NEW YORK (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans aren’t making end-of-year charitable giving plans, despite the many fundraising appeals made by nonprofits that rely on donation surges in the calendar’s final month to reach next year’s budget targets.
The survey found that about half of U.S. adults say they’ve already made their charitable contributions for 2025.
Just 18% indicated they’ve donated and will donate again before the year is over.
Only 6% reported they haven’t given yet but will do so by year-end.
Everyday donors faced competing priorities this year, but weaker income gains and steep price inflation meant that lower-income households had less money to redistribute.
The research, released to highlight Giving Tuesday on December 2, also suggests a growing divide by income. Canadians earning $150,000 a year or more account for 49% of all donations, but ever larger segments of the population aren’t giving at all. Over the past 12 months, 31% reported not making any donations to charity. Two-thirds of respondents cited affordability as a reason they are not giving.
“This year, we’re talking directly to the millions of Canadians who haven’t donated in a while—or maybe have never donated at all—and reminding them that their first gift can make a real difference,” CanadaHelps president and CEO Duke Chang said in a release. “Whether it’s $5 or $50, every donation starts something meaningful.”
Initiated 12 years ago, Giving Tuesday is a date—the Tuesday following American Thanksgiving—marked by charities worldwide to urge giving back. CanadaHelps works with 86,000 registered charities in Canada to streamline the process of giving.
The results of the organization’s research are consistent with Statistics Canada’s 2023 Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, released last June, which showed the number of Canadians donating in sharp decline over the past decade. The percentage of Canadians reporting charitable giving declined to 54% from 82% over the period. In absolute terms, the number of givers in Canada has declined by 6.3 million.
The dollars donated declined more gradually, from $16.4 billion in 2013 to $13.4 billion in 2023, adjusted for inflation, suggesting a smaller group of donors is digging deeper to give.
And you can’t just blame the economy or affordability for the shift. Fewer Canadians are volunteering for charities—32% of the population in 2023, compared to 44% in 2013. The number of volunteer hours committed decreased to 1.2 billion from 2 billion a decade earlier. The decline in volunteering was particularly marked during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among women, but it has not shown a significant recovery since.
A study by the Fraser Institute released a year ago showed the share of Canadian tax filers reporting charitable donations fell to 17.1% in 2022, down from 25.1% in 2002. Likewise, the share of all personal income donated fell to half of one percent from 0.61% 20 years earlier. Unfortunately, the need to respond to issues such as food insecurity has grown as giving has dwindled. Recent experience has shown Canadians to still be generous when it comes to giving in response to particular crises, such as forest fires and flood relief, but habitual giving appears to be in a long-term decline.
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Michael is a financial writer and editor in Duncan, B.C. He’s a former managing editor of Canadian Business and editorial director of Canada Wide Media. He also writes for The Globe and Mail and BCBusiness.
From the moment Laila Armstrong was born, she was destined to get in the game.
“My dad played Division 1 football, my mom played Division 1 basketball,” says Armstrong, a rising freshman at Vista PEAK Preparatory in Aurora. “It’s just always been a family thing.”
Lindsey Armstrong, Laila’s mom, understands the importance of sports in a young person’s life.
“Playing sports is what gave us the skills of goal setting, of finding out within ourselves that we can do hard things,” says Lindsey. “So we decided it was best to have all of our children [play sports].”
All six of the Armstrong kids are involved in sports, which admittedly creates a little chaos—but they couldn’t imagine life any other way.
“It would be so boring and sad,” says Laila about a life without sports.
Unfortunately, for too many kids in Colorado, that sad and boring life is their reality.
“What we know is that one in three kids in Colorado is unable to participate in sport due to the costs associated with it,” says Vickie Puchi, executive director for Chance Sports.
“Chance Sports has been able to fund over a million dollars in scholarships to over 800 athletes in Colorado in just over two years,” says Puchi. “What this funding does for athletes is it provides them the opportunity to grow and dream and be the best that they can be.”
Puchi and her team work hard raising money to support their cause, but with so many kids struggling with access, they needed help to reach further into our community.
That’s why Project Play Colorado and the Daniels Fund are stepping up to help build that bridge.
In 2024, they launched Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day, a collaborative effort with hundreds of nonprofit organizations dedicated to raising awareness and funds for youth sports programs across the state.
The program runs for two weeks, from Sept. 3 through Sept. 17.
Last year’s inaugural event was a game-changer, raising an incredible $3.7 million for 175 nonprofits dedicated to empowering kids ages 18 and younger to experience the joy and benefits of sports.
This year, thanks to a groundswell of grassroots financial support statewide, the Daniels Fund announced an additional $500,000 donation to the Youth Sports Giving Day incentive fund, which will increase the impact of contributions. This additional investment brings the total matching funds contributed by sponsors to more than $2 million.
Since the two-week funding campaign was launched, nearly 2,600 grassroots donors have contributed over $2.6 million to support youth sports groups across Colorado, with the goal of making sports more accessible and affordable.
“I’m just grateful,” says Lindsey Armstrong. “I’m just grateful someone thought to do that, that someone thought how we think, [that they believe] sports are a critical part of growth and development for kids. We can’t say thank you enough.”
The Armstrongs talk the talk and walk the walk – in addition to supporting their own six children playing sports, they’ve reached out into their community to financially support several other kids in their athletic endeavors.
“When we see kids going through hard stuff, or they need those extra role models in their lives, if we can [step up] then we’re willing to do it,” says Armstrong. “It’s one of those things that just pulls at your heart. It’s important for all kids to be involved in sports. It’s for their safety, it’s for their growth and development, and if they’re not involved in sports, it can be dangerous. If they’re not involved in the greater community, it’s not a good thing.”
Every dollar donated goes to a kid like Laila, who’s hoping to live out their dream on a basketball court, soccer pitch, or driving range.
“Everyone should be able to get to play sports,” says Laila Armstrong. “It gives people a sense of belonging, collaboration, and always feeling like they belong somewhere.”
“For me, what’s exciting is whenever I see a donation come in, I think of a kid in my mind who I know is out there playing because of that,” says Puchi.
Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
Van and Rachel react to Kamala Harris’s media blitz this week (25:30), before discussing the annual blackface problem that comes with Halloween (34:27) and locker room privacy in the NFL (43:20). Then, author and political strategist James Carville joins to talk his new documentary, the state of politics, and LSU football (53:54). And finally, Drake talks friendship (1:25:14) before Van reveals his top 10 Black horror films in the latest VanLaTEN (1:35:43).
Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: James Carville Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith
Craig Newmark, the 71-year-old retired founder of Craigslist, has four focus areas for philanthropy: military families and vets, cybersecurity, journalism, and pigeon rescue.
On Wednesday, he pledged $100 million to support U.S. cybersecurity, bringing his total giving and pledges to $400 million since 2015.
Craig Newmark. Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images
According to the Wall Street Journal, Newmark has already committed over 20% of the $100 million pledge to organizations and projects around cybersecurity. Common Sense Media, for example, received $2 million to support efforts like a cybersecurity awareness campaign for parents and teachers.
Newmark’s approach is to find the right people, give them the resources they need, “and then get outta their way,” according to his philanthropy’s website. He doesn’t give organizations who receive grants requirements to hit certain targets.
Newmark has yet to commit $88 million of his latest $100 million pledge. Applications are open through his foundation’s website where he personally vets the proposals.
As you know, I rarely share or promote companies unless I truly love them and since I am not much of a shopper, it’s rare that I discover amazing stuff before anyone else. That being said, I might have a few special trinkets up my sleeve that you may not be familiar with or have yet to discover how awesome they are. This is my Ultimate Healthy Living Gift Guide!
When I shop for myself or presents for others, I always want to feel great about my purchases. I love supporting local or small businesses (I am an Etsy junkie!) and companies with ethical give-back programs. Also, if there’s a crystal on it, I will love it.
Of course, I am also a huge advocate for skipping the holiday shopping altogether and giving other things.
My Favourite Kind Of Gift Giving: Experiences
???? Eat In Together: Prepare a beautiful meal to share with the special people in your life.
???? Make It Yummy: Prepare a delicious edible gift.
???? Get Creative: Use your own unique talent to create something – maybe a poem, a song, a love letter, some natural beauty care products, a painting, or a self-choreographed dance.
???? Do Something: Give an activity you can do together – a trip to a museum or gallery, a dance class, a dinner at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, a movie, a couples massage, a holiday!
???? Do Unto Others As They Won’t Likely Do For Themselves: Give something they need but would never buy themselves – a high speed blender (here’s theUS link to the one I love), a massage, or an extra cozy pair of new slippers (why do we always wear our slippers until they’re barely holding together?!).
⏰ Your Time: In this epidemically busy world we now live in, time could be the very best gift of all. Give yourself over to someone you love, someone you haven’t seen in ages, someone you want to get to know more, and be together. Go for a long walk, make dinner together, or for those with children, offer to babysit!! That is the best gift of all.
The Gifts That Give
Gifts that give back are at the top of my Healthy Living Gift Guide and for good reason! I have seven nieces and nephews and I found it challenging watching kids who have everything unwrap a ton of plastic garbage toys that were undoubtedly stashed away in a closet or broken within a month. So I voted to give each child one gift card to get something special, and to make a family donation to a cause that the kids could all choose together.
Given that we live in a very abundant culture, I am a big fan of the gifts that serve a greater purpose and can honour the ones you love by helping those who have less:
Adopt a family and provide gifts for a family in need in your local community.
Create a lending team with Kiva and give in honour of your family.
All of these organizations are set up to allow you to donate as a gift in honour of someone you love.
Of course, sometimes, we just want to give something tangible and thoughtfully chosen for the people we love. There is joy to giving presents and it’s good for our health too.
Below is a list of gift ideas that I’d love. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration here for yourself or for a loved one!
Ultimate Healthy Living Gift Guide
The Gift Of Chemical-Free Sleep
Why our bed tends to be the lowest on the rung of things we make investments on is beyond me. We spend 1/3 of our life in bed. Most beds are loaded with chemicals and most of us aren’t sleeping well. Could the bed make all the difference?
What if instead of buying each other a bunch of little things, you instead invest in the gift of a new bed? Something you will enjoy for optimally eight hours a night for the next 20 years.
I have long been a fan of Sunshine Mattress Co. They sell organic latex mattresses, foundations and accessories and they’ve done the work for you. There is no mattress company with the standards and knowledge that they have.
Use coupon code MEGHAN5 for 5% off mattresses and MEGHAN10 for 10% off accessories at Sunshine Mattress Co. If you’re in the GTA and want to head to the store to try a bed in person, drop my name for 5% off.
Did you know that I am a huge fan of essential oils for travel, beauty care products and home cleaning? I have a 4-Perfume Pack from Living Libations and it is the best thing ever. I now keep it in my purse and carry it with me. It’s a sweet way to try out a few different scents, and since natural oils don’t have the toxic pervasiveness of chemical-based perfumes, and because the natural aromas work in harmony, you could even wear one scent during the day and switch it to a different scent in the evening. This company is based in Haliburton, Ontario and carefully sources the purest oils from around the globe.
After the birth of my son, I found it hard to get back into a fitness routine that I could realistically maintain. That is, until I found Obé Fitness. There are very few things I’ve experienced in my life that I would call life-changing, but this habit that is new in my life absolutely has been. These workouts are on-demand, short, full of variety and are utterly FUN. Most important for me, however, is the mental and emotional shift I am feeling. I feel stronger, and more resilient mentally.
This is one of those gifts you may have to be mindful of – you don’t want someone to take it the wrong way 😉 But I recommend making it a group thing and gift it to yourself and a friend and make it happen together!
In addition to the quality ingredients, I also appreciate the thoughtfulness towards low and zero plastic packaging.
Their teas along with the growing line of products makes this both a brand to love now and to keep an eye on as they grow and expand their product line.
You can use the code ‘MEGHAN’ at checkout to save 10% on your purchase.
This tallow-based moisturizer is basically a miracle worker. I use it on any dry patches on my knees, elbows and feet. It’s anti-inflammatory and the tallow is made from organic, grass-fed, pasture and humanely raised animals. It won’t clog your pores, either.
I am obsessed with this cream: How it feels, how it smells and the founder is just delightful!
Pact is my go-to for organic cotton clothing, and I especially love their leggings (plastic free ones are really hard to find) and underwear, but they also make organic bedding and towels (which do make for a nice gift too).
What I love most about Pact is that their goods are certified Fair Trade, made with organic cotton because we really need to stop with the idea that sweating in plastic fitness clothes is okay (especially the ones that are all up in our business). Let’s be honest, plastic is plastic, whether it has a fancy name and trademark or is greenwashed as ecological because it’s recycled.
Organic cotton just feeeeeeeels good.
If you’ve never tried Pact before, you can use code ‘MEGHANT15’ at checkout to save 15% on full-price apparel.
I have a pair of blue light filtering glasses from Swanwick, but there are a lot of non-prescription and prescription options out there, so in my opinion they would be a good gift for those in your life who spend a lot of time in front of devices.
But of course I am going to blatantly plug my own book as a most awesome gift in my Healthy Living Gift Guide. The UnDiet Cookbook is where playtime comes in with 130 beautiful gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, gorgeous photos, entertaining and travel tips, a whole chapter of beauty care recipes and of course, practices to help you live a healthy and awesome life. It’s available online from all major book sellers and in most major book stores.
This small business specializes in beeswax candles and incense, though it also offers a few extra goodies like crystals and necklaces.
What I adore about Carlyn’s products is her focus on using the candles for ritual and intention-setting. I invited Carlyn to present a candle-making and intention-setting for a ‘Crafternoon’ session with my team, and she was chock-full of brilliant ideas for how to use candles mindfully to manifest your dreams and goals.
I am a huge fan of elixirs – I make them almost daily in my high-speed blender. Yes, I am a little biased because Josh is my husband. But also, I’m certain I would love this product no matter who made it!
This blend is incredibly tasty, sugar-free, packed with adaptogens and superfoods, and so easy to blend and use. This works in hot and cold elixirs, smoothies, homemade chocolates, nut/seed butters, and is a fantastic alternative to coffee too.
One of the best investments that I made this year was in my Rouge Red Light Therapy. I use it daily to help regulate my circadian rhythm (hello sleep!), boost my immune system, and help get my hair and skin glowing.
It functions differently from a sauna for a few reasons, but generally a sauna is powerful by nature of it being a ‘stress’ on our body, where this feels like adding nourishment and relaxation. It offers a similar mood boosting feeling as you get from laying out under the warm sun, an extra bonus in the darker, colder months of the year.
Yes, Red Light Therapy is a significant investment, but it makes an excellent gift for yourself or for a special loved one.
Use the code ‘MEGHAN’ to save $50 on your purchase of $400 or more.
It’s not just an air purifier that helps keep your indoor air quality safe. It’s a medical-grade air purifier that delivers the highest level of performance for the most affordable price. I have this one and love it.
To complete this Healthy Living Gift Guide, this stainless steel cookware is absolutely beautiful, long-lasting and has a lifetime warranty. Using toxin-free cookware is important, as what we cook in (especially at high heat) comes in direct contact with our food. I am obsessed with the 360 slow cooker. No more fears about what’s coating those ceramic slow cookers leaching into the food!
As you know, I rarely share or promote companies unless I truly love them and since I am not much of a shopper, it’s rare that I discover amazing stuff before anyone else. That being said, I might have a few special trinkets up my sleeve that you may not be familiar with or have yet to discover how awesome they are. This is my Ultimate Healthy Living Gift Guide!
When I shop for myself or presents for others, I always want to feel great about my purchases. I love supporting local or small businesses (I am an Etsy junkie!) and companies with ethical give-back programs. Also, if there’s a crystal on it, I will love it.
Of course, I am also a huge advocate for skipping the holiday shopping altogether and giving other things.
My Favourite Kind Of Gift Giving: Experiences
???? Eat In Together: Prepare a beautiful meal to share with the special people in your life.
???? Make It Yummy: Prepare a delicious edible gift.
???? Get Creative: Use your own unique talent to create something – maybe a poem, a song, a love letter, some natural beauty care products, a painting, or a self-choreographed dance.
???? Do Something: Give an activity you can do together – a trip to a museum or gallery, a dance class, a dinner at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, a movie, a couples massage, a holiday!
???? Do Unto Others As They Won’t Likely Do For Themselves: Give something they need but would never buy themselves – a high speed blender (here’s theUS link to the one I love), a massage, or an extra cozy pair of new slippers (why do we always wear our slippers until they’re barely holding together?!).
⏰ Your Time: In this epidemically busy world we now live in, time could be the very best gift of all. Give yourself over to someone you love, someone you haven’t seen in ages, someone you want to get to know more, and be together. Go for a long walk, make dinner together, or for those with children, offer to babysit!! That is the best gift of all.
The Gifts That Give
Gifts that give back are at the top of my Healthy Living Gift Guide and for good reason! I have seven nieces and nephews and I found it challenging watching kids who have everything unwrap a ton of plastic garbage toys that were undoubtedly stashed away in a closet or broken within a month. So I voted to give each child one gift card to get something special, and to make a family donation to a cause that the kids could all choose together.
Given that we live in a very abundant culture, I am a big fan of the gifts that serve a greater purpose and can honour the ones you love by helping those who have less:
Adopt a family and provide gifts for a family in need in your local community.
Create a lending team with Kiva and give in honour of your family.
All of these organizations are set up to allow you to donate as a gift in honour of someone you love.
Of course, sometimes, we just want to give something tangible and thoughtfully chosen for the people we love. There is joy to giving presents and it’s good for our health too.
Below is a list of gift ideas that I’d love. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration here for yourself or for a loved one!
Ultimate Healthy Living Gift Guide
The Gift Of Chemical-Free Sleep
Why our bed tends to be the lowest on the rung of things we make investments on is beyond me. We spend 1/3 of our life in bed. Most beds are loaded with chemicals and most of us aren’t sleeping well. Could the bed make all the difference?
What if instead of buying each other a bunch of little things, you instead invest in the gift of a new bed? Something you will enjoy for optimally eight hours a night for the next 20 years.
I have long been a fan of Sunshine Mattress Co. They sell organic latex mattresses, foundations and accessories and they’ve done the work for you. There is no mattress company with the standards and knowledge that they have.
Use coupon code MEGHAN5 for 5% off mattresses and MEGHAN10 for 10% off accessories at Sunshine Mattress Co. If you’re in the GTA and want to head to the store to try a bed in person, drop my name for 5% off.
Did you know that I am a huge fan of essential oils for travel, beauty care products and home cleaning? I have a 4-Perfume Pack from Living Libations and it is the best thing ever. I now keep it in my purse and carry it with me. It’s a sweet way to try out a few different scents, and since natural oils don’t have the toxic pervasiveness of chemical-based perfumes, and because the natural aromas work in harmony, you could even wear one scent during the day and switch it to a different scent in the evening. This company is based in Haliburton, Ontario and carefully sources the purest oils from around the globe.
After the birth of my son, I found it hard to get back into a fitness routine that I could realistically maintain. That is, until I found Obé Fitness. There are very few things I’ve experienced in my life that I would call life-changing, but this habit that is new in my life absolutely has been. These workouts are on-demand, short, full of variety and are utterly FUN. Most important for me, however, is the mental and emotional shift I am feeling. I feel stronger, and more resilient mentally.
This is one of those gifts you may have to be mindful of – you don’t want someone to take it the wrong way 😉 But I recommend making it a group thing and gift it to yourself and a friend and make it happen together!
In addition to the quality ingredients, I also appreciate the thoughtfulness towards low and zero plastic packaging.
Their teas along with the growing line of products makes this both a brand to love now and to keep an eye on as they grow and expand their product line.
You can use the code ‘MEGHAN’ at checkout to save 10% on your purchase.
This tallow-based moisturizer is basically a miracle worker. I use it on any dry patches on my knees, elbows and feet. It’s anti-inflammatory and the tallow is made from organic, grass-fed, pasture and humanely raised animals. It won’t clog your pores, either.
I am obsessed with this cream: How it feels, how it smells and the founder is just delightful!
Pact is my go-to for organic cotton clothing, and I especially love their leggings (plastic free ones are really hard to find) and underwear, but they also make organic bedding and towels (which do make for a nice gift too).
What I love most about Pact is that their goods are certified Fair Trade, made with organic cotton because we really need to stop with the idea that sweating in plastic fitness clothes is okay (especially the ones that are all up in our business). Let’s be honest, plastic is plastic, whether it has a fancy name and trademark or is greenwashed as ecological because it’s recycled.
Organic cotton just feeeeeeeels good.
If you’ve never tried Pact before, you can use code ‘MEGHANT15’ at checkout to save 15% on full-price apparel.
I have a pair of blue light filtering glasses from Swanwick, but there are a lot of non-prescription and prescription options out there, so in my opinion they would be a good gift for those in your life who spend a lot of time in front of devices.
But of course I am going to blatantly plug my own book as a most awesome gift in my Healthy Living Gift Guide. The UnDiet Cookbook is where playtime comes in with 130 beautiful gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, gorgeous photos, entertaining and travel tips, a whole chapter of beauty care recipes and of course, practices to help you live a healthy and awesome life. It’s available online from all major book sellers and in most major book stores.
This small business specializes in beeswax candles and incense, though it also offers a few extra goodies like crystals and necklaces.
What I adore about Carlyn’s products is her focus on using the candles for ritual and intention-setting. I invited Carlyn to present a candle-making and intention-setting for a ‘Crafternoon’ session with my team, and she was chock-full of brilliant ideas for how to use candles mindfully to manifest your dreams and goals.
I am a huge fan of elixirs – I make them almost daily in my high-speed blender. Yes, I am a little biased because Josh is my husband. But also, I’m certain I would love this product no matter who made it!
This blend is incredibly tasty, sugar-free, packed with adaptogens and superfoods, and so easy to blend and use. This works in hot and cold elixirs, smoothies, homemade chocolates, nut/seed butters, and is a fantastic alternative to coffee too.
One of the best investments that I made this year was in my Rouge Red Light Therapy. I use it daily to help regulate my circadian rhythm (hello sleep!), boost my immune system, and help get my hair and skin glowing.
It functions differently from a sauna for a few reasons, but generally a sauna is powerful by nature of it being a ‘stress’ on our body, where this feels like adding nourishment and relaxation. It offers a similar mood boosting feeling as you get from laying out under the warm sun, an extra bonus in the darker, colder months of the year.
Yes, Red Light Therapy is a significant investment, but it makes an excellent gift for yourself or for a special loved one.
Use the code ‘MEGHAN’ to save $50 on your purchase of $400 or more.
It’s not just an air purifier that helps keep your indoor air quality safe. It’s a medical-grade air purifier that delivers the highest level of performance for the most affordable price. I have this one and love it.
To complete this Healthy Living Gift Guide, this stainless steel cookware is absolutely beautiful, long-lasting and has a lifetime warranty. Using toxin-free cookware is important, as what we cook in (especially at high heat) comes in direct contact with our food. I am obsessed with the 360 slow cooker. No more fears about what’s coating those ceramic slow cookers leaching into the food!
When it comes to estate planning and family giving, the funds tend to run downstream to the younger generations. But one strategy — called upstream giving — could assist older generations during their lifetime and lessen taxes for the family overall.
This complicated strategy isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s a lot to consider, and a lot of steps need to happen in perfect order for it to work as intended.
A new survey found that 47% of Americans have one unused gift card, voucher, or store credit, totaling $21 billion nationwide, with the average person having $175 in such unused funds. What do you think?
“What a waste of so many thoughtless gifts.”
Lamar Headen, Deregulator
“How else do people expect someone to save for retirement?”
Eric Borreguero, Unemployed
“Oh, I thought that was just a piece of plastic with the word ‘Sephora’ on it.”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
It’s the most demanding time of the year. Entrepreneurs are easily overwhelmed during the holidays. Product-based businesses run sales and move more volume, but even companies that go quiet often spend this season working on big-picture strategies. Add to that: staffing shortages and personal obligations. Many entrepreneurs I work with have complicated family dynamics, magnified by the pressure of holiday travel and ambient festive stress.
You might be surprised at my advice to improve your mental health this season. Entrepreneurs, consider doing even more — but for others. Add “giving back” to your holiday checklist or New Year’s resolutions. Think of it as a gift to yourself.
Entrepreneurs are good at many things; we are not known for taking care of our mental health. And the odds are not in our favor.
As a demographic, entrepreneurs are prone to depression at much higher rates. Colder weather, shorter days and holiday hustle can exacerbate these issues. If you run an early-stage startup, you might wire in before sunrise and shut down after sunset.
Some of my clients became entrepreneurs to lean into work, avoid complicated personal situations or gain independence — even escape dysfunctional family patterns. It’s often easier to hold those boundaries without holiday-induced guilt. Now, your work commitments might be challenged by friends and family with the retort, “But it’s Christmas!” A craving for independence, on the flip side, can come with loneliness.
Researchers have found that acts of service can help alleviate stress. Giving is good for your physical and mental health, with studies suggesting “pro-social spending,” including donations to charity, is associated with a boost in happiness, whereas buying new stuff is not. More tangibly, giving is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced levels of depression and increased self-esteem. This “helper’s high” might be caused by feel-good brain chemicals released with good deeds, including serotonin and the relationship-fusing oxytocin. Humans are inherently social creatures, and volunteering fosters human connection. For this reason and others, group volunteer activities are also great for team-building.
How to find your cause (and get your business involved)
Besides making the world a better place and improving your health, there’s more return on your pro-social investment when your company gets involved. A staggering 82% of shoppers want brands to align with their values. Giving back might secure customers and boost loyalty among young workers seeking jobs with greater purpose.
For better brand integration, consider a cause that complements your core offering. A tech company might run a free coding workshop, for instance, or even a simple Facebook or smartphone tutorial at a seniors’ center. Be sure to take these outings on workdays (consider it a great alternative to icebreakers and the forced fun of team retreats).
Sometimes an act of service means aligning your unique specialty with your community, and sometimes it’s more loosely tied to your work. Many of my clients are solopreneurs who prefer to volunteer for more personal causes. One client, Chris, sits on the board of several non-profits to offer budgetary advice and help set strategic goals. His business expertise is helpful to small charities, which are often understaffed and under-resourced. While his company isn’t involved, he’s using his skills.
When I released my book on grieving and loss, I channeled my passion for circus arts into the launch event. I hosted a circus show in my hometown of Minneapolis to benefit the local chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in honor of my late brother. Our community of artists offered free tickets to a local BIPOC circus organization, Vivid Black Paint, and the Minnesota chapter of Motherless Daughters, a support group for women and girls who have lost mothers.
For entrepreneurs, altruism means thinking critically about who should be in the room and who is often missing. We have the skills and resources to clear obstacles and open doors. For many, that takes the form of mentoring, teaching entrepreneurship workshops at community organizations or taking part in a high school’s pitch day. Or maybe you’d prefer to break from the business while you give back to a cause that fuels a personal passion for the arts or environmental preservation.
I can’t tell you what’s most meaningful to you, but I can suggest that you make it a habit. Consider making your seasonal giving more than an annual tradition or New Year’s resolution. You don’t have to become a whole new person in January, but you can make regular donations or volunteer your time every quarter. The return on your investment is happier holidays and a better mood all year round.
Austin Pets Alive! will begin a brand new campaign from May 1 to May 10 — 10 Days to 100. The innovative animal rescue organization hopes to add 100 or more additional donors to its monthly giving program, Constant Companions, in just 10 days.
Constant Companions are the most dependable donors for the organization. Expanding the Constant Companion family allows APA! to continue setting its sights higher than ever. With its eyes set on making Texas No Kill, APA! relies on the generosity of Constant Companions to support this expansion and constant innovation.
Launched nearly a decade ago, APA!’s monthly giving program allows loyal supporters from all over the world to regularly contribute to lifesaving efforts in Central Texas and beyond. Currently, the program has 1088 Constant Companions that give $46,269.88 a month to Austin Pets Alive!. That’s 154 pets saved every month by APA!’s Constant Companions alone.
The 10 Days to 100 campaign will feature compelling stories of companion animal lifesaving that would not be possible without those who support APA! every single month. With the help of local artist and animal lover, Will Bryant, exclusive tote bags are being created for qualifying Constant Companions. New members and those who increase their membership level will be able to take home custom tote bags exclusive to Constant Companions. Be sure to follow Austin Pets Alive! on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with all of the action.
Each monthly gift, no matter the level, sustains APA!’s mission and writes a brighter future for every companion animal in Central Texas.
Every so often a modern Charles Dickens story comes along that truly celebrates the spirit of the giving season.
Press Release –
updated: Dec 24, 2019
LOS ANGELES, December 24, 2019 (Newswire.com)
– It happened the week before Christmas, when Exceptional Minds artists with autism were paid a visit by several executives from Deluxe Creative Services who had decided to surprise them with a generous holiday donation.
It couldn’t have come at a better time.
What members of the Deluxe Creative team couldn’t have known at the time is that the Exceptional Minds school and studio had been dealing with a funding gap. A nonprofit, Exceptional Minds depends on generous donations to provide the specialized training that its digital artists with autism require in order to succeed in visual effects, animation and other digital arts fields.
With training programs taking up resources to prepare its artists with autism for careers in the digital arts, the nonprofit lacked the additional funding needed to grow its apprenticeship program.
Until December 17. Deluxe executives arrived at the Exceptional Minds studios with the funding gap needed. It was a scene straight out of Dickens’ Oliver Twist – except, of course, the benefactors are the very capable Exceptional Minds digital artists on the autism spectrum.
Members of Deluxe Creative, which delivers visual effects, post-production and 2D-3D conversion services for film, TV, advertising and immersive experiences, have been providing mentorship and support to these talented artists since Exceptional Minds opened its doors. Stereo D, a group within Deluxe Creative, has seen Exceptional Minds through many changes, from a small one-classroom startup to a school and studio serving more than 250 individuals with autism a year.
Exceptional Minds training academy opened its doors in 2011 and, in 2014, added a professional studio to bring in contract work for graduates of its three-year program. The Exceptional Minds studio has completed more than 200 projects, including for Oscar-nominated movies, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, First Man, Green Book and Solo: A Star Wars Story plus notable TV shows such as Game of Thrones and The Good Doctor.
Exceptional Minds graduates are also employed by entertainment companies such as Marvel Studios and Cartoon Network.
The Exceptional Minds apprenticeship program is an important component in the nonprofit’s success in preparing young adults with autism for careers in the digital arts.
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than 84% of adults with autism are unemployed.
HOUSTON, August 8, 2019 (Newswire.com)
– Soaring Kidz’s Charity 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be hosted by the Rafail Insurance Agency. It will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Houston’s First Baptist Church located on 7401 Katy Freeway. All proceeds will go to Soaring Kidz to assist in their mission of affording all children and teens of varying abilities the opportunities to experience joy, pride, and freedom through recreational and sports activities regardless of their physical, social, or mental challenges.
“The Rafail Insurance Agency is honored to found the first-ever Soaring Kidz Charity Basketball Tournament,” stated Mark Rafail, President of The Rafail Insurance Agency. “We hope to raise awareness so children with special needs can have a gym that they can call their own. With the funds raised, we hope that Soaring Kidz can house such an amazing facility one day.”
Several sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from $500-$5000, with donations of any kind warmly accepted. For those wanting to participate in the tournament, team pricing is $225, individual pricing is $75, and spectator pricing is $25. The winner of the tournament will receive $500 in gift cards and a goodie basket.
Started by founder Mina Iskander, Soaring Kidz is a grassroots organization with the mission of helping special needs children have the joy and freedom to play sports. While Soaring Kidz currently rents gyms to host their events and keep costs low for parents, the organization plans to eventually purchase their own facility and expand its staff. All donations and sponsorships are pivotal in carrying out the Soaring Kidz mission, with partnerships being greatly valued. Current programs include basketball, soccer, gymnastics, t-ball, taekwondo, art for all, and golf.
About Soaring Kidz
Soaring Kidz is an organization serving youth with varying abilities in the Greater Houston area. Children and teens in the program are from all walks of life who experience the daily struggles of life-long challenges associated with physical, social, and/or cognitive disabilities. Soaring Kidz was established in 2008 with the belief that all children regardless of ability should have access to recreational, group, and individual exercise to maximize each child’s potential for movement. Current programs include t-ball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, basketball, Parent & Me classes, and more. Soaring Kidz would like to encourage everyone to feel free to join them for their next program or event! Learn more at http://www.soaringkidz.org/
About Rafail Insurance Agency
Created in 2009, Rafail Insurance Group is one of the top 1% of Farmers agencies in the country. Family owned and operated, this full-service, award-winning insurance agency is run by Mark and Sylvia Rafail. With a commitment to a service-oriented approach, Rafail Insurance Group specializes in commercial, residential, life, group health insurance, and more. The Rafail Insurance Agency is the only insurance agency tailored to realtors, mortgage lenders, apartment leasing agents, financial advisors, and auto dealers. Rafail Insurance Group takes great pride in their community involvement, supporting local events and organizations such as the Houston Egyptian Festival, the Houston Half Marathon, Crime Stoppers of Houston, local schools, police, firefighters, and more. To learn more, visit https://www.rafailinsurance.com/, or contact via phone at 713-429-1790.
