How to Give Without Giving Up Yourself
There is one caution to giving. Be careful not to give so much that you give yourself away. Jenny Santi, Author of The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories & Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving, offers up the following tips for healthy giving in an article she wrote for Time Magazine.
1. Find your passion
It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also a matter of choosing what is right for us.
2. Give your time
We don’t all have the same amount of money, but we all do have time on our hands, and can give some of this time to help others—whether that means we devote our lifetimes to service, or just give a few hours each day or a few days a year.
3. Give to organizations with transparent aims and results
According to Harvard scientist Michael Norton, “Giving to a cause that specifies what they’re going to do with your money leads to more happiness than giving to an umbrella cause where you’re not so sure where your money is going.”
4. Find ways to integrate your interests and skills with the needs of others
“Selfless giving, in the absence of self-preservation instincts, easily becomes overwhelming,” says Adam Grant, author of Give & Take. It is important to be “otherish,” which he defines as being willing to give more than you receive, but still keeping your own interests in sight.
5. Be proactive, not reactive
We have all felt the dread that comes from being cajoled into giving, such as when friends ask us to donate to their fundraisers. This type of giving doesn’t lead to a warm glow feeling; more likely it will lead to resentment. Instead we should set aside time, think about our options, and find the best charity for our values.
6. Don’t be guilt-tripped into giving
I don’t want to discourage people from giving to good causes just because that doesn’t always cheer us up. If we gave only to get something back each time we gave, what a dreadful, opportunistic world this would be! Yet if we are feeling guilt-tripped into giving, chances are we will not be very committed over time to the cause.
eWomenNetwork Foundation
In a giving mode yet? There are so many charities out there to choose from either to volunteer your time or donate money. It's important to decide what it is you're most passionate about and find the charity that suits you.
- To raise funds in support of health, safety and wellness initiatives that benefit women in all phases of their lives.
- To provide financial and networking support to female students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to success as a business or professional leader.
- To establish partnerships with non-profit organizations, corporations, and local, civic, and governmental agencies who can provide resources to our target population and help to raise funds for them.
- To share the vast collective talents, experience and wisdom of thousands of eWomenNetwork members with women in need and to support future business and community leaders by "femtoring," educating and training them.
- To encourage an environment of caring, healing and growth for women and children by helping them to achieve their optimum potential in all spheres of their lives.
Who We Are
The eWomenNetwork Foundation provides a multitude of ways for our members to reach out beyond their own companies to support women who are less fortunate. Through funds raised by our member chapters and the generosity of many others, eWomenNetwork Foundation has been able to provide, among other things:
- 108 cash grants to local non-profit organizations throughout North America addressing the needs of women and families
- Through our International Femtor Awards program, 161 scholarships have been given to "Emerging Leaders" who have already demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to serving others.
If you would like to learn more about The eWomenNetwork Foundation, please feel free to send an email to Foundation@eWomenNetwork.com.
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