Giving Compass' Take:

• Allison Roozen at Medium shares her own advice and personal experiences on how to think about charitable giving and make the most out of your donations. 

• How can you improve the equity of your donations?

• Read more about ideas for philanthropists to drive social change.

Last week I had the chance to go to a conference put on through the YMCA that focused on philanthropy. Like most non-profits, the Y is supported in the community work it does through the charitable gifts of donors big and small. After listening to a number of speakers, I left the conference with a completely new look on fundraising and on giving.

If you have previously viewed philanthropy as something for the uber wealthy, that annoying thing your alma mater is always pushing you to do or is a box you check after the annual auction each year, let me enlighten you with a few new ways to view charitable giving.

  1. Philanthropy is an amazing opportunity. When you give monetarily to an organization, you are getting the chance to do real work in your community or around an issue that is important to you.
  2. You are making a difference. Being a Philanthropist means being a part of something bigger than yourself.
  3. Giving is a gift. What goes around comes around. When you make a gift to your local YMCA for example, you aren’t giving your money to the Y, you are putting your money towards improving the community in which you live — which ultimately is a gift to you.

Read the full article about charitable giving by Allison Roozen at Being All Zen.