Tag: charity

Disaster Relief: Ways to Prepare Your Organization

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While summer might mean sunscreen, hot dogs, and lazy days at the pool for some, for disaster relief organizations, it’s a great time to evaluate preparations and procedures for potential weather-related emergencies. Although May is National Wildfire Awareness month, it’s not just wildfires that are cause for concern in the summer. As the mercury rises, many parts of the country are also at a higher risk for hurricanes, tornadoes, and powerful summer storms.

Now more than ever, communities rely on non-profits and disaster relief programs to provide necessary supplies and expertise, making this the perfect time to ensure you are ready and able to help when called.

Make sure your supplies are well stocked

One of the most important and simplest steps you can take is to take inventory of all the supplies you currently have on hand. When an emergency hits, you won’t have time to go digging through your supplies or spend time wondering if you have enough. You also want to go through the items you have in stock and make sure they are not expired or are still in good condition. You want to be sure you’ve thought of everything you might need before, during, and after disaster strikes.

With DollarDays new Emergency Prepardedness line, we can help you manage all the supplies you’ll need to help your communities through any kind of natural disaster or emergency situation. We’ve got quality products for cleanup recovery like trash bags and sturdy buckets, first-aid kits and supplies like bandages and antiseptic creams, a wide selection of non-perishable food items, and more.

Buying these supplies wholesale can help your organization save money so you help save more people.

Ask for Donations

Natural disasters and other unexpected emergencies are devastating. The good news is they often bring out the best in our neighbors and communities. People want to help. As the frequency with which these events occur, almost everyone knows someone touched by a catastrophic event. Chances are, they still remember how difficult that time was and want to help ensure no one has to live through what they did by providing disaster relief assistance.

However, many people don’t really know where to start. Asking for donations is a great way for your organization to increase its supplies, and for individuals to feel good about contributing. Even those outside communities hit hard often sit back and wish there was more they could do. Donating is a powerful action anyone can take.

DollarDays is committed to making it easy and affordable to make a huge impact with critically needed items for any disaster. Non-profits, schools, or even families can make charitable donations for the items your organization needs most. Don’t be shy about asking for donations!

Encourage people to volunteer with your organization

Another step your disaster relief organization can take to help prepare, is to actively encourage volunteers to help both during an emergency and during calmer periods. Before a crisis hits is the perfect time for organizations to recruit disaster relief volunteers.

No community is immune from potential disasters. As wild weather continues to become more the norm, disaster relief volunteers are more important than ever. Volunteers can make a huge difference in your community by extending their time and expertise.

Reach out to local religious institutions, corporations, and local officials to spread the word about volunteering with your organization. Invite former volunteers to share their experiences and how rewarding this work can be through social media and other channels of communication.

Preparing for a natural disaster is critical for most communities. We’ve come to rely on help of disaster relief organizations to heed the call when emergencies happen, but you don’t have to do it alone. DollarDays is proud to stock everything from fresh blankets to hygiene kits to survival gear so you can focus on helping people recover.


Wendy Smith-Reeve

DollarDays Partner: Wendy Smith-Reeve

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You probably know Wendy Smith-Reeve as the former Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. At DollarDays, we know her as a champion of those in need, underserved, or in crisis in our communities. We are proud to partner with Smith-Reeve in her continued effort to ensure that our communities are better prepared for emergencies and have access to essential health, hygiene and safety supplies.

While her resignation from ADEM was mired in talk of politics, Smith-Reeve has never been one to allow her political leanings to influence her leadership during crises. When asked if politics played a part in her departure from ADEM, she responded, “The thing about disasters and emergencies and crisis situations is it’s all bipartisan. It’s affecting everyone.” It is this sense of purpose and compassion that has guided her long career in crisis management and disaster relief.

Smith-Reeve began working for ADEM in 1996 as a finance specialist for the Public Assistance Program within the Recovery Section. She later became Deputy Manager, then Manager of that program. In 2009, she was named Assistant Director of the Recovery Section before becoming the Director of ADEM in 2013.

Over the course of her 25-year career in crisis management and disaster relief, Ms. Smith-Reeve has served the people of Arizona through 10 presidential disaster declarations and over 80 Arizona state disaster declarations. From supplying displaced citizens with blankets and sheets to providing homeless kids with health and hygiene supplies, DollarDays has been honored to help provide disaster relief for those who most need it.

Throughout her career, Ms. Smith-Reeve has also been at the forefront of helping Arizona prepare for the future by leading and participating in various symposiums and conferences about crisis management and disaster relief. With an eye on some of Arizona’s most pressing issues including wildfires, water shortages, and other environmental issues, cyber-security and counter-terrorism, and ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations, Smith-Reeve understands that complex problems rarely have easy solutions. Strong partnerships and teamwork are essential to any successful crisis management plan.

Regardless of the gravity of the situation, Smith-Reeve brings calm and capable leadership. She has seen devasting fires, floods, dust storms, and extreme heat plague her state but maintains practical strategies to recover from and prepare for whatever disaster or crisis strikes. She has served as an instructor for several recovery courses offered by ADEM and helped develop FEMA courses regarding recovery operations to train and prepare emergency service providers, emergency managers, and local government officials for many crisis scenarios.

Since last spring, Ms. Smith-Reeve has served as a coronavirus analyst for local news station ABC 15 and established her own consulting firm. Using her professional expertise and years of experience, Smith-Reeve continues to help Arizona’s at-risk populations. While the current border crisis continues across Arizona, Smith-Reeve and DollarDays are working to provide shelters with tarps, children’s clothing, pandemic supplies, and other personal care essentials.

Smith-Reeve has built her long and distinguished career on tackling complicated and critical issues from assuring our natural disaster preparedness due to climate change to combatting homelessness to ensure all citizens’ safety. Though there are never easy answers, she does not shy away from asking difficult questions and making difficult decisions. With a balance of common-sense practicality and tender concern, she provides both comfort and hope to those who need it most.

Whether it’s helping to supply shelters with non-perishable foods, bedding and cleaning supplies, or feeding the homeless, DollarDays is always ready to offer assistance with quality wholesale products and a commitment to helping the underserved and those in need. Working together we can create a stronger community and brighter future.

Ways to give back in Arizona:

Arizona Gives Day 2021: A Truly Important Day For AZ

How to Make an Outreach Kit in 2021

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Let’s be honest, this past year is not what anyone expected. Many industries have been disrupted by COVID-19 as we all continue to adapt. One group that is near and dear to us, is nonprofits. Many nonprofits have had to either cancel their annual events or make drastic cutbacks to what they are able to provide. The good news is that we can all continue to support our communities as individuals or as part of an organization.

Building the Ideal Kit

One of the staples of community outreach is providing kits of essential items for those in need. During a normal year, kits could include school supplies for underprivileged students or personal hygiene products for the homeless. While those items are still incredibly valuable, a few key additions may be necessary.

Homeless Care Kits

When putting together a care kit for the homeless some common items to include are hygiene products, socks, snacks and a reusable water bottle. We have the privilege of working with many nonprofits and these are some of the most common items we help find for them for their projects.

With COVID-19, it’s now important to consider what additional items are necessary to help protect the homeless population. Some great items to include are a pack of masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Not having the luxury of 24/7 shelter means we need to do all we can to protect them from the virus.

School Supply Kits

Another common project for nonprofits is backpack drives for underprivileged students. We’ve worked with both schools and nonprofits for years so we always have a selection of school supplies that work for classroom shopping and outreach projects. As we know, schools are in a difficult position trying to determine the best way to navigate the 2020-2021 school year. In turn, that means many nonprofits have needed to adjust their projects based on if their local schools are fully reopening or not. Regardless, we as individuals can also chip in to provide needed supplies for students at home and in the classroom.

Along with classic school supplies, masks and PPE are essential for students returning to the classroom. Because of that, we’ve made sure to have kid-size masks available. For students at home, the needs change a bit. While they will need all the usual writing utensils and notebooks, it’s a good idea to include some puzzle books or educational toys as fun activities for the kids. Lastly, many students rely on school for some of their meals, so providing some snacks or ready-to-eat meals is extremely valuable.

Once your kit is ready to go, all that’s left is to put it in a nice backpack whether it’ll be for this school year or the next.

It’s important to remember, as these changes continue, that we are all in this together. There will always be opportunities for us to continue to help one another. Putting together a care kit for someone in need is a great way to start.

Donating your Time and Money: Choosing the Right Nonprofit

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According to Statista, in 2015, “there were about 1,088,447 public charities” in the U.S. If you’re a volunteer or a group of volunteers looking for the right mission to donate your time and money to, that’s a lot of options. At that point it’s important to make sure you choose a reputable organization, with similar goals. To help guide you, we’ve listed a few helpful tips to keep in mind when donating your time and money to the right nonprofit:

1. Make Sure Your Values Align

This may seem the most obvious, but it is also one of the most important things to keep in mind when working with a nonprofit. Since many nonprofits have missions focused on community betterment, they tend to have a list of core values that inform how they go about those missions.

For example, an organization like the Salvation Army has a very strong religious foundation that is integral to how they conduct themselves and their projects. Some people could have similar backgrounds and so that’s a great selling point which allows them to get on board with the mission right away. For others, they may like some of the projects, but if the motivations aren’t the same it can be hard staying engaged. Therefore, it’s important to take the time and research why a nonprofit is engaging in the work they do to make sure it resonates with you on a personal level.

2. Understand Their Needs

Since we work with nonprofits everyday, we have definitely learned the importance of listening first. Enthusiasm for your chosen nonprofit is great, but it’s only half the battle. Make sure you are communicating with the organization so that you understand their needs and can help them make the largest impact. You could excitedly show up with a trunk full of toy donations, only to find out they recently finished their toy drive and really need socks.

Many nonprofits will utilize a wish list or newsletter to communicate their up-to-date needs. The important thing is to reach out before leaping into action.

3. Avoid Shady Organizations and Scams

Unfortunately, some organizations will pop up soliciting donations for a crisis or some urgent project that are less than reputable. This is when research really comes in handy. It’s easy to get swept up in the moment, because you want to help and don’t want to waste time. I promise, though, you’ll be glad to take the extra moment to dig a little deeper.

One tip is to just start with searching the name of the organization and add “complaints” or “scam”. More likely than not, if they are illegitimate, someone is already talking about it. If you want to go even deeper, there are also helpful tools like GuideStar to help you vet a nonprofit.

Finding a local chapter of nationally recognized organizations like United Way or Kiwanis is a great start for working with legitimate groups. Legitimate or not, you should never be shy to ask probing questions. Make sure you know how successful an organization has been with it’s missions and resources. That could be the deciding factor for if their are worth your hard work and money.

Charity and philanthropy are beautiful things and we applaud all those you participate in it. When you are able to find that mission you truly connect with, it makes it all the more rewarding.

If you are looking for ways to support your local charity through needed essentials, considering shopping wholesale with DollarDays.

Introducing Our Nonprofit Catalog

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Our Mission Statement reads, “We are a team of like-minded individuals working together to serve nonprofits by sourcing critically needed goods that allow our partners to stretch their dollars, accomplish their missions and provide dignity to those in need.” It is because of that mission that we are very excited to announce our Nonprofit Catalog.

We have put together a comprehensive selection of items and programs created to specifically serve nonprofits and their goals. Philanthropic projects can be a substantial undertaking. If we can make it even a little bit easier for our partners, we consider that a win.

Explore our catalog below:

Random Acts of Kindness Define Who We Really Are

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Watching the news, watching the divisiveness caused by the elections and watching interactions in our daily lives, we realize we are living in very scary times—[a]nd everything we see and experience is amplified in the eyes of our children.

Children learn by watching adults. According to Love to Know, babies and toddlers learn by observing adults, even when we aren’t intentionally trying to teach them anything. Just watch as the toddler picks up any object and pretends to talk on it just like their parents are talking on their phone. You can teach your child to mimic loving behavior by being affectionate and making sure you accept their affection when they are ready. At the same time, if the adult cusses or throws things, watch how the child is quick to imitate. Preschool years are when children make a big jump in language, imitating the way their adults talk and the words they use, meaning these kids pick up on our tone of voice and the use of grammar. This is also the time they learn what to eat, so if parents routinely eat a variety of healthy foods, so will the kids, and, on the other hand, if adults eat junk food and fast food, this instills that pattern of eating with the child.

Adults can create positive modeling behaviors in kids. Read[ing] often to your child and let[ting] your child see you reading […] make reading a healthy and normal part of everyday life. Use polite words and speak kindly to others in front of the kids. Let your children see you doing the chores you expect them to do. Explain the consequences when you make a mistake so the child sees the results of negative behaviors. If the parent ends up doing good deeds, watch the kids starting to do good deeds.

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.

William Purkey, public school teacher

[According to Happify Daily], small acts of kindness […] like leaving a meal for a homeless person or paying off a stranger’s layaway balance at Kmart start trends, with more people getting in on the act because they are such feel-good stories. The benefactors are happy to have done a good deed, and the recipients are pleased to have been given a small but meaningful helping hand. [Studies have shown that] recipients of kindness want to keep paying it forward, and a single act of kindness inspires more acts of generosity; […] this chain of altruism [is called] “upstream reciprocity.” So the next time you drop a quarter into an expired parking meter, there is a good chance the recipient of that small act of kindness will be inspired to do a kind act for someone else, and on and on.

[James Fowler, a professor at the University of California-San Diego], says that since humans often mimic behavior they see in the media, like generosity, they become inspired to be generous on their own, often starting their own chain of giving. That is why role models like sports figures, politicians, movie stars and rock stars can inspire a wave of giving. [Conversely], these same role models who give off negative vibes can have an adverse effect on our […] kindness to others.

[Former NBA star Derek Anderson], one such celebrity for the positive, […] started the Stamina Foundation, which is teaching young adults how to [perform] acts of kindness. Last month, he held his acts-of-kindness gala at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, [perhaps] the best place on earth to hold this event, [considering] Muhammad Ali had such an influence on the youth of America.

[Y]ou don’t have to be famous to set an example of kindness. CBS News reports about Jesse Frank in Las Vegas, who lived on the streets in Houston before joining the Air Force. As an active airman, he has started […] B-Kind, [an] organization where he and his family help a homeless person each month […] with [support] from local businesses like the barbershop, eye doctor and dentist. […]

If you can’t come up with your own idea [for] an act of kindness, there are plenty of nonprofits [to which] you can donate. […] At Random Acts, your donations provide laptops to hardworking students, funding for dental supplies and […] flea medication for pet shelters, [among other causes]. Even in […] the American Red Cross, you can donate blood and money to help people you don’t know in the path of Hurricane Matthew. […]

Random acts of kindness come in all forms. Just giving someone an unsolicited compliment today will put a smile on both of your faces. Teaching a stranger how to tie his tie or bringing lunch to a neighbor coming out of the hospital brightens [the day for both of you]. Thanking a police officer or firefighter for their service, […] picking up the trash in a public park, or offering to babysit for a single mom just feels right. If we show compassion, our kids will show compassion. What we give to others in our lifetime defines who we really are.

Never forget—our kids are always watching us.

Original article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/random-acts-of-kindness-d_b_12755834.html

Donating: Is It the American Way?

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In the United States, there are 1,429,801 tax-exempt organizations made up of 966,599 public charities; 96,584 private foundations; and 366,618 other types of nonprofits, including chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics. These [tax-exempt] organizations paid for 9.2% of all wages in [our nation last year] and accounted for 5.5% of GDP. Charitable contributions are over $320 billion, with religious organizations receiving 32% […] and educational institutions getting 13%.

Over the last five years, the World Giving Index rates the United States as the most giving country, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and the United Kingdom. What is driving the No. 1 rating is the fact that helping a stranger is more commonplace in [our country], with 77% of Americans saying they helped someone they did not know. The United States ranks third globally in volunteering and 13th in donating money.

[Americans] have a long history of giving back. [T]he Pilgrims […] relied on neighbors to survive the harsh winters. The settlers raised each others’ barns, hosted quilting bees for the community and built common areas in their towns. Benjamin Franklin […] is known as the Founding Father of American Volunteerism; [in] the late 1700s, [h]e gathered volunteers to sweep the streets of Philadelphia, organized the nation’s first volunteer fire department [and] established a voluntary militia. […] His philosophy was “individuals working together, un-coerced, for the common good.” In the 1830s, two groups who felt their lack of power—women, who had no right to vote, and the clergy, whose political authority was weakened by the constitutional separation of church and state—formed benevolent societies to focus on issues [like] slavery, cruelty, drinking [and] illiteracy.

[B]illionaires [also] have given to improve [American] society. Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the steel industry, helped fund 3,000 public libraries, […] 7,000 church organs and […] Carnegie Hall in New York City. […] John Rockefeller, Jr., who made his fortune in oil, donated land along the East River in Manhattan for the United Nations headquarters in his belief that the world together can get better. […] Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, probably the two best-known billionaires, created the “Giving Pledge,” which now has 127 billionaires committed to pledging at least half of their wealth to help nonprofits.

These are examples of the very visible givers. There are hundreds of others who have given to help hospitals and schools and the underprivileged that are not in the news.

Overall, Americans give, on average, 3% of their income to charity, a figure that has not budged significantly for decades. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that there are significant differences in how much the average American gives; [i]n Utah and Mississippi, households [donate an average of] 7% of their incomes to charity, while in Massachusetts and three other New England states, giving is under 3%. Middle-class Americans give a far bigger share of their discretionary income; households earning $50,000 [to] $75,000 [annually] give an average of 7.6% of their income to charity compared to 4.2% of people making over $100,000. […]

What are the reasons people help other people? According to Gaiam.com, giving to charity improves your sense of well-being, [because you know] that you sacrificed time, finances or property to help others. Supporting a cause can help keep you informed about issues of social injustice. Giving to charity out of spiritual conviction can strengthen your spiritual life. Volunteering with a charity may result in physical and social benefits—[a]nd donations are tax-deductible.

Having donations as a tax-deductible item has been in the fabric of our taxes since the Revenue Act of 1917, which established […] an individual income-tax deduction for contributions made to tax-exempt charitable organizations. According to CNN, the charitable deduction is the ninth-largest tax expenditure in the federal budget. In 2014, the amount of revenue the government will forgo from those claiming charitable deductions is estimated to reach $52 billion. Giving, on one hand, helps those in need, while on the other hand, [it] pushes our government into greater debt.

Community service is not political, and it is not mandated by the state. It is something that comes from deep within our core values. A true definition of this can be seen with the Society of Secret Santas, who[se members] give away $100 bills of their own money to the needy to help reinforce the self-worth and image of those they help. […] They give in anonymity; [lead] by example; [share] their wealth in a humble, selfless way; [and] show compassion through random acts of kindness, tapping into the human spirit by giving the recipient hope and belief.

Anonymous givers set the stage to teach our kids about the selflessness of being kind. Whether it is cleaning out your closet to help a charitable organization or spending time to help the elderly or volunteering to help a neighbor do yard work or shovel snow, the examples we adults set today by our actions will influence how the next generation views their obligations to others. […]

From Ben Franklin to Andrew Carnegie to Warren Buffet, well-known leaders set the example for us, but you don’t have to be a billionaire leaving a legacy to make a difference. [V]olunteering still forms the core of the American character—[i]t is who we are and how we pass on freedom and caring to the next generation. Maybe that is one reason that seniors volunteer at a higher rate than our children. The experience of life that seniors [possess] is precious, and if we can teach the younger generations to care more about others, we can continue to be the most charitable nation, just like our forefathers [envisioned].

Original article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/donatingis-it-the-america_b_6222052.html

Is the Recession Really Over?

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[Recently], Gallup reported that the total number of new business startups and business closures per year, known as “the birth and death rates,” […] just crossed to the bad for the first time since [its] measurement began—[a]nnually, 400,000 new businesses are being born nationwide, while 470,000 are dying. […] [Until] the recession, startups outpaced business failures by 100,000 per year. If small businesses continue to die at this pace, disastrous consequences for our economy and way of life are right around the corner.

Our “Main Street” American businesses still find it difficult to borrow the funds they need to expand. […] If you read the news, it says bank loans are easier to come by, but I haven’t talked to even one of our customers who tells me banks are happy to help them.

Not only have small businesses not bounced back from the recession, but, as reported in USA Today, many households have not yet rebounded from the downturn. According to the federal government’s report on the economic well-being of U.S. households:

  • 34% of families are worse off or much more worse off financially than they [were] five years [ago].
  • Educational debt [is] held by 24% of the population, averaging $25,750 per person.
  • 43% of households [cannot] cover a major out-of-pocket cost for a medical expense.
  • 25% [of households have] not visited a dentist in the last 12 months because they [can’t] afford one.
  • 31% of Americans have no retirement savings.

On top of this, The Washington Post just reported 77 million Americans have debt in collections. […] These […] debts are non-mortgage-related, like credit card bills, child-support payments and medical bills. […]

Ask your favorite charity if the recession is over for them. […] Last year, total giving to charity organizations […] was $335 billion, down from the pre-recession level of $350 billion. [I]n America, 610,042 people [were homeless nightly in 2013], [and] 20 states saw an increase in homelessness. According to Newsweek, 42.5 million American adults […] suffer from some mental illness, enduring conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. That hit home for me when my favorite actor, Robin Williams, […] died. Close to one in five of us are feeling like Robin, and is America built to have the support system to help?

Feeding America reports that 15.9 million children under the age of 18 (one in five) live in a household without enough food to eat and are unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food. […] We are struggling to help our homeless, to help those suffering from mental disorders, and to help our children. This recession is not over for them. […]

Where is the good news to get us out of this funk of no-growth and the pain of the recession still lingering for businesses and individuals? It is not coming from the Middle East or from Europe or from our own government, [which] has confused our economy with sequestration, shutting itself down, and continual battles over healthcare, [the] debt ceiling and budgets.

[A]ll of us [need] to buy local, help those in need and donate more than we normally would to support this economy. Our economy is the basis for our society. When our economy is stable, our society will take care of our businesses and the individuals in need. At that point is when we can declare that the recession is over.

Original article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/is-the-recession-really-o_b_5678614.html

Charity is in Our DNA

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Since the beginning of America, we have been a giving people.

  • [I]n 1630, [Pilgrams] relied on each other to survive the harsh winters. The settlers raised each other’s barns, hosted quilting bees for the community, and built common areas in their towns.
  • Benjamin Franklin, the founding father of American volunteerism, […] gathered volunteers to sweep the streets of Philadelphia, organized the nation’s first volunteer fire department, established a voluntary militia and organized a philosophical society. His philosophy was “individuals working together, un-coerced, for the common good.”
  • In the 1830s, two groups who felt their lack of power—women, who had no right to vote, and the clergy, whose political authority was weakened by the constitutional separation of church and state—formed benevolent societies to focus on issues [like] slavery, cruelty, drinking, illiteracy and more.

[Our passion for giving] continues [today] with the forming of the Red Cross, local libraries, community parks, defeating polio with the March of Dimes, and Paul Newman’s Foundation donating $300 million of [its] profits to his “Hole in the Wall” camps for kids with serious diseases and helping the nonprofit, Feeding America. […]

Many of us participate in charity in some form. It can be as simple as taking cookies to an aging neighbor or donating items you no longer use to a good cause. The Corporation for National & Community Service reports that 64.3 million Americans volunteered in a formal organization [in 2012], an increase of 1.5 million from [2011]. This is 26.8% of the population giving 7.9 billion hours, which has a value of $171 billion. The four most popular service activities were fundraising or selling items to raise money (26.2%); collecting, preparing, distributing or serving food (23.6%); engaging in general labor or transportation (20.3%); and tutoring or teaching (18.2%). One in three volunteers is […] age 55 and older, giving this group a lifetime of experience to tap into to help those in the greatest need.

According to the World Giving Index, the United States was the fifth most charitable nation [in 2012]. Australia was first, followed by Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. […] We [Americans] like to be No. 1 at everything, so it’s surprising [to me] we don’t even finish in the top three! Is it because we have lost the passion of our forefathers, or are we just too selfish to help others because the “me” generation stretches from birth to death?

This country has been so successful because it reaches out to others through immigration; government-sponsored help like social security, head-start [programs] and food stamps; and nonprofit organizations who coordinate projects from feeding the poor to aiding the homeless to providing for the sick. More of us have volunteered this year than last year, but we are still not at the point where we lead the world in kindness.

[The year 2013 is when] we need to pull the charity gene out of our DNA and use it to help our fellow Americans. Our economic recovery is still quite tough, and we are many years away from [returning to] where we were before [the] recession. More people need […] help now because [of] the [recent] implementation of […] sequestration. […] If you can’t make the time to volunteer to help others, at least give some financial support. Online, the Network for Good and Just [Giving] are a good start to help nonprofits needing our backing. […]

More than 200 years ago, [Benjamin] Franklin felt the average citizen must share in a commitment to the greater good of their community and their country. [Today], volunteering still forms the core of the American character. It is who we are and how we pass on freedom and caring to the next generation. Maybe that is one reason that seniors volunteer at a higher rate than our children. […] Now, if we can teach the younger generations to care more about others, perhaps we can become the No. 1 most charitable nation, just like our forefathers [envisioned].

Original article here:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/charity-is-in-our-dna_b_3385806.html

The Poor, the Elderly, the Disabled Stand to Lose the Most

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More Americans used food stamps to buy their Thanksgiving dinner than any time in our history according to U.S. News & World Report. Forty-two million of us are on food stamps, and the food-stamp program (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or “SNAP”) cost the U.S. government $72 billion last year. This means one in seven U.S. residents receive[s] SNAP benefits.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, three out of four SNAP households include a child, a person age 60 or older, or a disabled person. Households with [a] very low income of about $8,800 a year are the receivers of SNAP. The average monthly SNAP benefit per household was $287, or $4.30 per person per day. This was a 70% increase in SNAP benefits from the 26 million people who received benefits in 2007. If we need one measurement of how crushing this recession has been, this is it.

So here we are in the last month of 2012 with our government facing another crisis (commonly now referred to as “the fiscal cliff”), and wouldn’t you know that charitable giving is once again in the forefront of cuts. According to CNN, the charitable deduction is the ninth-largest tax expenditure in the federal budget. In 2014, the amount of revenue the government would forgo from those claiming charitable deductions is estimated to reach $52 billion. Currently, the wealthiest Americans can write off as charitable deductions 35% of their total contributions, and President Obama wants to move that down to 28% in the latest rounds of negotiations on Capitol Hill.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that there are significant differences in how much we give. In Utah and Mississippi, households average 7% of their income to charity, while in Massachusetts and three other New England states, giving is under 3%. Middle-class Americans give a far bigger share of their discretionary income, with households earning $50,000 to $75,000 giving an average of 7.6% of their income to charity compared to 4.2% of people making over $100,000. Religion has a big influence on giving patterns. Two of the top nine states giving the most as a percent[age] of income are Utah and Idaho, [which] have a high number of Mormon residents [who] have a tradition of tithing 10% of their income to the church. All of the other seven top states are in the Bible [B]elt.

Although not all [of a] nonprofit[‘s] income is tied to tax incentives, the fear among nonprofits is that much of it is tied to what Washington, [D.C.], will be deciding in the next few weeks. According to The Arizona Republic, […] 28% of Arizonans claimed federal tax deductions for nonprofit organizations that totaled $2.73 billion. The charitable deduction is especially popular as you climb the income scale; whereas 12% of taxpayers earning less than $50,000 claimed this deduction, 81% of those making more than $100,000 claimed the charitable deduction.

Who is going to help those in need if our government decreases the incentive many Americans have to give? In states where the population has a tendency to give anyway, those in need may be propped up, but in states where tax incentives drive giving, those in need may be in real trouble. […]

In reality, giving has got to come from the heart, not because you are saving some money in taxes. In actuality, though, movements by the government to guide how we live and spend our money are a major influence on how nonprofits get funding. All of us who trust in the good of nonprofits must let our leaders know that we believe it when the nonprofit organizations tell us that they fear this fiscal cliff will shut down donations, and this result touches us all. […]

This recession has taken its toll deeper than anyone expected. When over 42 million Americans have to rely on our government for food stamps and most nonprofits must also rely on our government to help influence donations coming their way, we cannot absorb any more hits to our charity safety net. The lame-duck session is now going on in Washington, D.C. We cannot afford lame-duck results.

Original article here:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-joseph/tax-incentives-donating-_b_2203796.html