There are thousands of good causes that all ask for donations all year round. People want to make a difference but often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of these requests for help. Starting to think about giving more wisely and structuring your giving in a more strategic way is the first step in responding to the enormous issues that are present in our society.

Starting your own personal giving plan:
Developing your own giving plan is a process of putting into place an action plan outlining the way you want to give. It becomes a very valuable way to work through what is important to you, allowing you to take control over the way you are giving. A giving plan also gives you the freedom to choose to give in different ways; you can align yourself with people who share your values and vision, for supporting grassroots fledging groups or groups who are breaking new ground or you may want to focus on proactive causes – ones that address structural poverty and inequality rather than solely focusing on acute crisis needs.

These are some important questions to think about:

Why do you want to give?
Ask yourself why you want to give - knowing why you are giving is the important first step and will help in your giving efforts.

Who to give to?
Your giving will have more meaning for you and your commitment to giving will be easier to sustain if you give to the causes that matter most to you - causes that match your interests and values.

Think about what are the organisations you currently give to? How did you first get involved? What gives you the greatest satisfaction?

How much to give?
If your support is financial, you need to plan your giving just as you would your other financial obligations. Consider how much you feel comfortable giving each year. Do you want to give a large contribution to one or a few organisations allowing you to become more closely identified and involved with those organisations?  Or would you prefer to give smaller sums to several, thus being more anonymous and diversifying your giving to match a broad range of interests?

Annual Review
Giving strategically means that you need to review and update your plan on a regular basis as your passions and financial situation may change.

Remember
Give only when you feel comfortable that your dollars will be going to support an organisation you know and believe in.

Adapted and paraphrased from the Our Community article “Tips on Giving Wisely” based on “Inspired Philanthropy” by Tracy Gary, world renowned giving expert and author. For more information on giving wisely visit the Australian Giving Centre at www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving   Used with permission.