“Service is the Rent We Pay for Living”Marian Wright Edelman

Ways to Make a Difference in Your Life and the Lives of Others!

Volunteering is One of the Most Meaningful Ways to Give Back to Society!

Americans are avid volunteers! In fact, in 2012 over 64,000,000 Americans volunteered their time to make our country a better place to love for all!

Do you want to join our community of volunteers? Great! This is how you do it!

First: Think about how you want to make a difference? What do you care about? It is the elderly, youth, education, the arts, the environment, health? Think about it so that you can come up with your personal giving platform!

Tip: It feels much better if you are contributing to an area that is personally important to you!

Second: Can you give of your time and/or of your expertise? How many days per month can you volunteer? A day, a week, two weeks? There is no wrong answer because volunteering needs to fit in to your life! Are you an accountant, graphic artist, florist, lawyer, writer or another profession who can offer assistance to an organization? If so, you will be so appreciated!

Third: Think about an organization in your area that can contact. Call them up and get started! However, if you don’t know of an non-profit to contact in your area, don’t worry! There are plenty of fantastic organizations that can help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity:

• 1-800-volunteer.org• Network for Good• Points of Light Foundation• Volunteer Match

That is all you have to do to join the millions of Americans whose lives are fulfilled because they are making a difference through volunteerism! Join them! Source: Network for Good

Volunteer!

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Corporation for National and Community Service

Volunteering and Civic Life in America

Serve Your Community

Build Your Capacity

Impact On Our Nation

Quick Stats:

Quick Stats:

In 2012, 64 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 Billion Hours!

The value of this volunteer service is nearly $175 Billion!

Source: www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

TEN TIPS TO VOLUNTEER WISELY

1. Research the causes & issues that are important to you.

2. Consider the skills you have to offer

3. Would you like to learn something new?

4. Combine your goals.

5. Don’t over commit your schedule.

6. Non-profits may have questions too.

7. Consider volunteering as a family.

8. Virtual volunteering?

9. I never thought of that!

10.Give voice to your heart through your giving and volunteering!

Source: USA Freedom Corps, www.usafreedomcorps.gov

Donate!You Can Change Your Life and the Lives of Others by

Donating to Your Favorite Charities!

Americans are very generous people. Giving in 2013 reached almost $416 Billion!

What causes did people give to?

• Religious causes: $143.1 billion

• Education: $68.2 billion

• Human needs/Disaster Services: $49.6 billion

• Health-related causes: $32.3 billion

Where did the donations come from?

• Individuals donated $310.8 billion

• Foundation donated $48.7 billion

• Corporations donated $20.1 billion

• Bequests or legacy gifts were $27.9 billion

Source: The Atlas of Giving, www.atlasofgiving.com

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Ten Tips to Giving Wisely

1. Budget for Giving

2. Be an Informed Giver

3. Keep the Right Records

4. Be Aware of What is Tax-Deductible

5. Ask About Matching Gifts

6. Remember, Your Gift Can be Confidential

7. Consider Alternative Forms of Giving

8. Volunteer!

9. Don’t Forget You Can Say No

10. Be a Proactive Giver

Source: Network for Good, www.networkforgood.org

Charitable Giving Resources

Use these online organizations to determine if the non-profit organization you want to donate to is legitimate and operating with the highest level of efficiency.

BBB Wise Giving Alliancewww.us.bbb.org

Charity Navigatorwww.charitynavigator.org

Guide Starwww.guidestar.org

Independent Charities of Americawww.independentcharities.org

Tip: A non-profit organization should not spend more than 25% of its annual income on overhead,

meaning at least 75% should go to services.

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Volunteer Vacations!

Volunteer vacations are a way for travelers to see the world, especially in the developing world, while also giving back by volunteering on sustainable, comprehensive community development projects.

They can be short-term or long-term , lasting from 1 week to 6 months.

Check out these reputable volunteer vacation organizations to learn more!

Cross Cultural Solutionswww.crossculturalsolutions.org

Global Service Corpswww.globalservicecorps.org

Global Volunteers: Partners in Developmentwww.globalvolunteers.org

Globe Awarewww.globeaware.com

Village Volunteerswww.villagevolunteers.org

Source: USA Today

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…When we rise in the morning…at a table we drink coffee which is provided to us by a South American, or tea by Chinese, or cocoa by a West African; before we leave for our jobs we are already beholden to more than half the world…

…Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Fair Trade is a sustainable system that endeavors to empower disadvantaged producers through payment of a fair price, democratically organized workplaces, technical assistance, social programming, equality for all, transparency, trust and environmental protection.

www.fairtradefederation.org

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A socially conscious consumer is a consumer who is interested in companies that have implemented programs that give back to society.

A socially conscious consumer can make life better for others through the products and services that are purchased.

Socially conscious companies give a percentage of sales of products to charity or have a corporate culture of regular giving.

Purchasing “Gifts that keep on Giving” is another way of being a socially conscious consumer!

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS CONSUMER!

Giving Companies

Giving Programs/Organizations

Source: www.neilson.com

Sources:

The Atlas of Givingwww.atlasofgiving.com

Fair Trade Federationwww.fairtradefederation.org

Neilsonwww.neilson.com

Network for Goodwww.networkforgood.org

“USA Today”

Volunteering and Civic Life in Americawww.volunteeringinamerica.gov