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Socially Conscious Parties Bring Good Parking Karma
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One of my New Year's Resolutions was to make all social gatherings "good" and have a socially conscious aspect to them. And why not? If people are going to get together for a party, birthday, brunch, networking -- it seems easy and fun to try to incorporate a certain "give back" quality. And I know, fun can be described as different things to different people, but for this do-gooder, well, I just couldn't resist. However, I work at a nonprofit, and it being my world, I have a good grasp on what to look for. A lot of my friends have been asking how to go about choosing a charity for their event and I thought I would outline a few simple tips here to keep in mind. But after reading through all of this, just remember, whether you do the homework or not, trying putting a charity component into your next gathering just to see how it goes. The most important thing is just to start trying, get involved, and see where it takes you. There are a million resources online to get you started.
There are a few important things to consider when pairing up with a nonprofit whether for a one-off event, third party event or if you're looking to build a long-term relationship. First, are they reputable? Ask around, see what the word on the street is and what kind of vibe they have out there. Of course smaller and more boutique nonprofits might still be trying to build their brand and you might not hear a lot about them, but do a little research. There's a smell test like with anything else, you'll know if you've found one that doesn't gel with your style.
You should find out if the items or money you're going to be fundraising in their honor are going to the people they're supposed to in a timely manner. This goes back to being reputable and don't be afraid to pick up the phone and ask a few questions. A three minute phone call can really give you the thumbs up or thumbs down on a organization. While you're at it, look online to find out how much is spent on programmatic costs vs. administrative costs. A good ratio is 80/20, where 80% is being spent on programmatic costs and 20% is being spent on administrative. You wouldn't want all the money going to executive salaries instead of the people or cause you're trying to reach. At the same time, we all have bills to pay, so be a little forgiving. Next and so vitally imperative, do you believe in their mission? If you're not passionate about a topic, chances are, the people you're inviting and including won't be either. But if you are, and your eyes light up when you're talking about your project, then everyone else will feel that energy and be on board with your project.
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The good news is that there are charities of every kind, and excellent tracking and monitoring systems that provide checks and balances for what a charity is up to. A great place to look up nonprofits is Charity Navigator, a site that rates charities (4 stars the highest) on the topics I mentioned above. If you're just looking for charities in general, check out Idealist, the go-to for resources, job and volunteer information and all that is new in the nonprofit world. Want more? The trade of my world is the Chronicle of Philanthropy. You'd be surprised, like any industry, how much goes on when you're on the inside. A new favorite I've come across and I'm sure I'll mention again here is Six Degrees. Started by Kevin Bacon based on the game we all know as "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," this website can connect you with any number of celebrities and their charities and is just a great new site to get you involved and activated.
Have fun with it, and if you want any extra help, feel free to drop me a line.
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