The Giving Season

A little less than a month ago, I wrote a post about how my trip to Africa changed my view of what it means to be privileged. That change in perspective was accompanied by a commitment I made to myself to make a greater effort to use my own privilege and advantages for the common good.

As the holiday season approaches, I see many opportunities to do just that. But where to start?

As I was pondering that question recently, I happened to see an article in The Daily Camera written by Enid Ablowitz, Associate Director for Administration at the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities in the Office of the President, University of Colorado, about this very subject. (Full disclosure: Enid is a longtime friend of Imagine! and I respect her opinion greatly).

If you didn’t click on the link to the article above, here’s a quick summary. Enid points out that November is National Philanthropy Month, making it a great time to focus on changing the culture of charitable giving? What, she asks, if there could be a true paradigm shift in the way we view "the holidays," and if we could get just as excited about charitable giving as we do about costumes, wrapping paper and the latest and greatest trinket?

She offers five suggestions on we can make that paradigm shift happen:

1. FIND YOUR PASSION: What do you really care about? Societal needs? Creating opportunity? What do you want to make sure is there for others in the future? What has made a difference in your life? Virtually every enterprise requires people and resources to sustain it. How can you share your passion through charitable giving? 
2. LEARN NEW GIVING STRATEGIES: Don't let giving be perfunctory, like paying bills. Take it seriously and maximize your impact. Don't let taxes drive your giving, but learn how financial and tax considerations can unlock your giving potential. What giving strategies do you want to learn more about? 
3. CHOOSE A NON-PROFIT PARTNER: Focus on the charitable organization that best matches your passion and get involved. How can you help it be more effective and more accountable?
4. TEACH OTHERS TO GIVE: Create teachable moments to engage children, grandchildren, siblings, even spouses or partners in the joy of giving. Specifically, how will you approach exchanging gifts this holiday season? Are there lessons to be learned in the choices you make?
5. SHOW YOUR LOVE, RESPECT OR GRATITUDE THROUGH GIVING: Give in someone else's name ... for a purpose aligned with their passion. Who will you honor and how? 

In the next six weeks, you will have many opportunities to give back and make a difference. Some of those opportunities will be related to Imagine!, and I promise to share those ways with you on this very blog. But for today, all I ask is that you join me in re-thinking how we approach this season, and consider what we all can do differently in search of a better world for all. We might all learn something in the process.

Then again, what do I know?