Essay on Generosity (3 of 7)

Did you know that Franklin D. Roosevelt was the founder of the March of Dimes?  The organization, which now raises money for research for preventing birth defects and premature births, was founded in 1938 to raise money for research and to assist those who were effected by polio.  The organization reached instant national recognition because of the popularity of it's founder and his personal ties to the disease (the president could not walk because of his own battle with polio).

The organization was originally founded as National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, but the term "March of Dimes" was coined because of the original request that every child in the country donate one dime (the name was officially changed in the 1970s). These little dimes added up to make a big difference.  

(Their mission was changed to the prevention of birth defects in babies after Jonas Salk's polio vaccine mostly irradiated the disease -- but they continued to raise money through small donations in communities).

I remember my mother volunteered as a block captain for the March of Dimes in the 1960s and 1970s.  She would visit each of our neighbors and ask for donations, that were put into a small can, which she would turn in at the end of the designated week each year.  As a young child I would go with her on these social calls, and sometimes the money she raised was only a few coins from each person.  I remember her talking with me about how a few cents alone may not seem as though it could not have an impact, but if every block in the country raised just a few dollars, the amount of money would add up to huge amounts of money.  She told me she volunteer because it only took a couple of hours a year, and that those who are fortunate need to find little ways to give back.

To make a difference in our world you do not need to create a new organization or have a President of the United States champion your cause.  There are plenty of causes that are already being served by amazing charities, and while in our entrepreneurial society people like to start new groups, we do not always have to launch something new.  The spirit of generosity in people looks for ways to get out, but too often we think it must be through a grand act if it is to have meaning.  I disagree, as it is the small things done over time that add.

Just as those single dimes from children, or the small donations from neighbors, added together to cure polio, your small actions will stack upon themselves.  Being a catalyst is not necessarily about being the founder or leader of an organization.  Any one of us can take our own generosity and grow it by stacking our donations of time and money over a lifetime.  

It is easy to get started.  Begin today by doing something small.  Then repeat it over and over again.  Years from now you will discover that it added up.  You will look back and say "What?  I did that?".  Time has a way of allowing our small efforts to grow.  

You can make a difference.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Essay on Generosity (2 of 7)

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”                                      --Mother Teresa

Why do we give?

In 2002 our youngest daughter, Kate, was born.  Before she turned 6-months-old it was determined that she would need a serious surgery to correct the growth patterns of her skull.  She had been diagnosed with a condition called Sagital Synostosis, which resulted in the bones in her head having fused together prematurely.  As she grew, her head could not expand correctly, which was caused her skull to become mis-shaped.  

At that time the city where we lived, Austin, Texas, did not have a state of the art children's hospital.  As we searched our options, we discovered that we may have to travel to find the right doctor to perform the surgery.  Through a series of personal connections we ended up in the care of the fantastic doctors and staff at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California.

After a three hour surgical procedure and several months of recovery, Kate was fine.  The surgery was as success and the bones in her head had  re-grown into the correct shape.  Today is great, and has no ongoing issues from the ordeal.  She was too young at the time to have any memory of what we went through -- although her mother and I will never forget.  It was very scary, and we have come to realize how fortunate we are to have our two wonderful and healthy children.

Like many who survive a rough episode, we longed to not allow the issues we faced to be for naught.  We had felt very alone when Kate was diagnosed, and we wanted to find a way to help others who faced similar situations. 

There are many opportunities to contribute time, money and moral support to charitable causes, but at the time we did not have the financial resources to write a big check, and as we researched our options, it seemed as if there was no place in philanthropy for those who were not wealthy.  We reached out to several organizations, and without large sums of money, none seemed interested in our intentions to serve a cause. 

In 2007 the new Dell Children's Medical Center opened its doors in Austin.  A few months before the facility was dedicated I was introduced to a woman, Mandy Cloud, who worked for the hospital's foundation.  She was the first person who showed a legitimate interest in our story, and my family's desire to support a cause that would help others.  The hospital's foundation had several programs in which people could become involved that did not involve being a major donor.  Together we came up with the idea of committing to an ongoing giving plan that would raise money for the "Cranio-Facial" research group at the new hospital.

We created the Kate Singer Endowment for Cranio-Facial Research, and my family pledged 5% of my speaking fees to be earmarked for this fund.  I was not yet a full-time professional speaker at that point, and the pledge seemed small.  But over time these donations, and some contriubitions from clients, friends and family, quickly brought us to the level of having a fully-funded endowment to the foundation.

After we reached the donation level we had originally desired we had made the commitment to keep going.  By this time I was full-time in the speaking business.  With my own "start-up" company the 5% was much more noticeable in our personal budget.  Our next step was to approach Rady Children's Hospital's Foundation and create a similar giving program.  We moved our 5% donations to that fund, and once we reach the same level of giving we intend to split the giving into 2.5% for each hospital indefinitely.  

As of the time of this writing the combined amounts in the two endowments is over $25,000 between our giving and the generosity of others.  This has been done over several years in small checks.  Each time I get paid, we figure out the 5% and mail a check.  Someday I will have earned over $1 million (over several years) in speaking fees, but if I had waited until that time to make a donation, the  $50,000 would have been spent on daily life (that is a lot of Starbucks Coffee!).  Instead, by making micro-sized donations over many years it is adding up to become a meaningful number.

My wife and I do not come from families that have their names on the walls of hospitals.  But by being committed to a cause for a long period of time, we have created something that has lasting meaning and will make an impact.  

At the time we started it seemed silly to send checks for $70 from time to time, but as my speaking career has grown, and the fees have gone up, we have come to realize that there is power in layering these small amounts consistently.  Much like there is power over time in saving money for retirement, there is the same power in continuous giving.

It feels good to know that over time the endowments have grown into something tangible.  Too often charities only seek the "big fish" for donations, leaving those who do not have ample amounts of cash to feel they cannot make a difference.  But you can make a difference.  If you walked into any charity and wrote a $25,000 check they would be thrilled..... it should be no different if you make your contributions over time.

We found that donating to an existing charity was easier than establishing a new charitable foundation.  The paperwork was minimal.  A one page promissory note (not even legally binding) was all that was involved.  We do not have the ability to direct the funds, or how the interest from the money is spent, other than noting is should be used for the needs of the Cranio-Facial doctors at both hospitals.  However, we trust the judgement of these two foundations, and they have come to make us feel important in how we support their cause.  

People at any financial level can create a planned giving program that will make a difference.  If you want to give, do not anyone make you feel that you cannot have impact.  Find the right charity whose mission looks long-term and who will treat you as a real donor.  If they do not have a planned giving program in place, talk to them about creating one for you.  If they are not interested, move on and find another organization who wants to become your partner in giving.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Essays on Generosity (1 of 7)

"What is the use of living, if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?"  

                                                          -Winston Churchill

According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, it is not the wealthy that are the most generous.  The middle class in the United States donate a far bigger share of their discretionary income to charity.  While many say our society is selfish, there are countless people who are extremely generous with money, time and moral support to an unlimited number of good causes.

Giving is a personal issue and people give for a variety of reasons.  Much is written on the importance of giving, and in times of either economic prosperity or financial hardships there are always millions in the world who are in need of assistance.  As long as man has walked the earth there has been opportunities to serve others with a generosity of spirit.

There is something about being involved with cause that makes people feel connected.  Philanthropies often bring people together in their efforts to raise funds.  These charity walks, galas, online forums, social clubs, etc.... can be a way to connecting people.  While we live in a "social media crazy world", and even with all these digital "links", people often feel isolated.  The online social media groups that many frequent often lack the feeling of a "greater good" and fail to deliver the feeling of being part of something important.  Those seek meaning can find it in supporting a cause.

Many argue the dark side of large charities, and point to news stories where high percentages of their income go to salaries and overhead expenses.  While fraud and other problems are a real concern, we need to be careful not to discredit the good that is done by charities.  Most organizations do amazing work that impact the lives of those they serve.  One popular blogger whom I follow (but will not name here) wrote two highly popular posts about why people should not donate to charities.  He made some valid points, and encouraged people to participate in random acts of kindness.  While great in theory, too many fail to ever take the actions needed to solve the problems, and the formal programs of charities have to fill those gaps.

When selecting a charity to support you must be judicious in your selections process.  Make sure that the mission of the organization matches your plans for how you desire you money to be invested. Understand the business policies and history of the charity, and be sure you respect the people on the staff  and the board.  Once you commit long-term to a philanthropy you want to have a strong sense of trust in what they are doing.  If you cannot write a single large check, you may choose to give repetitively over many years, and knowing the long term vision of the organization will be important to your peace of mind. 

If you feel fortunate about the life you live, then giving back can be a natural desired course of action.  Finding a way to make a difference, if you are not wealthy, can be more difficult.  One friend wanted to donate 5% of her salary to a variety of causes, but at the end of the year she found she gave much less than she had intended. None of the small checks she wrote seemed to give her any sanctification of having made an impact on anything at all. I think having a single charity, or a few causes, and a structured plan for giving over a longer period of time can bring you more satisfaction.

Consistent acts of giving over a long period of time can add up to astonishing numbers in regards to time and money.  Both those who give, and the charities they fund, seem to focus on single donation amounts, but contributing over time to a planned giving program can equal or exceed those donations that are often reported in press releases.  You do not have to be rich to impact a charity, as a long term commitment to systematically giving any amount will add up over time.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer