01 January 2007
New Year's resolutions really worth keeping
'I will do more for charity'. If this is one of your New Year's resolutions, you may find these five tips really help you make a difference in 2007.
Resolution 1: Make an impact with your donation.
Make sure your giving is really making a difference. Asking about results will not only prisoners making bikes let you see what your donation has achieved but it will also help you assess the effectiveness of the charity. Tris Lumley, senior analyst at NPC recommends asking the charities you support for some results: ‘every charitable investment you make is an emotional decision but you’ve got to also be thinking about the impact that investment will make’. One step could be asking how many people the charity works with. The charity Beatbullying for example, not only works with children individually but also provides information and guidance to a further 300,000 people through its website. As a result of the charity's work, one in six kids stops bullying within six weeks.
Resolution 2: Fund the unexpected
This New Year, why not consider funding something a bit more unexpected? Charities dealing with prisoners, refugees and older people receive the least funding out of all charitable groups. This is despite the huge effect these charities’ work can have on the whole of society. The Inside Out Trust for example, runs workshops where prison inmates learn practical skills by renovating old wheelchairs and computers which then go to charities or overseas. By choosing to direct some of your donations towards charities such as this one you could help effective organisations continue their good work.
Resolution 3: Do more than tick the box
You can use Gift Aid to make your money work harder for every donation you make, even when there is not a box to tick. For the sake of filling in a few details, for every £100 you donate, the charity could recover a further £28. Jocelyn James, COO of NPC adds ‘many donors and, surprisingly, many charities do not take advantage of this easy way to significantly enhance the value of donations’. This is despite donations given through Gift Aid in 2003-4 resulting in tax repayments to charities of £586 million.
Resolution 4: Make it a family affair
Children sometimes think that money grows on trees. So why not let them see the wider picture and get them involved in your philanthropy? A businessman that NPC advises gets his family involved by having his grandchildren investigate charities and decide where they would like to donate money each year. Research shows that it makes sense to start kids young when it comes to charity, as people who give in their first year after university are more likely to be committed givers throughout their adult lives. You could even consider going a step further and taking your children with you to areas where charities work. A day’s volunteering could inspire a child’s interest in philanthropy more than writing a cheque ever will.
Resolution 5: Have fun doing it
There is no need to be po-faced about giving to charity. Research in The Economist shows that the buzz people get from giving is right up there with good food and sex. There are a variety of ways to enjoy your philanthropy. Many donors find visiting the charities they support is their favourite part of the process. Others enjoy visiting restaurants such as Abbevilles in Clapham, where they can treat themselves to a good meal knowing the restaurant provides employment for people with mental health issues.
Philanthropy need not be terribly worthy and dull. Perhaps sticking to these New Year's resolutions could turn out to be quite enjoyable after all.
Jane Thomas
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