Raising Money and Doing Charity Work
The new year is just around the corner and I’ve already have dozens of discussions with people about what resolutions they have planned! More importantly though people have been asking me the best way to stick to them and make sure they don’t just turn into a fad for a few days and then evaporate!
A common theme over the past few years has been people either doing some sort of charity fundraising event taking up some regular charity or voluntary event. That’s a great idea and here are just some of my thoughts about either of those two pursuits and what mindset is bet to approach them with.
Donating
When I did some fundraising in March for the half marathon I think I raised somewhere in the region of £500 or so. When I asked people to sponsor me I found that most people were only too willing to donate something towards it. I remember a few people who I sensed a bit of reluctance from and seemed to want to donate from a sense of obligation rather than from their heart and a sense of wanting to do good!
If you’re going to donate to a cause don’t just do it because in some wierd way you’ve made yourself feel guilty for not giving and then only giving out of sense of shame! Give with your heart or don’t give at all. Give without acknowlegement from others and give yourself a pat on the back for doing something wonderful because you’ve chosen to do it rather than being forced in some way.
Doing a Sponsored Event
If you plan to do some kind of charity run and want to raise money then it’s a great way to not only raise money but get some exercise, make new friends and have some fun while doing it! In the current economic climate people may be strapped for cash but don’t let that stop you and don’t let the amount you get discourage you from doing in again in the future. Whatever you raise, whether it be £50 or £500 it doesn’t matter! You just do it because you have a passion for that cause and want to give something back!
Taking up Voluntary or Charity Work
Taking this option is equally rewarding and challenging simultaneously. When taking on board something like working with children or maybe working on a phone support line like the samritans can almost become a job without being paid. What you have to then do is remember how you’re being rewarded by doing it! What skills are you getting and how is what you’re doing of value to the world? When you find the true value in what you do you’ll have no problem in remaining inspired and enthused to keep up the voluntary work!
Whatever you decide to do find a cause that you believe is worthwhile and give your heart and soul to that task. Whatever you give you will always get back multiplied!
Amit,
Gone over this a few times in the last 2 weeks.
“Give with your heart or don’t give at all.”
I agree. Why provide any pain to your self.
But otherwise, why donate at all?
Why do we have so many charities? Instead why not provisions for people to work?
Charity is often a substitute for lack of self belief and talent.
‘i am not doing any worth while with my talents, so let me run for the poor people’.
Why not ask the poor to work? Why not ask governments to invest in 5000 pounds in basic infrastructure?
And working on a phone support line would not be charity. I would call it work. You create psychological atmospheres for people in distress. Similarly, working with children would require patience and imagination, hardly a charity.
Perhaps it may become charity if you don’t take money for it, but that’s where the government kicks in. Let them pay you sustenance money for your work. So that you continue in your passion and not leave it for another well paying job that you deserve.
My thoughts currently…
Hi Kartikey…
Some interesting points there….
“But otherwise, why donate at all?
Why do we have so many charities? Instead why not provisions for people to work?”
There are many and there are many schemes which allow for people to get charitable wealth whilst being given the opportunity to provide for themselves and get experience…e.g. building wells in poorer communities.
“Why not ask the poor to work? Why not ask governments to invest in 5000 pounds in basic infrastructure?”
I know money can be squandered at times but often these schemes are there and we have to make sure the money is going towards what it has been intended for.
“And working on a phone support line would not be charity. I would call it work. You create psychological atmospheres for people in distress. Similarly, working with children would require patience and imagination, hardly a charity.”
I agree which is why I refer to it as voluntary work. I work with disabled children and I for me it’s an opportunity to empower them. For them it’s an opportunity to get involved in things they may not normally have the opportunity to do so!
I do find it very important that the charities I give to don’t just give entitlement to those less well off but educate them and teach them responsibly.
🙂