Orlando Family Magazine

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have a party. For details about these and other
generous ideas, visit .
Join the crowd. Crowdfunding is
a popular way to support good causes.
, and
are all good ways to expose
teens and pre-teens to what others are doing
to make the world a better place. If you find a
cause that connects with your child, you may
want to match whatever the child decides to
donate. Some families create a jar for spare
change and decide together where to donate
the funds. For younger children, consider a
“money savvy” bank that helps kids allocate
their allowance to spending, saving, donating,
and investing ).
Make a loan. Sometimes the best way
to help people is to loan them what they
need to start a business. pools
contributions as small as $25 into small
loans that can be used to start or expand
entrepreneurial projects that improve the lives
of impoverished families. When the loan is
repaid, your family can invest again.
Volunteer your time. For many families,
giving time makes more sense than giving
money. will help you
find both local and virtual ways to volunteer
in your community.
Make donations count. Not all charities
are created equal. Some, for example, spend
a disproportionate amount of what they raise
on salaries or fundraising. To be sure a charity
is legitimate and well-run, encourage older
children to do a little research. , a
site managed by the Better Business Bureau,
evaluates organizations on several criteria
including board oversight, transparency, and
donor privacy. provides
information on charities with donations of
over one million dollars. does
a very rigorous review of a smaller number
of charities. provides
easy access to the 990 forms which charities
must complete to preserve their tax exempt
status.
Whatever you decide to do, remember
that the real benefits come from helping kids
recognize needs and think constructively
about what they can do to help. You don’t
really need a website or an app for that —
just an open heart and willingness to give
what you can.
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