Acadiana Gives

When it comes to charitable giving, I’m in the same boat as many of you: Limited capital, limited funds, limited dollars…. which means, I’m limited in my ability to help out and make a difference.

Or am I ??

You see, class, the point I’m going to come right and make is this:

You don’t have to be a billionaire or a millionaire to contribute. Heck, you don’t even have to be a “thousandaire”, or a “hundredaire”, or a “tens-a-naire”, or even a “ones-a-naire”.
(I believe I’m one of the first to use the previous four “–naire” words, but I digress).

A more finely-tuned version of my message is this:

Giving to charity isn’t solely defined by writing a check or handing over some cash.

“In-Kind Donations” as they’re called, can carry just as much weight (and sometimes more) as a monetary donation. And when I say “in-kind donation”, I mean giving a nonprofit organization (social service group, church, school, etc.) a gift of your time, energy and abilities.

*Can you use a hammer or a screwdriver? Offer to assist during a charity’s “fix-up” day and —- boom– you’ve just become a philanthropist.

*Can you push a lawn mower? Bring it to the nonprofit, tell them, “I’ll cut the grass, you keep working for your cause”, and—boom—you’ve become a philanthropist.

Do you have a conference room or empty warehouse you can offer to a group so it can hold its annual awards ceremony (and not have to spend money to rent a facility)? Do it, and— boom— you guessed it, you’re an instant philanthropist.

There are plenty of other examples, such as paying members of your company’s accounting staff to help a nonprofit balance its books….. driving children at a summer camp to a field trip…. or making meals to feed staff at group’s fundraiser or retreat. Providing any of these services converts little ol’ you… in a big ol’ donor.

And here’s my own most frequent “in-kind donation”: Since I’m an old broadcaster, who loves to show off and is somewhat comfortable behind a microphone and in front of a crowd, I offer to provide groups with an “instant emcee”. (Afraid of making a fool out of yourself? Let’s let Scott do it !!). Or I click away at my keyboard and try to help them hammer out an effective, call-to-action press release.

So the next time you’re asked to give, don’t let your bank account be the only determining factor.

Look in the mirror, and make the donation that really matters.

Give your favorite charity…. YOU.

Scott Brazda is the Executive Director of Stuller Family Foundation.