Many people talk about this season of giving. But what if giving was a business lifestyle instead of a seasonal whim? What if we used our businesses to do good, not just for our clients, but for our communities?

 

I admit I had difficulty writing this December blog post.

  

I had great intentions of following my recent budget blog with fabulous “What Now” advice, and I could not write it.   

 

It is the end of a ridiculously tough year, and I cannot imagine anyone who wants to read that. I do not want to read that.  

 

Let us turn our heads to other things, happier things, more relaxing things.

 

Full disclosure – I am not affiliated with any of the entities I am mentioning below. I am not advocating that you make the same choices. This is simply what works for me.

 

PERSONAL HOLIDAY & ANNUAL GIVING  

I have always found that the best way to move through something hard is to get out of my own head. I look around me and try to find a way to help someone else or lift someone up. If I ever needed it, now is the time. 

 

I have several non-profits that I give to each year. For me, these are aligned with my priorities and values. 

 

• Public Television
• Washington State Horse Park (I gave in my late father’s name)
• My local Boys & Girls Club

  

Wherever you choose to donate during this season of giving, an alignment of your giving priorities with a worthy organization’s values is something special indeed.

 

A SEASON OF GIVING IN MY BUSINESS

Year after year, my personal giving was good. I felt nice. It helped someone else, but somehow, I still wanted something more. I wanted something more connected to me and what I want my business to stand for.  

 

Then I met Stephane’ Boss with Bydfault Promotional Products.  

 

Stephane’ is one of those guys that make t-shirts for your company or key chains for your clients, and he is so much more.  

Stephane’ changed the way I saw the power of my business. His season of giving goes all year long. Stephane’ dedicates 5% of all sales from Bydfault to a charity of the client’s choice. That’s when the lightbulb went on for me – WHOA, I CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!  

 

Now Essential Accounting Support gives to charity every quarter.

 

RAISING PHILANTHROPIC KIDS

Outside of business, instilling giving home was always important to me too. I wanted my kids to learn to be giving. I wanted them to have an awareness of others around them. More than that, I wanted them to know that giving of themselves can be better than giving money.  

 

I wanted them to start young. Here is what we did:

• We set a Christmas shopping budget and then shopped as frugally as we could. Any leftover budget money was divided equally between my husband, my two kids, and me. Sometimes it was $25, and sometimes it was $100 each.  
• We took the money to Toys R Us, and everyone got to spend it on whatever they wanted to. Then we walked out the door and gave it all to Toys for Tots. 
• Throughout the year, my kids each chose a place to donate. They saved allowance, recycled cans, ran lemonade stands, and put all the money toward their chosen charity. 
• Each of us gave a specific number of hours each quarter to volunteering. Sometimes it was individual, and sometimes it was as a family.

 

The most significant part about this has been to see them genuinely live this out. As they have grown, they found their own ways to be involved in their community and make a difference.

 

FAMILY GIVING

Bless my extended family. Many of them have realized they don’t need more stuff and asked for donations to be made instead of giving them gifts. 

 

Love it! Fabulous!  

 

If I am going to donate for someone, I want it to be meaningful to that person.  

 

The best one is my thoughtful and kind brother-in-law, but he drives me crazy. Never once have I heard from him about what charities he supports. This year I found two great compromises.

 

• Bombas Socks. I buy several packages of socks and give them to my brother-in-law, and he can donate them wherever he wants. This gift is a twofer because Bombas donates a pair of socks to the homeless for every pair of socks you purchase.

• TisBest – Collects a list of all nearby charities by zip code. This blew my mind. When you purchase a TisBest gift card, your recipient can choose to donate to local causes they care about. Bonus points because ALL the money goes to the charity. They do not deduct administrative fees.

 

SUPPORT A DREAMER

I am a member of the generation raised on June Cleaver and Leave it to Beaver. I feel we were raised to completely underestimate young people because,

 

 “Golly Gee,” they were all out with The Beavs and Wally getting into trouble with Eddy.

 

Thank goodness, we know better now.  

 

The up-and-coming younger generation is impressive. Every day there are stories in the news of teens or young adults working in their neighborhoods, cities, states, or with federal authorities to make a difference. Maybe they learned about a season of giving from their parents. 

 

• Jack Andraka invented an inexpensive sensor that identifies cancers of the pancreas, ovaries, and lungs. He was 15 at the time.
• Greta Thunberg burst on the world scene at 14 and inspired thousands of young people and a bunch of adults too.
• Students from Parkland, Florida, Mary Stoneman Douglas High School – Emma González, Jaclyn Corin, and David Hogg, to name a few – are advocating at the highest level of government for safer neighborhoods.

 

(all student examples are taken from Time Magazine list of Most Influential Teens)

You can support a young dreamer in your community too. If you want to support some fantastic teens in your community, here are a few things you can do:

• Call your City Hall and ask about teens working with the City that you can donate to and support.
• Check with your local High School, Church, or Community Volunteer Service to find out about teens in your community working for change.
• Read your local news for stories about incredible teens making a difference.
• Support teens in your neighborhood or home who dream of making a difference. It will be worth your time and money. 

 

PICK YOUR PASSION

No matter what path you choose to give – business or personal, time or money – we can all reach out or reach back and pull someone up.  

I know that is where my head is right now, and it might be the future of my company as well.