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In a world brimming with social issues, how are you meant to find one cause and champion it above all others? Most people only have the means to support a couple of causes that matter to them. It becomes necessary then to make some difficult choices. You have to find a cause that aligns closely with your values and beliefs, and this isn’t always easy, which is why we have put together the following guide to help you.
Look For A Personal Connection
One of the best things that you can do when looking for a cause to support is to find one that resonates with you on a deeper level. There are a lot of worthy organizations out there. If you want help to narrow down your choices, you should try to use your values and your history to help you assess your options. When you have a better connection with the organization, you are more likely to be engaged and, therefore, better able to contribute. So, think about the things that matter to you and use them when looking for charities or causes.
Do Your Research
Once you have an idea of the types of causes that you want to look for, it is time to do your research. You should begin to narrow down your choices. Look at the values of the charities or non-profits. You should also check to see how they use donations; what percentage goes to the cause versus the costs of running the charity? You can get an idea of the difference that the money makes. Some charities list testimonies from the people that the donations go to. Make sure to use multiple sources to verify the claims made by the organization itself. Lastly, has there been any recent scandals that may make you want to avoid that particular charity?
Think Locally
While it is true that there are a lot of great charities addressing global issues, you might want to consider causes closer to home. The truth is that a lot of people are becoming disenfranchised with the idea of charity. Compassion fatigue is real. There are so many causes, and sometimes it can be difficult to see your donations at work. This is why more and more people are opting to support smaller, local causes. You can donate both your money and your time to them, and you get to benefit from seeing the results of your effort. Not to mention the difference you will be making to the community at large.
Think About Your Impact
You should think about your donations as investments. Maximizing your return on investment is a must; this is true for any form of investment. Next, weigh up the impact of your donation for each cause that you are considering. Which cause stretches your money to make it go further, increasing its impact? In short, is there one cause where your money will make the most difference? Keep this in mind when choosing causes. For example, if you choose to help a local charity, then there is a strong likelihood that you will be able to see first-hand the difference that your donation has made. Some charities provide donors with resources so that they can see how their money is being used. If this matters to you, remember to keep this in mind when choosing your cause.
Think About Starting Your Own Charitable Cause
This can be incredibly difficult, but if you are struggling to find a cause that speaks to you, starting your own can be incredibly worthwhile. Identify issues within your community and work towards solving them yourself. As well as making a difference in your community starting your own charitable cause can also make a difference to you as a person, increasing your self-confidence and improving your prospects. It also eliminates the need to compromise with finding a cause that you prefer over the other options but, in truth, does not quite address the issues that you want it to.
Ask For Recommendations
If you are really struggling to find a cause to support, then why not ask for help? You can ask your friends and family for recommendations on causes that they are passionate about. You might find that you have similar beliefs, and therefore, their causes might appeal to you too. You could also seek recommendations online to see what causes other people to get behind. Often, passion is infectious; hearing what other people care about and why could ignite a passion or a new interest in you. If you want to donate your time as well as your money, you might feel more confident if you can join someone you already know to volunteer for the first few times while you get more comfortable.
Start A Giving Circle
Sometimes it can be difficult to narrow down your choices. If you want to maximize the efficacy of your efforts, then you might want to consider starting your own giving circle. The fact is that you can achieve a lot more with a team of people than you would be able to do alone. Build a team whose goal is to give back. You each then suggest a cause, and you pool your resources to maximize the impact that you can have on each cause. Giving circles are increasing in popularity as of late, especially among the socially aware. If this is something that you want to consider, then you need to use the right techniques. Givebutter has a number of tools to make fundraising easier, including creating and managing a giving circle.
In Conclusion
A lot of people want to give back and make a difference; however, it can be an overwhelming thought at times. In a world where so many causes are worthy, how are you meant to choose? If this is something that you have been struggling with, you should use the above tips to help you when it comes to choosing the cause that you want to champion. Start by thinking about the issues that have had a significant effect on your life, either directly or indirectly. What issues matter to you?
