DECEMBER 1 is Giving Tuesday

When choosing to donate to or volunteer with a charity, adults know that their choice of charity is an i mportant decision.

When choosing to donate to or volunteer with a charity, adults know that their choice of charity is an important decision. Many charities rely on volunteers and donations from private citizens to meet their missions, which only illustrates the vital role such men and women play in making the world a better place.

Many people would love to volunteer with or donate to every charity whose missions they support. However, time and budget constraints often prevent wellmeaning people from supporting more than a handful of charities. Though it’s not easy to choose one worthwhile cause at the expense of another, those who want to pitch in can take certain steps to simplify the process of choosing a charity.

• Do your research. One of the best ways to narrow down your list is to access charity ratings and reviews through organizations such as Charity Intelligence Canada. Such organizations vet charities based on various criteria, including the effectiveness of their programs and how donation dollars are spent. Donors may feel more comfortable donating to charities that have well-established reputations for making every donation dollar go as far as possible, while volunteers may feel more connected to a cause if they can experience firsthand just how big a difference their efforts are making.

• Choose a cause you feel strongly about. Adults who support organizations whose missions they feel strongly about will likely be more inclined to continue working with or donating to those organizations than those who choose charities based on a whim. Consistent volunteering and donations, whether they’re made on a monthly or annual basis, can help charities build more effective budgets, thereby supporting both their short- and long-term programs and goals.

• Don’t overlook local charities. Overseas charities that help underprivileged people in developing countries are often great choices when choosing a charity. But donors should not hesitate to look into local charities in their own communities as well. By supporting local charities, donors can help members of their own community. A successful local nonprofit benefits the local economy by creating jobs and also helps the greater community by assisting the underprivileged in the area. In addition, donors may feel a greater sense of satisfaction when seeing how their volunteering efforts or donations are helping to transform their own communities. (MCC)