Mini guide for charity
I designed this guide to help you figure out how you can give back, whether it’s through time, money, or just being that person who makes someone else’s day better.
It will help you reflect on where you are with charity and how you can level up (in a way that’s doable and meaningful for you).
Step 1: Reflect
Time to get honest about your charitable efforts. Spoiler: Rounding up at checkout kind of counts, but let’s aim for a bit more.
-
What’s your motivation here? Are you driven by a desire to help your community, make a difference, or just build some good karma points? Understanding your “why” helps make giving feel meaningful.
-
Take inventory—do you volunteer, donate, or lend a hand where you can? Even small acts of kindness (like holding the door open) count, but let’s see if there’s more you could do.
-
Are you giving regularly, or is it more like a once-in-a-while thing when you see a sad commercial? No shame—life is busy—but consistency can make a big impact.
-
Think about what makes you really care—whether it’s climate change, animal welfare, homelessness, or access to education. Aligning with what moves you makes giving way more rewarding.
-
Be real—do you feel connected to the impact you’re making, or do you wonder if your donation disappeared into the void? Feeling a direct connection to your impact can be a big motivator.
-
Giving can be a lot more fun when you make it a group effort. Could you involve your family, friends, or even coworkers? Team charity builds community and multiplies impact.
Step 2: Identify
Now, let’s get specific about what you want to change or improve in how you give back.
-
Maybe you love volunteering your time or using your talents, or maybe donating money is how you prefer to contribute. Figure out your giving style and lean into it.
-
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many causes needing help. Could focusing on one or two key issues make a bigger impact (and make you feel less spread thin)?
-
Maybe there's a cause you've been thinking about for ages but haven’t acted on. What’s holding you back—lack of time, fear of commitment, or not knowing where to start?
-
Sometimes giving money or time isn’t the only way. Could you offer your skills to a nonprofit—like designing a website, helping with accounting, or running a workshop?
-
If you’re giving money, are you sure it’s going where it can do the most good? Researching charities before giving can make sure your money has the biggest impact.
-
Charity doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Could you organize a charity bake sale, do a fun run, or host a movie night with a ticket price that goes to a good cause?
Step 3: Create an action plan
Time to turn those thoughts into actions. Let’s make giving back a consistent, impactful part of your life without it feeling like a chore.
-
Pick a cause to support: Choose one organization or issue to focus on for now. Whether it’s a local animal shelter or a global environmental cause, start small but meaningful.
Set up a monthly donation: Automate a small donation to your chosen cause. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but consistency adds up and makes a difference.
Find a volunteer opportunity: Look for a local or virtual event where you can volunteer just a few hours. Make it easy—nothing that requires a huge time commitment yet.
-
Use your skills: Find a nonprofit that could use your unique talents. Love photography? Offer to take pictures for their next event. Great at social media? Help them get the word out.
Plan a small fundraiser: Get creative and plan a mini-event—like a garage sale, bake sale, or online auction—to raise a bit more for a cause you care about. It doesn’t have to be big to be effective (or fun!).
Increase your involvement: If you’ve just been donating money, add in some hands-on volunteering. If you’ve only been volunteering, see if there’s a small financial contribution you can make.
-
Create a giving plan: Think about what kind of impact you want to make over the next year. Set a goal—like volunteering a certain number of hours or donating a percentage of your income.
Think about legacy giving: If you want to make a big long-term impact, look into ways to leave a charitable legacy, like including a donation in your will or setting up a small scholarship.
Reflect annually: Once a year, check in on your charitable goals. Are you still aligned with what you care about most? Do you want to switch focus or dive deeper into certain causes?
Step 4: Regular check-ins and accountability
Regularly reflecting and setting reminders can keep your charitable efforts on track and make sure they’re impactful.
Quarterly reviews: Every three months, reflect on what you’ve done—have you met your goals for giving or volunteering? What can you tweak or improve?
Get an accountability partner: Find a friend or family member who’s also interested in giving back and hold each other accountable. You can share ideas, volunteer together, or just remind each other to keep going.
Keep a giving journal: Track everything you do to give back. Not only is it motivating, but it’ll remind you of all the ways you’ve made a difference when you need a pick-me-up.
Stay flexible: Life happens. Some months you’ll give a lot, other times, maybe not so much. That’s okay. The goal is consistency over time, not perfection.
-
Example action plan for charity
Here’s how you could put this guide to use:
Current situation: You donate when prompted but feel like you’re not consistent. You’ve been interested in supporting environmental causes but haven’t taken action yet.
Reflection:
You realize that donating here and there isn’t enough—you want to make a more lasting impact.
You’d feel more connected if you volunteered rather than just giving money.
Action plan:
Short-term: Set up a small monthly donation to an environmental charity. Find a local clean-up event and sign up for it.
Mid-term: Use your skills in graphic design to help a small eco-friendly nonprofit with their campaign materials. Organize a community clean-up event in your neighborhood.
Long-term: Commit to giving 3% of your income annually to environmental initiatives. Plan a yearly family trip that includes volunteering with a conservation project to make giving a fun experience for everyone.