“There could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.”
-President George H. W. Bush
Most of my adult life, whenever I was feeling sad, or feeling hopeless, I would volunteer somewhere. It could be as simple as researching and making a donation to a cause I cared about, or physically participating in sorting food at the food pantry, picking up garbage at the public park, an hour at the phone bank, helping clean cages at the animal shelter, or even just creating a bag of clothes or non-perishables to donate. It was always that boost in the arm to remind me that I was doing fine.
Now, in retirement, I realized that all my years of small donations, prepared me for even greater opportunities to give and really make an impact on my community now in retirement, as my expenses are no longer as heavy as when I worked full-time. There is an amazing sense of pride when you can write a “big check” (so to speak) to an organization that you care about. And an even greater sense of purpose when that gift really makes a difference and you are folded into that organization with appreciation and gratitude. And from a personal perspective, being recognized at the donor table, or in a newsletter, or publicly thanked, fulfills that same tingle I got when I was working and took pride in a great speech or presentation, a project I completely rocked, or a staffer that I successfully mentored.
But, Ingrid, you say, “How can I think about giving it away when I can’t even pay all my bills now?” And the answer is micro-philanthropy. Micro-philanthropy is regularly giving small donations. Maybe $5 or $10 is all you can spare. It’s 100% ok. You are building a habit. Great places to look for deserving charities is in your own area. You’d be surprised how many there are right around you when you start to look. I generally check out their website, their social media and if you are concerned about their finances, www.charitynavigator.org is a great resource. I like civic organizations like Rotary, but your place of worship, or your local Chamber of Commerce, is also a great resource for what’s local, plus there are opportunities to be hands on if you go local. If your time in limited, there are, of course, huge charities that do great work in almost every sector you care about, that would also appreciate your micro-philanthropy.
Because in the end, our biggest legacy builder is making a difference in someone’s life and in our communities. In that pursuit, you will live forever.