Make a regular plan to give, there’s always a need

WASHINGTON, D.C. » I’m in awe of the generosity and volunteer efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

There was the Chick-fil-A manager who helped an elderly couple who had called in an order for two grilled chicken burritos with extra egg, and a boat. The manager sent her husband with his boat — and some fellas on jet skis stopped to help.

Then there was the owner of a furniture store who opened his showroom full of comfy couches, display mattresses and recliners to evacuees. Many people are welcoming displaced families into their homes.

The need is immediate for tens of thousands of people in Southeast Texas and surrounding states who are suffering in ways most of us can’t imagine.

But once the floodwaters finally recede, so many people will still need help. It’s at this time that generosity can wane because the catastrophe won’t always be front and center. The media will go back to politics and other topics of the day because that’s the nature of news.

And before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here and people will once again be prompted to pitch in. They will give bags of food and volunteer at churches, soup kitchens or community centers. And then the volunteers and the money dwindle, until the next holiday — or storm — tugs at people’s hearts.

Can I ask you to do something while you’re in a giving mood?

Think and plan how you can become a year-round giver of your time, talents or cash.

Among the steadfast volunteers at my church we talk about the 80/20 rule. It’s when 20 percent of the people are responsible for 80 percent of the work and/or giving. Ask yourself where you stand in this imbalance.

There’s actually a principle behind this rule. It’s called the “Pareto Principle,” after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.

Following a column last week about wise giving in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I received an email from Nicole Burton of Maryland.

Burton gives. She pays dues at her synagogue, makes special High Holiday donations, and contributes money to a few arts and cultural organizations in her neighborhood during fundraisers and membership drives. She also supports public radio.

“I sometimes give very small amounts to people on the street,” Burton said.

Despite all this, Burton says she still feels that she isn’t doing enough.

“I have, for a while, wanted some guidance on how to plan and manage my charitable giving,” Burton said in an interview. “I wish I had a more coordinated strategy and practice of giving. But I don’t know how to go about getting there.”

Here’s what I told her on developing a lifelong philanthropic plan.

• Find your charitable

niche. My passion is financial literacy, so the majority of my time and talents are directed toward helping people with money issues.

Based on your values, what’s important to you? Maybe it’s feeding the hungry or addressing educational inequity.

You can only volunteer so many hours, so target your money and energy to one major charitable area. This doesn’t mean you can’t help out on other causes, but become a major supporter in a particular area of need.

There’s something else you get from concentrating your charitable efforts. Through trial and error, you come to a better understanding what works best.

Here’s another bonus of having a strategic philanthropic effort. You don’t have to feel guilty about not having the time or money for multiple appeals. You can simply say you’re already committed to another cause.

• Be deliberate with your dollar donations. Either budget a percentage of your income or settle on giving a set amount. My husband and I follow the principle of tithing. We give a tenth of our annual gross income to our church. Our giving in large part supports our church’s community outreach and charitable work.

If you’re not religious, then choose a charity or nonprofit you want to regularly help. Set up automatic payments. And, if you can, build some flexibility into your budget, so you can give when there’s unforeseen need like with Hurricane Harvey.

• Volunteer when you

can. Be as committed with your time as you are with your money. And show up when you say you will — regularly.

Although your presence is needed, it’s understandable when there are times you just can’t volunteer.

Burton is a caregiver for her husband, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s. So she doesn’t have a lot of time to volunteer.

I told her not to feel guilty that her giving is mostly limited to cash donations. Her husband

needs her time right now.

Burton’s right about having a deliberate approach to altruism. Establish a plan. Because there’s always need.