10 Online Resources to Help You Become an Expert for Your Cause

Image by degreezero2000 via Flickr

If you are going to be an effective advocate for your favourite charity you need to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible (preferably related to your cause!). The internet is a great way to do this - if you know where to look.

Here's a list of 10 great places to go for information and discussion about the causes that you are passionate about:

1. Alltop is like an online magazine rack of popular topics and the stories are updated every hour. To find out more about your cause, simply type it in the search box. My favourite channel is Alltop Good - for all you need to know about doing good!
   
   
2. Addict-o-matic lets you perfom a search for your topic and creates a custom page with the search results that you can bookmark and refer to later. It searches on Twitter, Google, Friendfeed, You Tube, Digg, Flickr and more
   
   
3. Twitter is a cool micro-blogging/social networking tool that allows you to build a network of like minded people. Its amazing what you can learn from 140 character soundbites!
   
   You can find people to follow using tools like Twibes (groups of Twitter users interested in particular topics. I love the Philanthropy Twibe) or Twellow (the Twitter yellow pages).
   
   A great way to find Charities and Non-Profit organisations that use twitter is to check out #charitytuesday
   
   
4. Charity Evaluators such as Intelligent Giving and Charity Navigator can help you to choose a charity that is going to make the most efficient use of your donations. So you can be sure that your money is actually going to make a difference rather than be used to fund the organisation's operating costs!
   
   
5. Your chosen charity will more than likely have a website. Be sure to check it out. It should have plenty of information about the charity organisation - what they do , who they help, success stories and testimonials - as well as background information about the cause they work for.
   
   
6. Squidoo is a great place to find out more about the Cause(s) you are passionate about. People create Squidoo Lenses about a whole range of topics - simply search for the one that interests you.
   
   
7. GiveWell is a Charity Evaluator that conducts in-depth research on charities to help people accomplish as much good as possible with their donations. They focus primarily on how well the programmes work. So if you want to be sure that the charity you donate to is really having a positive effect on the people it serves - this is the place to find out!
   
   
8. Causecast is a place to explore issues and connect with a community of people wanting to make a difference. Its chock full of great information!
   
   
9. Big Think is a great place to find out what other people are thinking about your favourite cause. You can join in and share ideas or just read through what others have to say. They have a great collection of really interesting and knowledgeable experts on a variety of topics. It is a fascinating site!
   
   
10. Just Cause is a great site to find information about your favourite cause as well as inspiration to help you make a difference.
    

Where do you go to find out more about the causes you are passionate about?

Are You a Rebel with a Cause?

Image by Blondi000 via Flickr

In times of economic turmoil, non-profit organisations need their supporters more than ever. When there is less money to go around, there is usually more need - and when you put that together with the fact that donating to charity is often first to be cut from the budget when money gets tight, you can see how charity organisations are caught between a rock and a hard place in the midst of recession.

Supporting the cause that you are passionate about isn't just about giving money. There are plenty of things you can do that can help your favourite non-profit out that won't cost you anything but a little of your time. Not that some financial support isn't needed - but if you are not able to give that just now, try some of the things below. You can make a difference!!

1. Become an expert
If you want to become an effective advocate for your cause, you need to be informed.

Read widely, talk with people who understand the cause you support, talk with people who have differing opinions from yours so you are aware of all sides of the issue - even if you disagree wholeheartedly!

The more you know the better you can answer other people's questions, counter other people's arguments and spread awareness about the cause you are passionate about.

2. Spread the word
Most charities don't have a ton of money to spend on marketing (and are often condemned if they are perceived as spending too much money on advertising) so they appreciate the work of their supporters bringing awareness to the cause!

3. Donate things you no longer need
You may (or may not) have spare cash to donate, but charity organisations need more than just money. You can donate clothing and other items to your local goodwill store, material scraps to your local school or pre-school, outgrown toys to the women's refuge . . .

4. Vote with your wallet
Be aware where your money goes. You may not be able to give money to support your cause - but by spending mindfully you can make sure you are not supporting companies and industries that go against your values.

5. Volunteer
If you have some time on your hands, consider volunteering for your favourite charity. Even if you only have an hour or two a month, you can make a difference. Volunteers are the lifeblood of most non-profit organisations.

6. Find ways to give for free
There are plenty of great opportunities to support causes you believe in online that cost you nothing. From Care2's Click to Donate, to Better the World, to Everywun . . . not to mention all the Facebook applications that donate money to charity.

Related articles by Zemanta

• When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Volunteer (winetalent.blogspot.com)
• Don't Donate Money To Charity (bargaineering.com)

An Ounce of Kindness

Image by elycefeliz via FlickrI read a blog post at Platonic Trip a while back that has stayed with me, kind of like a splinter that I just haven't been able to dig out. Its been irritating me beyond measure!

The gist of the post is that the writer was amongst a group of people approached by a man asking for money to buy medicine for his sick kids. Only one member of the group gave any money. The writer of the post outlined his reasons for not giving. According to his way of thinking the man asking for the money should have gone to the Church, or some Government agency to ask for help rather than bail up a group of individuals and try to emotionally blackmail them into helping him and his family out. The writer felt that there was no point in helping the man as he should have gone elsewhere to get the money he needed and drew the conclusion that kindness is a weakness and therefore not a virtue worth pursuing.

This post bothers me on many different levels.

I am not a fan of being approached by people in need asking me for money. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I like to have time to consider my options, to feel that I am not being taken advantage of. Giving in a face to face manner makes me anxious - I worry that I am not giving enough, or I'm giving too much, or I'm not being effective in my giving by giving directly to an individual. Given all this, I can relate to the fact that the writer of the post wasn't thrilled at being approached by the man asking for money.

However, his reasons for not giving seem shallow and badly thought out.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is a bad thing to not give money in situations like this. Many people are on limited or fixed incomes themselves and don't have spare for spontaneous giving. And the writer is correct, there are agencies and institutions in most countries that are set up to help people in just these circumstances. I'm sure the man in need could have visited them.

Perhaps he didn't know where to go? Rather than simply ignore him and his story, perhaps someone could have shown him a kindness and pointed him in the right direction to get help?

Was it really emotional blackmail appealing to the kindness of strangers in a time of need? I'm not advocating that anyone hand their life savings over to the first desperate sounding stranger with a sob story that approaches them, but surely, if you have a little money (time, food, other appropriate item) spare would it really hurt to share? Even if it does make you anxious or uncomfortable?

While his reasons for not giving disappoint me, the writer's conclusion that kindness is a weakness gobsmacks me.

Kindness is not the same as naivety. Its not blindly giving to everyone who asks, its not meekly accepting other people's bad behaviour, or unquestioningly believing whatever you are told.

Kindness is about choosing to make cups of tea for angry people because you know that your actions will make a difference. Its about being generous when you can do so, and respectfully saying no when you feel it is inappropriate or simply not possible. Kindness is about being strong and standing up for what you believe in, about being respectful and assertive. Kindness is about cultivating connections with others and building community.

Kindness would have to be one of my favourite virtues. It shows real strength of character.

.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Comfort and Ease
• String Rings: a beautiful reminder to be kind, patient, loving, forgiving...

The Best Way to Save the World is to Save Yourself

Image via Wikipedia

The best way to save the world is to save yourself. Sweep your own doorstep. Tend your own garden. Always do what you've agreed to do. Never take anything that's not yours. Be generous, but sceptical, kind, but not naive.
- The Daily Reckoning Australia

Poverty, violence, hunger, war, global warming, religious intolerance, terrorism . . . the problems of the world may seem big, but the solutions to them are small. They start with one person, you. They start with simple actions, the kind of things that you, and I , can do everyday. Grand gestures are exciting, but its the little things that really count. Their effects ripple out from our own lives and make a difference in the lives of others.

1. Put your money where your mouth is
   Live by your values. Its easy to complain, its easy to throw up your arms in horror. But if you want to make a difference you need to have the courage of your convictions and you need to take action. Stand up for what you believe in.
   
   
2. Do less
   Sometimes less really is more. Spend less time talking and more time listening to others. Make a point of consuming less. Use less resources. Drive less and walk or cycle more. Eat less meat. Slow down and enjoy life.
   
   
3. Value the things you have
   Do you really need more Stuff? Do you need a new car, a bigger house, another TV? For many of us more stuff means more debt. And more debt means less time and more stress. Appreciate the things you already have.
   
   
4. Build relationships
   People are more important than things. Really! Make your life's focus more about people and less about Stuff. Cultivate your friendships, treat everyone you meet with respect, be kind.
   
   
5. Share what you have
   If any one thing can make a difference to the world then it has to be generosity. It doesn't have to be on a huge scale - we can't all give like Bill Gates. Be generous with your love, your time, your possessions, your money. Giving generously creates a feeling of abundance. It makes us less afraid of what we might lose, it builds community and connects people, it creates opportunity.
   

Related articles by Zemanta

• Celebrating Friends
• Generosity Is a State of Mind
• Want to be Happy? Give Your Cash Away.
• 5 Reasons to Give Generously
  
• You Are Not What You Buy (BND 2008)
• Consumer kids
• The Charter for Compassion
• Time Banking

Charity begins at Home

Image via WikipediaIts never to early to get your children involved in your family's charitable giving. Children should be taught that philanthropy isn't just for the grown-ups or the well-off, but something that anyone can do. It is, after all, not about what you give or how much you donate, but about helping those in need.

Here's a list by Rebecca Lucia (from Charity Navigator) of 5 great ways to teach your child about philanthropy:

• Spend time with your child by going through their winter clothes from last year. Any item that was lightly used and no longer fits should be placed in a pile to donate to a reputable local clothing drive. You can teach your child that another child will be able to use this clothing to keep themselves warm this winter.
  
  
• Go through the cabinets with your child and collect canned fruits and vegetables or other non-perishable items that can be donated to a local food bank or pantry. You could also go to the store and have your child pick out food items for your donation. Explain to your child that your donation will prevent other people from going hungry.
  
  
• Take your child to the local toy store and have them pick out an item for a less fortunate child. Many programs that work with children, including shelters and mental health centers, accept new toys year-round.
  
  
• Teach your child about charities and the services that they provide. Help him find a cause that is meaningful to him and make a donation in his name. If your child receives an allowance, encourage her to donate a portion of her allowance to the charity of her choice. Many children are eager to help other children in need, but don't understand how to help.
  
  
• Volunteering is a fantastic way to get your child involved in philanthropy. The opportunities available expand as your children get older, but there are plenty of chances for children of all ages to help. For example, your little ones can help visit seniors in nursing homes, your adolescents can join an environmental group to clean up a dirty beach, and your teenagers can serve as mentors or tutors at after-school programs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Charity On Your Sleeve
• Giving Makes You Happier Than Spending (Both Cost Money)
• Wealthy turn their children into philanthropists

5 Ways to Donate to Charity at No Cost to You

Giving to charity is my current focus now that How to Make a Difference has chosen our charity, SALVEASERRA, for the next twelve months.

Its not always easy to fit charitable donations into your budget. So here are a few ways to give to charity at no cost to you . . . YAY!

1. Click to donate
Join Care2 and click to donate to charity every day. You can help everything from abandoned Pets, to Breast Cancer research to stopping Global Warming. So what are you waiting for . . . get clicking!!

2. Recycle your Mobile Phone
Make money for you and for your favourite charity by selling your old mobile phone to EnviroCharities for recycling. Good for your wallet, your chosen non-profit AND the environment.

3. Search the Web
Yep, its as easy as loading one of these search engines as your default and then every search you make generates money for charity. Easy!





4. Improve your Vocabulary
Have a bit of fun, get smarter AND feed the hungry!!



5. Chat with your Friends
Use Microsoft Live or your hotmail account and generate money for the charity of your choice.

And the winner is . . .

Congratulations to Vasanta - winner of the Miessence Skincare Travel Pack. That will be on its way to you as soon as I hear from you :-)

SALVEASERRA was the clear winner of the Charity Poll and will be the Charity that we support and promote here at How to Make a Difference. I'm really excited about helping SALVEASERRA continue to Make a Difference!!

To find out more about SALVEASERRA click here.

Vote and Win

Don't forget to vote in our Charity Poll. And if you leave a comment with some way of contacting you you will go into the draw to win a gorgeous Miessence Skincare Travel Pack.

Voting closes June 13th so click here to vote NOW!!

The Charity Poll

Can you believe it? Its May already! Time to vote for your favourite charity to help ME choose a charity to promote and support through this blog. So vote yourself and tell your friends.

Leave a comment when you vote and you're in to win a divine Miessence Skincare Travelpack.


The nominations were:

The National Marrow Donor Program
Northern Cancer Research Foundation
Charity: Water
ONE - The Campaign to Make Poverty History
We can Solve the Climate Crisis
World Energy Solution – New Solar Electric Generator
SalveaSerra - Protect Rainforest in Brazil

Opinion Polls & Market Research

The Prize Finder - UK Competitions

Vote for Your Favourite Charity

How to Make a Difference is looking for a Charity to support over the remainder of 2008. We get a few visitors through our metaphorical doors and we would like to use our web traffic to make a difference.

There are so many worthy organisations out there, its an almost impossible decision to make. So we need your help!!

Post a comment here before the end of April letting us know your favourite Charity Organisation or Project. Don't forget to add a link to their website.

Over the month of May we will be running a poll so you can vote on your favourite Charity Organisation or Project. The Charity with the most votes at the end of May will be our 2008 How to Make a Difference Charity.

So let us know the cause closest to your heart now - and don't forget to check back on the first of May to vote . . .