You might not be in a financial position to give financially to your favorite causes, let alone an amount that you feel will truly make an impact. But did you know that just because you don’t have the financial means to give to causes you care about, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways you can make an impact?
Money is not the only thing that nonprofits are looking for. Yes, it’s important and needed, but so are volunteers, special skill sets, and so much more you may have never thought about. For example, most nonprofits (especially small ones) can’t afford to pay for a marketing and graphic design team, in fact, they may not be able to afford an administrative staff of more than one! But in order to grow, they still need talented people who can help meet these essential needs. That’s where you can come in!
Here’s a list of ways you can contribute to your local nonprofits and favorite causes:
- Money
- Okay, obviously you can contribute money to your favorite cause. But, this doesn’t need to be given in large amounts. Maybe start off small by giving $20 a month and then asking at the end of a year what they were able to do with your donations.
- Time
- Time is what most people think of when they don’t have money to donate. Time is a great asset to provide to nonprofits and their mission because often enough they don’t have enough hands on deck to fulfill their mission and goals, so they rely on volunteers like you.
- Providing your skill set
- If you have a background in finance, marketing, art, philanthropy, fundraising, event planning, etc. then ask the nonprofit if they could use you in any way. You never know, they may be in need of someone with your exact skill set but don’t have the money to hire someone like you! This is a great way to give back and help a nonprofit grow.
- Volunteering on the board of directors or on committees
- Almost all nonprofits have committees (committees such as a finance, communications, fundraising, grants, etc.) to help them make decisions and give guidance. They also have board members who help make decisions regarding all the committees and the nonprofit as a whole. This is a good way to help them with leadership and to stay true to their mission and goals. If you have lots of leadership experience or a special skill set, this could be a great way for you to give!
- Providing resources such as office supplies, food, etc.
- Providing resources is a great way to help. However, sometimes what you think a nonprofit needs, is not actually what they need. You should call and ask what they need instead of just bringing supplies in. An animal shelter may need cat beds and food but have more than enough dog food to get by. You just never know, so just make sure you ask.
The best thing to do if you want to help your favorite cause is to give them a call. Ask them what they need and they will tell you. Tell them of your special skill sets or your desire to donate and see what they say! You never know, you could be the person they need!