Guidance on Holiday Giving

Should you feel guilty saying no to the phone caller who "really needs your help to end" (insert disease here)? What about the young man at the door selling candy? What about a group that sounds like it supports local law enforcement or firefighters? Are you being selfish or cynical by saying no? Not according to charitable giving experts who suggest taking the time to be sure your gift will be used wisely.

    The following guidelines can help you direct your giving effectively:
  • Don't wait to be asked. By directly contacting a charity or organization you can support groups that may not have the resources to hire fundraisers. This is also a great way to keep your support local. Just pick up the phone and call!
  • Refer to an official register of charities to be sure the organization is legit.
  • Take the time to research a group using a website such as Charity Navigator or Smart Givers (listed below).
  • Be sure your donation will be used for the actual cause and not just to pay for marketing and fundraising. While directing resources to raising funds is obviously important, you want to be sure the group exists to fulfill its mission first, and not support its fundraisers, whose take can be as high as 25-95 percent of the donations they bring in.
  • Beware of names. There might be a lot of difference between two groups who have very similar names, and less reputable groups or even scam artists can benefit from intentionally being mistaken for a well-respected charity.
  • Give more to fewer places. Consider your values and personal priorities and target your giving accordingly. Focusing on a specific issue can make your giving more effective.
  • As questions—about what they do, how your money will be used, anything you want to know.
  • Volunteer. Even if you can afford to support a group financially, helping them do the actual work lets you share in the reward of fulfilling their mission.

Charity Navigator is a comprehensive website that let's you search specific charities and offers useful lists, including topics such as "The 10 most inefficient charities" and "10 Charities Overpaying their For-Profit Fundraisers." Also offers guidance specific to many situations, including dealing with phone solicitations and advice for elderly donors. http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Smart Givers is sponsored by the United Way and allows you to search Minnesota charities. Charities Review Council, 2610 University Avenue West, Suite 375 , Saint Paul, MN 55114-2007 http://www.smartgivers.org/

Organizations

First Nations Development Institute: Helps Native American tribes and communities rebuild their economies through asset-based community economic development http://www.firstnations.org/.

The Saint Paul Foundation awards Diversity Endowment Funds (DEF), funding groups and organizations throughout Minnesota that are developing innovative programs to address issues affecting communities of color http://www.saintpaulfoundation.org/

STEP—St. Louis Park Emergency Program The St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) has served the St. Louis Park community since 1975, evolving into a community wide resource serving the basic needs of more than 1,600 people each month. STEP is more than just a food shelf; it provides a full-service resource for people in need and helps people by providing advocacy, referrals, and going the extra mile to serve those who are most vulnerable in our community. 6812 West Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426, Phone: 952-925-4899 www.stepslp.org/

ICA, Intercongregation Communities Association, has been in existence for 40 years. Our clients are your neighbors who find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Most of our clients work, but do not make enough money to cover the basic needs of their families. Some are able to achieve financial stability rather quickly, while others require ongoing assistance and support. Call or visit their website for instructions on making a donation or to pickup food or arrange other assistance. 12990 St. Davids Road Minnetonka, MN 55305. Phone: 952-938-0729 www.icafoodshelf.org

Emergency Foodshelf Network is a full service food bank, providing quality, nutritious food and support services to over 200 hunger relief partners, including food shelves, onsite meal programs, and Fare For All sites, throughout the state. Partner agencies receive free donations from EFN, and accent what isn't donated by purchasing basic staples at or below wholesale cost through EFN's bulk purchasing program. Purchased items include rice, beans, stews, frozen chicken, eggs, hygiene products, and many others. EFN works hard to provide the best possible price to stretch budgets of partnering agencies. www.emergencyfoodshelf.org. For a directory of local foodbanks, searchable by county, visit: https://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/HungerReliefPartners/GetHelpNowList.aspx

The Lost HarvestThe Emergency Foodshelf Network Inc. (EFN) is collaborating with the Food Providers of America (FPA), an agency that rescues and distributes produce that can be redistributed to those in need. Each year, millions of pounds of first quality fresh fruits and vegetables are unable to be distributed and are thrown into landfills. The produce comes directly from Mexican growers into the U.S. at Nogales, AZ border and is inspected by the USDA. While the produce itself is free to EFN, the cost of getting this nutritious, fresh, quality food to those in need lies in the transporation of the product from the southwest border region to Minnesota. EFN is seeking ongoing financial support from the community to help make this program a reality. For more information about The Lost Harvest program, please contact Ted Evans at 763-450-3869 or at tevans@emergencyfoodshelf.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are far too many homeless shelters, food banks and other non-profit organizations to attempt a list. A simple Internet or yellow pages search will turn up plenty of local opportunities, or visit the United Way's volunteer match website. (http://unitedwaytwincities.volunteermatch.org/) Don't forget about hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, veterans groups and other community resources.

Ideas for Alternative Gift Giving

New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. Check out their "Simplify the Holidays Guide" for great gift suggestions, including gifts for children, homemade gifts, family gifts, ideas for donating in a loved one's name—even advice on how to "regift" with tact! www.newdream.org

JustGive is the fastest, easiest, and safest way to give to nearly 1.5 million charities throughout the world. Provides detailed information about each charity, a quick way to search for charities by name or keyword and an easy way to donate. This one-stop charity shop even offers gift cards! www.justgive.org

Heifer International employs a holistic approach to build sustainable communities around the world. Their global initiatives focus on issues key to meeting their mission "of ending world hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. Perhaps the most well known of Heifer's several innovative programs is gifting livestock. You can buy a beehive, a cow, a goat or a share in any of these to help support a family and spark effective and long-term micro-enterprise opportunities. Visit their website for a wide array of support options including support for HIV-AIDS, Gender Equity, Young People's Initiatives and more. www.Heifer.org

Hope Equity Micro-endowments model uses the power of compound interest to invest your donations and then distribute the interest. Think of it as a personal savings account for giving. Each gift you make is a deposit into your account, and over time, your money earns interest. A percentage of that interest goes to the causes you select, and the remaining amount goes back into your account. The great part is your original donation is never touched—it grows forever and keeps working until the problem is solved. www.hopeequity.org

The National Association Of Free Clinics (NAFC) is a nonprofit organization providing advocacy and service to Free Clinics throughout the US.Freeclinics.us Donate frequent flyer miles:

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