Everyday Giving Blog

Be an Encouragement to Others

Take a moment and think of all the people you know who are going through a difficult time in their life. Now consider the list of people you know who have been a help to you or others. You can be an encouragement to every one of them.

I was reminded this week of how powerful encouragement can be when an envelope arrived in my mailbox. It contained a handwritten card and handcrafted notepad and pen. Laura from Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference sent it as a thank you for my support with her online efforts. Receiving these creative items from her was a tremendous encouragement!

I have started on my list of people to encourage. What will you do now to be an encouragement? Make a difference.

Balance Coach Interview

Scott Couchenour is one of the Guest Bloggers on the Everyday Giving Blog. I have always found his Serving Strong Blog and eNewsletter thought provoking and beneficial.

Scott was recently interviewed at Peopleized.com. I thought you might like to read the interview and learn a little more about him. Here it is...

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BalanceCoach
    Peopleized by: Halil - Wednesday, 30 January 2008
   

I am interested in helping the person who helps others by improving their life balance & self-care.  I do this through life coaching.

   

   

Halil: Why did you start blogging?

BalanceCoach: I have a lot of thoughts running through my head that I want to get down.  I have a passion to help people in ministry avoid the burnout that comes from serving people.  My blog is a non-threatening way of helping people consider their balance and self-care.


Halil: The top 3 blogs you read?

BalanceCoach: I am partial to www.everydaygivingblog.com by Roger Carr, who has a passion for helping people see the benefit of a giving lifestyle.

I also read www.churchrelevance.com, which keeps me tuned into the church movement in a realistic way.

I also read www.hblondon.org, which gives me great insight into the world of the Christian pastor.


Halil: Where do you get your inspiration from to write?

BalanceCoach: Mainly from God.  I am certain of his leadership in my life and I continue to try and follow his direction.  I also get inspiration from the people I know who daily put their own interests aside to help other people.


Halil: Choose one word to describe your blog?

BalanceCoach: Balance

BalanceCoach's Page: http://servingstrong.typepad.com

Authors Page: Halil

   

powered by Peopleized!

Last Chance to Support Sharing Foundation in America's Giving Challenge

Photo by Beth Kanter

These children in Cambodia have several things to smile about. One reason is that the Sharing Foundation is now helping to improve their lives and giving them dreams and opportunities that never existed for them in the past.

Another reason they have to smile is due to the generous donations made to the Sharing Foundation during America's Giving Challenge. There has already been $22,920 raised through the unselfish giving of 846 people!

Photo by Beth Kanter

An additional $50,000 prize is added if the Sharing Foundation has the largest number of donors. Imagine what that prize would allow the Sharing Foundation to do for the Cambodian children!

With only one more day left in the contest, several organizations have turned up the heat in an attempt to win the contest. I want to do everything I can to help the Sharing Foundation have that additional funding to invest in the lives of children.

Several readers of the Everyday Giving Blog have already supported the cause. If you are one of those, I thank you for participating and ask that you pass the opportunity along to others you know.

If you have not yet donated at least $10 to this important cause, please click here and change a child's life. You need to do it now for your participation to count in the challenge. Thank you in advance. Together we can make a difference.

The America's Giving Challenge ends tomorrow (Jan 31,2008) at 3:00 pm EST.

Article Directory For People Changing The World

There is a new article directory about to be revealed to the world. It is not one of those generic article directories that appear like weeds popping up all over the Web. I created this directory for a special group of people.

GoodwillArticles.com is the article directory for authors and publishers who are changing the world.

Articles are Powerful

As an author, you can write and submit articles to promote:

• A charitable organization
• An important cause
• Ideas to change the world
• A charitable event
• Yourself (in the article resource box)

As a publisher, you can find quality articles on a variety of topics to use as content for your website, blog or ezine.

Start Writing and Submitting Your Articles Now

GoodwillArticles.com is ready for your articles. I want to have several articles in the directory before I promote it. As a Everyday Giving reader, you are learning about it before others.

Christopher Scott, a nonprofit leader who founded A Day of Hope, submitted the first articles last night. What is holding you back from doing the same?

I look forward to promoting your articles across the Web to help you change the world. Click here to get started. Thanks in advance for your article submission.

Cambodian Children Already Winners In America's Giving Challenge

Photo by Beth Kanter

Fundraising contests can be fun and exciting. They can also result in a significant amount of good able to be accomplished. As the America's Giving Challenge rolls into the final week, it is turning out to be one of the exciting contests.

I told you in my last blog post about the contest that the Sharing Foundation was in 1st place. This morning we had fallen into 2nd place.  It is a very close race.

I want to do everything I can to help the Sharing Foundation win the $50,000 prize. I hope you want to help them as well. That prize would allow the Sharing Foundation to change many, many lives!

Mon Channy, standing in the center of the picture above, is one of the children benefiting from the actions of the Sharing Foundation and it's supporting donors. Mon Channy is a 10-year old boy who attends the Sharing Foundation’s Khmer Literacy School in Cambodia. He is the only child of his widowed mom. He is proud to be attending school, an opportunity his Mother never had. Attending school is an opportunity Mon Channy wouldn't have had without the generosity of others.

There has already been $16,695 raised through the unselfish giving of over 600 people. If you have not yet donated $10 to this important cause, please click here and change a child's life. Together we can make a difference.

Thank Your Mentor Day - Thursday, January 24

Thursday is Thank Your Mentor Day. It is a day where many people will express their appreciation to those who took the time to encourage and guide them.

Thank Your Mentor Day promotes four ways to honor your mentor:

1. Contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation
2. “Pass it on” by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community
3. Make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program
4. Write a tribute to your mentor for posting on the campaign’s Web site.

Take a few minutes and make a list of mentors who have been influential in your life. Show your appreciation in one or more of the ways listed above. You will be glad you did (and so will your mentors).

Go to WhoMentoredYou.org to learn more about Thank Your Mentor Day and National Mentoring Month.

Do Gifts From Charities Influence Your Donations?

Laura Otten is director of The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University. She has created a new blog that I will be paying attention to called Nonprofit University. She will be sharing her thoughts and questions about the business side of nonprofit organizations.

Laura recently submitted her first post Death Becomes Us. She discusses the topic of what influences people to give their time and money to charity. In it she writes:

"Has this practice of giving us something more than a simple thank you for our gifts of time and dollars created a culture that has lost the meaning of doing good simply to help others; of doing good simply because we know that as long as we are able it is the “right” thing to do?"

Today, the number of nonprofit organizations we have to choose from for our donations is overwhelming. People tend to freeze and not do anything if they are confused. Many also live a frantic, reactive lifestyle. They may have intentions to give but other events in life fill their time and mind so there is nothing left over for charity.

Many charities go out of their way to give us things in an attempt to get us to donate our money and/or time to them. This is a proven marketing practice that has worked for centuries. What does it do?

1. It interrupts our busy lives for a moment and has us focusing again on the concept of giving
2. It proposes a reason to donate to that one charity out of the more than 1.5 million other choices of nonprofit organizations
3. It takes advantage of the law of reciprocity where you and I are now compelled to give something back in return for the gift

I don't believe most of society is expecting more than a simple thank you and the knowledge the donation is making a difference. We are already receiving many benefits from giving unselfishly. But I also believe many are not building giving into their goals/plans and being disciplined in their giving of time and money. Until that happens, I expect we will continue to receive gifts from some nonprofit organizations in search of our donations.

Related post: 5 Reasons I Love To Volunteer

8 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Mom

by Lisa Copen

Mommy moments come in all forms of days at the park, backyard BBQs, or meetings at the pool. They are a great time to get to know other mothers and share activities as well as advice. But as the number of women who live with chronic illness continues to grow, so does the spontaneity of the fun of these mommy moments. For example, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia (FM) experts estimate that about 10 million Americans and approximately 5% of the population worldwide suffer with FM, one of the fastest growing auto-immune diseases in the USA. I recently attended an adoptive mom’s playgroup and within this niche group, three out of the six of us had chronic illnesses. Being aware of a friend’s limitations and challenges, acknowledging them, and just asking questions, can make a huge impact in their ability to participate and feel comfortable with their peers.

1. Ask what time of the day is good for play-dates or activities. This can vary from season to season (weather affects it a great deal); and also from one illness to another. For some moms, mornings are good and afternoons are exhausting; for others it’s the other way around.


2. Be flexible and don’t make her feel guilty if she must cancel. Having a chronic illness means each day is unpredictable. Last week I took one step and my knee was locked up for four days. I winced in pain as I did heat and medication therapy while my husband worked at home. All my plans were cancelled and I had no advance notice.


3. Ask questions such as “how far are you comfortable walking today?” and try to accommodate. Remember a two-block walk to the park may seem like miles for her. Stairs may be difficult if not impossible so take the elevator with her. When she walks keep a pace with her and realize she may have to take rest stops even while walking small distances. Chase after her kids and let her have a few minutes of rest. Standing for long can also be challenging. What looks like a short line for the carousel may be impossible for her to withstand. Offer to stand in line and let her jump in later.


4. Ask polite questions about her illness, such as “what is your greatest challenge?” Avoid telling her about the cures you’ve heard for her illness; the products you may sell that could help her; or about your mother’s cousin’s sister who has the same illness but still manages to raise five children and work full-time.


5. Be aware of simple things that may be difficult for her. For example, if you go to the beach, you may want to ask her if she would like to be dropped off while you find a parking spot; she may not be able to sit on the ground so bring a few lawn chairs so she isn’t the only one two feet above the rest of your friends. She will likely be limited in her sun-exposure. She may not be able to carry as much picnic items as you can from the car. While you don’t want to make her feel helpless, nor does she want you to make a big deal out of it, just be aware that she may need some extra considerations.


6. Don’t assume that she can take care of your children, even for five minutes, unless she volunteers. Child-caring is exhausting and caring for her own may be zapping her of the little strength she already has. Plus, if your kids are prone to run out into the street, realize that she may not physically be able to chase them.


7. Plan activities that she can participate in. While you may love your stroller exercise groups, and mommy and me gym classes, these may not be options for her. Ask her what kinds of things she likes to do and then join her for these. Keep the activities under three hours; while you may spend six hours at the zoo, affirm that you completely understand she needs to get home. Don’t say, “a little more exercise may do you some good!”


8. Lastly, tell her what every mom longs to hear: “I don’t know how you do it. I really admire your perseverance and strength.”

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Lisa Copen is editor of “HopeKeepers Magazine,” mom of a 3-year-old, lives with rheumatoid arthritis, & author of "Why Can't I Make People Understand? Discovering the Validation Those with Chronic Illness Seek & Why." Visit her ministry at http://www.restministries.org or find out 497 additional ways to encourage a chronically ill friend at in her newest book “Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend” at http://www.restministries.org/comfortzone/item3.htm

When Is Enough Really Enough (Or Too Much)?

Beth Kanter is contemplating some great questions for anyone raising funds for a cause on social networking sites. One of the items discussed on her blog post The Future of Learning in a Networked World: Reflections From My Session is:

"How often can you ask before people get burned out by it?"
"Would writing about what I am learning about social fundraising (as well as hitting up people for money) would that alienate at some point? Where's that line?"

The following are some of my thoughts (as they relate to a blog):

• In traditional online marketing I am continually taught by experts that a person needs to be exposed to an advertisement at least 3 to 7 times before action is typically taken. If that is the case, then why do we expect to be effective by only exposing a person to one blog post asking for a charitable donation?


• Consider providing value to the reader in your blog posts beyond just asking for the donation. Educate the reader about the problem being helped by the charity. Discuss the success you are having with the online fundraising campaign. Talk about the lessons you are learning. You can even work the ask into blog posts on different but related topics. Be creative.


• Since asking for a donation for charity is usually not considered "self-serving", I don't believe several asks would drive a person away (even if he or she has no plans to donate).


• Should you care if a person stops reading your blog for this reason? What is the purpose of your blog? If it is to have the largest number of readers then I guess you should care. If it is to attract a reader you can inspire and engage with, don't worry about the loss. That person obviously doesn't share your same values.


• You need to stay true to the purpose of your blog. This is the one exception to the rest of this list. It will be easier to ask many times if your site is focused on the topic of philanthropy or related to the mission of the charity you are raising funds to support. If you maintain a blog about bike repair and continue to ask for donations to support a team of doctors helping in other countries, you will probably alienate your readers pretty fast.

What do you think? How many times can a person be asked to support your cause before you alienate him or her?

Donating Time and Money

H&R Block has recently launched an interactive financial site called Digits. I was contacted and asked to start a conversation related to finance and giving.

Click here to view the topic exploring where and why people donate time and money. Be sure to leave a text or video comment while you are there.

The Fundraising Houseparty

Have you considered throwing a party with a theme that revolves around your favorite cause? Are you interested in raising funds for that important cause in an entertaining way and without fear? If so, you are ready to throw a fundraising houseparty.

Morrie Warshawski, author of Shaking The Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video, has recently updated his book The Fundraising Houseparty: How to Party with a Purpose and Raise Money for Your Cause. I am glad he sent me a copy to review.

What is a fundraising houseparty?

Warshawski lists the basic elements of a fundraising houseparty party in his book...

• People receive an invitation to come to a party at a private home.
• The invitation makes it clear that the evening will be a fundraising event.
• Participants arrive and are served some refreshments.
• Participants sit through a brief presentation.
• The Host or a Peer--someone articulate, enthusiastic and respected by participants--stands up and asks everyone to make a contribution.

Although the concept is as simple as following the elements quoted above, the details can make the difference between it being effective or not. Warshawski shares the needed details, right down to the preferred setup of the refreshment area.

What you can expect when you get your copy of this book?

• Step by step instructions and checklists provide an easy to follow method for an effective fundraiser
• Examples of proven items including invitations, thank you notes, and a script for asking for donations will help cut your time investment and take away your worries about whether you are doing things correctly
• Tips from additional fundraising experts makes certain you are reaping the greatest benefit from people's experiences
• 58 easy to read pages of information ensures you will quickly understand what needs to be done
• Results to expect from hosting a fundraising houseparty so unreasonable expectations are eliminated

If you are searching for a thick book full of historical facts about fundraising or the psychology of why raising funds via houseparties is effective, this book is not for you. However, if you want an easy to read book filled with practical advice and step by step instructions to host a fundraising party, you need to add The Fundraising Houseparty to your arsenal of fundraising knowledge.

400 Donors and $11,140 For The Sharing Foundation To Date

You have asked how we are doing in raising funds for the Sharing Foundation as a part of the America's Giving Challenge. As I sat at my computer this morning to write this blog post, I watched the number of donors rise to 400 and current donations total $11,140! This challenge is now moving faster than a speeding train.

We have currently taken 1st place in the challenge. However, there are still 16 days left before the contest ends on January 31. I am excited about the donations this challenge has already inspired. But I want the Sharing Foundation to walk away with the $50,000 prize to make an even greater difference in the lives of the Cambodian children in their care.

Have you made your $10 donation yet? Click here and make your donation now. Don't wait until it is too late.

Change A Child's Life In Cambodia Through Literacy

Photo by Beth Kanter

You can help change the life of a child in Cambodia.

Literacy is key to interrupting a lifetime of living in poverty. The Sharing Foundation understands this. The Foundation today serves over 1,500 orphaned and seriously disadvantaged Cambodian children daily through numerous ongoing programs. These programs include teaching Khmer and English languages.

Now the Sharing Foundation has the opportunity to get an additional $50,000 if they receive the largest number of unique donors in the America's Giving Challenge by January 31, 2008. Ninety-one donors have already given $2,450 to this critical cause. We can make it happen for the Sharing Foundation and the Cambodians they serve.

Photo by Beth Kanter

This is where you come in. You can become a part of changing a child's life. Your donation of at least $10 will help the Sharing Foundation teach Khmer and English to these Cambodian children. It will open up possibilities in their lives they would not otherwise experience.

Don't wait. Click here and make your donation now. You will be glad you did.

Related post: Only 3 Days Left To Make Donations In 2007

Giving beyond yourself

My wife and I recently went to Chipotle for dinner. If you're not familiar with this restaurant, it's a fast food place where you can get burritos the size of a small country, packed with rice, beans, chicken, and so on. I added a picture to this post.

While eating, I noticed writing on my cup. It informed me of a person by the name of Wes Jackson, a plant geneticist who transforms agriculture by cross-breeding traditional, annual food crops like wheat, sunflowers and corn with deep-rooted perennials. This can possibly lead to diminishing the need for pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. It can also help save water, reduce erosion, and replenish the soil. He founded www.landinstitute.org. He is quoted as saying "if your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

"If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

What a great quote to use to re-align ourselves at the beginning of a brand new year! How are YOU going to give this year? Does your giving lead to something bigger than you are? Why not let this year be the best ever?

Scott Couchenour, guest blogger, Certified Life Coach - Serving Strong (Scott's blog)