Making your gift go further!

Community Shares values inspired philanthropy where people convert intention into action. Taking your community goodwill and putting it into action in a focused meaningful way. As you think about personally meaningful giving there are things you can do to leverage your community investment...

1. Consistent, long term giving is important. Consistent giving over time is very effective. The receiving nonprofit can plan more effectively, you will give more over time, and you will be more likely to see the return on your investment over the long term.
2. Give unrestricted funds as part of your giving. It is fashionable to ask “What percent of budget is spent on administration and overhead?” In other words, donors want all of their money to be spent on programs. There are good reasons for this but don’t force a nonprofit to invest in “program” only. Having a quality infrastructure is very important. Let the nonprofit decide where to best invest your dollars. Hold them accountable on delivering their mission and delivering quality programs but don’t “handcuff” them!
3. Participate in an employee giving program at your workplace. Payroll contributions through your company are a great way to give more money over time.
4. Ask your company to match your gift. Many companies will match your charitable giving to some extent.
5. Get your kids involved. Make philanthropy a family process! It makes giving money and volunteering fun and lays the groundwork for your kids to be the next generation of givers.
6. Get your friends and family involved in your cause! If you are passionate about something, tell your family and friends. They know you and will respect your interest. This leverages your individual philanthropy into something larger.
7. Venture Philanthropy. Groups like Social Venture Partners Denver can be very effective in making venture investments along with management, marketing, and IT expertise to nonprofits in startup phases.
8. Just do it! Every dollar counts just like every vote counts. It doesn’t take much to have a positive effect. Nonprofits are expert at leveraging every dollar. For example, $5 a month enables a sick child to visit a doctor twice a year at local nonprofit health clinics like Clinica Tepeyac.

- Jesse