#GivingTuesday is a great opportunity to take a break from all of the holiday spending and think about some organizations and nonprofits that are deserving of a little extra love. During these holidays many people feel the pull to give their time or money, and whether we realize it or not, this is incredibly fitting for where we are in the liturgical year. Advent is like a mini Lent where we simplify and sacrifice some daily joys with the hope and anticipation of the coming of a Great Feast. And #GivingTuesday is an opportunity to engage in that spirit by “giving up” some of our treasure for “nothing” in return.
Something I don’t share about often on here is that my professional passion is nonprofit management. I have worked in programs and in fund development. I have worked on the ground and behind the scenes. I have worked or volunteered in homeless services, restorative justice, education reform, refugee resettlement, environmental education, and in consulting roles for organizations with all sorts of missions statements. And if one thing is true across the board it’s this: community-based nonprofits and social change organizations rely on generous donors like yourself to carry out their important work. But the generosity of the community also pays for employees’ wages and benefits, for utilities and rent, for computers and office supplies. These last items are often what grants and federal funding won’t cover and donors don’t get as excited about giving $100 for utilities as they do about ensuring a child has lunch for a week. But this is why nonprofits often don’t offer competitive compensation for their employees. But I’m starting to go into a topic for another day.
Year-end giving is a last push to engage donors and receive donations to keep an organization strong. Many nonprofits have matching funds or other incentives that can drive more money to programs and services that reach the marginalized and disenfranchised. And that’s why #GivingTuesday is an important reminder to set aside some of our treasure to offer it to the organizations that are doing good service for our communities.
At the end of this post I will give a list of some organizations that I think deserve attention. This #GivingTuesday do some research and find organizations in your area that serve a group of people or fight for a cause YOU believe in. If there is a community foundation in your city, check out if they are running a giving campaign like Monterey County Gives. These campaigns raise millions of dollars for small organizations each year.
Think about programs that you have received some sort of benefit from. Many programs for children are nonprofits. Many museums and aquariums and zoos rely on donations. Many green spaces and parks have foundations or initiatives that raise money to keep these areas protected. Libraries also often have a “Friends of the Library” group that accepts donations on their behalf.
Think about the people in your community that need the most support. Are there a lot of folks that live outdoors Migrants? Refugees? Single mothers? Good chance there is an organization serving these populations to some extent. And of course there are the organizations that provide services for mental health, housing, education, rehabilitation, and the list goes on.
Here are some organizations that are important to me:
If you have been following my family’s story you will know that our daughter was in the NICU for 3.5 months and we were 2.5 hours from home. Family House provides free housing to families of children with life threatening illnesses that live 50 miles or more from UCSF. But, really, Family House provides more than just a room to sleep in. The staff fosters an environment that breeds community and support. Walking into Family House felt like a refuge after long days at the hospital. Often times there was free food in the kitchens, activities for the kids, and warm smiles at the front desk. Being able to laugh at a joke or talk about something other than medical jargon or talk some more about medical jargon, the staff was there – sometimes with warm cookies and milk or tickets to a Giants game. Or sometimes just a hug. We even were able to stay there for follow up appointments in the city, which was such a relief to not have to make that long drive twice in a day for a 30 minute appointment.
Honestly, they have thought about pretty much anything. Including Fozzy’s Toy Room, which is a little store with a selection of free toys for each child per visit – of course it was one of Oscar’s favorite places to visit whenever we stayed at Family House. If you want to help purchase items to fill Fozzy’s Toy Room you can see the Amazon Wishlist here.
UCSF Benoiff Children’s Hospital
This state-of-the-art hospital provided more than just life saving medical care for Olivia. The hospital also had Child Life Specialists and programs that offered services for Oscar, including a play room where he could go a few hours every day so that Casey and I could both be in Olivia’s room at once or, you know, talk without interruptions in day light. Or eat. Oscar loved the playroom and became very close with the employees and volunteers there. He looked forward to going every day to play and learn. The hospital also provided social workers, family services, and mass every Sunday.
Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST)
FIRST is dedicated to advocacy, research, and support for the ichthyosis community. We had never even heard the word ichthyosis before Olivia was born, and for something so rare the Internet can be a scary and unhelpful place. FIRST’s website is full of articles and information for medical professionals and families alike. Within a week or two of Olivia’s birth I received a phone call from the Executive Director and was given the names and contact information of other Harlequin Ichthyosis families. I still go to the website for recommendations of skin care products or ideas for things that are hard to navigate, like rude strangers. FIRST also supports research for medicines and cures and genetic testing – a glimmer of hope for all of us. And maybe most important is that FIRST hosts a conference every two years. We got to go this past summer and it was so good to meet other ichthyosis families in person.
Consider donating to organizations, like World Relief or Catholic Relief Services or Catholic Charities, that may have lost federal funding or has greatly reduced funding for their good work around immigration and refugee resettlement. World Relief took a big hit under the current administration and had to close several offices, including one I loved volunteering at here in Nashville.
Restorative Justice Partners, Inc.
coyotesandsaints.com 