+ You've seen those online match-making services right? I saw a commercial last night for eHarmony which promised me a long lasting and compatible relationship.
+ I've decided to take them up on their offer. Perhaps I misunderstood the promise of this commercial, but I'm anxious to see if eHarmony can match me up with the perfect charity for me.
+ Okay, I'm signing up for eHarmony now(don't tell my wife).
+ Just like the commercial says eHarmony, "has a patented Compatibility Matching System which allows members to be matched with compatible persons with whom they are likely to enjoy a long-term relationship" - sounds like I'm in the right spot to find my match.
+ They're having me fill out a crazy long questionaire about myself and my interests. I'm not sure how my height and athletic ability will help me find a match, but I'm learning all sorts of things about myself and that is the first step toward finding the right nonprofit for you.
+ Know Thyself
+ Section 4: Values. "Am I looking for a long term relationship?" Yep.
+ Man, this thing is long, but yours doesn't have to be. Have you seen the first draft of our Personal Philanthropy Plan yet?
+ Making a list of your interests and values helps you to write a personal mission statement which is key to proactive, strategic giving.
+ Section 8: "My partner's skills at resolving conflicts." Very important to me. I need to know that my nonprofit partner is able to do the things they say they're going to do or are doing. Another place to get help with this is to examine a nonprofit's annual report. You can usually find these on the org's website. Here's an example.
+ Another place to find your nonprofit matches is the Community Shares Member Directory. You can easily search by name, location, and service area.
+ Section 11: My Skills. This is really important because it will match me up with a nonprofit where my philanthropy is reflected not only through funding, but also by giving my time and talent. Remember, anyone who gives back is a Shareholder.
+ Section 14: Location. "How far am I willing to search to find my match?" The closer the better. Community Shares is all about Colorado Philanthropy and we believe that making a difference is best accomplished on a local level.
+ Now onto my matches. What? "We couldn't find a match for you at this time." How is that possible? This system stinks - I'm going to use the Personal Philanthropy Plan instead.
+ My Values: Conservation, Investing, Self-Reliance
+ My Issues: Civic Engagement, Land Preservation, and Financial Literacy (not on there, but it will be)
+ My Matches: Colorado Open Lands, ACLU, Women's Bean Project. Unlike most online matchmaking sites Community Shares encourages you to find as many matches as you can!
+ Want to know more about the issues? Go here.
+ Additionally, some choose to take a holistic view of giving to the community. If you want to make a well rounded community impact then look into investing in our Community Shares Fund which is a gift to all of our member agencies and thus, a great gift to the community.
+ A very quick reminder that one bad apple doesn't mean the bunch is bad. Main street has now recognized the ailments that has been brewing on Wall Street for well over a year. Be good to one another as we will get through these turbulent times together as a community.
I hope you find YOUR perfect community match,
Shareholder Jason Manke
Communications Manager
Each fall, we ask Coloradans to support the charities and causes they care about most. At Community Shares, we encourage each donor to choose which nonprofit organizations will receive funding. Over 98% of our workplace donations are designated to individual nonprofit organizations.
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