We take a look at a #GivingTuesday blog geared towards getting the most out of your donation next Tuesday.
Elie Hassenfeld, Co-Founder of GiveWell, is particularly aware of how many articles around great giving are published in the build-up to #GivingTuesday. Elie notes that many of these articles focus on not wasting your money, rather than how to make an ordinary donation great, which is the main point of his #GivingTuesday blog.
Elie lays down six useful tips to enhance the quality of your gift this #GivingTuesday:
- Be proactive.
- Be open-minded.
- Ask organizations to make a case that their programs work.
- Ask organizations how they’d use additional funding.
- When you give, give cash – no strings attached.
- Check back a year later and see whether the organization met its commitments.
“This #GivingTuesday, ensure your gift, be it time or money, has a great impact.”
He also suggests you should “consider multiple different categories of organization – job training programs, schools, food banks, etc.” As it’s “more likely you’ll find and support outstanding – not just ‘acceptable’ – organizations.”
Elie jokes that investigating great giving is a full time job, and it certainly is for the team at GiveWell. If you don’t have time to do as much research as you may like, he welcomes you to “leverage the work they’ve done, and save your own time, with a gift to one of our top charities.” Regardless, the message is clear, and that is not to settle this #GivingTuesday, but to ensure your gift, be it time or money, has a great impact.
Be sure to read Elie’s full article on the #GivingTuesday blog before the big day. Also follow #GivingTuesday and GiveWell on Twitter and stay tuned to the campaign by using the hashtag #GivingTuesday.
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