifts, we collectively select an organization as the recipient of our annual donation. This year, I was especially delighted when my 14 year-old son, Isaac, suggested that the Teen Center as our family charity this year because it was such a great choice on so many levels. With its mission to provide a safe, enjoyable environment where teenagers can engage in constructive, educational, and leisure activities while striving to develop diverse leaders who will enrich the Brookline Community, the BTC, meets all my criteria for giving. The fact that it touches my family directly is a bonus.
Career
My business life is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to fulfill their missions effectively and joyfully. When my friend and BTC Executive Director, Matthew Cooney, asked me to help them set their strategic priorities for 2014, I happily agreed, as doing so helps fulfill my mission. When touring the Center, I was so blown away by the incredible space they had created with the input of many Brookline teens, I immediately asked Matthew if I could hold my book launch event there – a place that embodies the kind of good works I’ve devoted my career to supporting. It was the perfect setting to launch a book that aims to help others use their talents to make their own unique contribution to the world.
Community
My family chose to support the BTC financially this year because it serves a large and unmet need our own community. With a teen at home who loves to play basketball, it also happens to benefit our family directly. We all felt a special value in supporting an organization where we can so readily see the positive impact it has on local teens.
Mind/Body/Spirit
One of the greatest things we can do for our own wellbeing is to use our talents to make a meaningful contribution to others. I’m always delighted to share my strategic planning and professional development skills with non-profits whose leaders have the commitment and resolve to offer programs designed to accomplish their mission and goals. I was pleased to agree to Matthew’s request help the BTC’s leadership set priorities and create an action plan for their first full year of operation. It’s an honor and a privilege to play some small part in helping this extraordinary organization touch the lives of teens in such an important way.
In this holiday season, I’m thankful for the Brookline Teen Center. While my family and I are pleased to support them financially, I am even more delighted for the opportunity to strengthen my personal relationship with them and to have a front row seat to watch their good works in action.
What’s Your Giving Plan?
Paraphrasing from the Peace Corps motto, If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he eats for a lifetime. Beyond making financial contributions, what are some of your unique skills that you could donate to a cause that is meaningful for you? When you give of yourself, you make a difference in the way only you can. In this way, your gift will keep on giving.