Giving is Good!
You always hear people say, “Giving is good!” People talk about how great giving is, not just for the recipients, but the donors themselves. Why is this? What actually makes giving good for the giver? I’m here to share with you a few concrete ways in which giving benefits us, the donors! 1. It makes […]
Spring Cleaning: What to do with the Discards?
It’s that wonderful time of year. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the air is fresh. It’s spring! Which also means spring cleaning. North American families have an annual tradition of cleaning their homes, and purging unnecessary belongings. From clothing to kitchenware to books, each year individuals purge these items they’ve collected […]
The Fundamentals of a Foundation: Unpacking A Mission Statement
Every organization has a mission statement, but what exactly does it mean? Is it similar to a business plan, a vision statement, or a list of goals? At its core, a mission statement outlines why the organization exists and why it does what it does. It is a one sentence statement describing the motivation that determines […]
Why Donate To Charity?
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people donate their time and/or money to non-profit organizations. Why do they do it? More importantly, why should you? Here are five reasons to donate to charity: 1. To help others. First and foremost, when you contribute to a cause you are making the world a better place. Whether […]
Back to Basics: Understanding the Public Sector
pub·lic sec·tor:nounthe part of an economy that is controlled by the government. What is the Public Sector? Quite simply, the public sector is one section of the economy that is concerned with providing various government services. Though there are variations from one country to another, the public sector normally includes such services as the military, […]
How Do You Define a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise, much like the descriptors “NGO” or “non-profit” is a term you hear quite often. Of course you know what it means. You know it’s a company that helps communities. Sure, that definition is factually correct. Not a bad start. But let’s delve a little deeper; let’s unpack some of the specificities of […]
What Exactly is a “Registered Charity”?
First off, what is a charity? It is an entity with no goal to amass high revenue, hence the name ‘non-profit organization’. Its purpose, recognized by law, is to be charitable and benefit others. It may only engage in charitable activities (though it can be involved with corporate activities if the business involved is related to […]
Back to Basics: What is an NGO?
NGO. You’ve been hearing this term for years, from casual conversations with friends to corporate meetings. Three simple letters, but what do they mean? An NGO, a non-governmental organization, is an entity that comes in many forms, sizes, and styles. They can go in different directions and have different goals. They can focus on a specific […]
Why Bill Gates Takes On “Grand Challenges”: Understanding The World of Non-Profits
What does science have to do with philanthropy? Well, learning how to harness the advances of science in ways that can help the disadvantaged is a clear channel that bridges the two disciplines. The annual Grand Challenges in Global Health conference, hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was launched eleven years ago with […]
What Kind of Giver are You? Series: Understanding The World of Non-Profits
There are all kinds of donors. What kind are you? The annual donor? The voracious volunteer? No matter what way you give, your work matters. 1. The Annual Donor You are an organized, love to plan, type A person. You’ve thought about the issues that matter most to you and done the research on the […]
