You already know
three things that you can do with your money - spend it, save
it or invest it. But you also have another choice: You can
give it to groups that help other people, animals or the
environment.
When you give
money to charities, you can help make the world a better place
for yourself and others. Gifts like these are quite popular
among kids like you. In a survey conducted in 2000, six out of
10 students in grades six through 11 said they make their own
charitable donations.1Most
popular are gifts to religious groups, health-related
charities, groups that help the homeless, organizations that
help animals and groups that provide relief during disasters.
Where to begin
If you're interested in charitable giving, you can start by
finding a charity that's involved in something you care about.
It might be a group that helps kids who are sick or one that
works to protect whales. After making a list of causes that
are important to you, pick one that you feel most strongly
about. You can then look for charities that work in this area.
Many kids like to help local charitable groups. To find one
near you, check into organizations that do fundraising at your
school. You can also find out about local charities from your
library, town government or local newspaper.
You can also
search for charities online. By visiting their websites, you
can learn a lot about what the groups do and how you can help
them. You can search for information about U.S. charitable
organizations at Guidestar.com (www.guidestar.com ).
Giving smart
Finding the right charity may take some detective work. You
want to make sure a charity really does what it says it will
and that most of the money you give goes directly to the cause
you want to help.
Here are three key steps to
smart giving:
Step #1: Investigate
With the help of your parents, contact charities that interest
you and ask for information about what they do. Never give
money to a charity that you don't know anything about. The
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org )
offers information on a wide range of charities. You might
also check out the Internet Nonprofit Center (www.nonprofits.org ).
Step #2: Evaluate
From the information you receive, find out exactly what the
charity will do with your donation and how much of your gift
will actually support that work. While some of the money you
give will help pay the group's administrative and fundraising
expenses, make sure that most goes to the cause itself.
Step #3: Donate
Find out the best way to make your gift. Although some local
charities accept cash, national organizations usually prefer
payments by check or credit card. If that's the case, you
might give cash to your parents, who could then write a check
to the charity in your name.
Planning your gift
There are many ways to raise money for a charity. For example,
you could set aside part of your allowance or money that you
earn - say five or 10 percent. Or, you could collect bottles
and cans, turn them in for money and then send that money to
your favorite charity. You could also hold a bake sale or car
wash that raises money for a special cause. You might consider
other kinds of donations, too. These could include old toys,
games or clothes you no longer use. Gifts of your time as a
volunteer may also be appreciated.
1The survey was
conducted by the Yankelovich Partners on behalf of the
Lutheran Brotherhood in May 2000 and the results were
announced December 4, 2000. (press release, Lutheran
Brotherhood). |