Tag: lloyd claycomb (Page 1 of 2)

Charities that Give the Most to Veterans

By

On March 20, 2017

In Charity, Community', Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

Oftentimes when we talk about charity we talk about organizations that work to benefit demographics like children or people living in areas of high poverty. One of the most important causes out there that needs our help and doesn’t receive the attention it deserves is our veterans.

The servicemen and servicewomen who have laid their lives on the line in the pursuit of a better and brighter tomorrow often return home from the war they fought to find themselves facing a new, internal battle. Within 4 months of returning home, nearly a third of all soldiers will develop mental health problems; these problems commonly include anxiety disorders, clinical depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).  These mental health problems, on top of all of the difficulties and emotional burdens of war, led 20% of returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan to develop drug or serious drinking problems, and saw 22 veteran suicides per day in 2010.

Because of the long-term emotional and psychological burdens that accompany those who return from combat, it is often difficult for our servicepeople to hold jobs or properly take care of themselves. This means they often rely on public services and programs like the VA to help them in times of need. They can also turn to the aid of some of the philanthropies and charities around the country who work to help those who have served. Here are just a few of the organizations whose efforts help to benefit our nation’s veterans.

  • Adaptive Sports Foundation
  • Fisher House Foundation
    • The Fisher House Foundation was established to help the loved ones of military servicemen and women while the veteran is receiving medical services. The homes are located nationwide, nearby VA medical centers and hospitals to allow the families all of the amenities of living at home for free close by.
  • The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
    • This fund, established in the year 2000, has provided the families of military servicepeople with over $200 million worth of benefits and support in the years since. They also offer assistance for medical care to help the soldiers continue to lead fulfilling lives, in or out of the line of duty.

Community Drives

By

On January 18, 2017

In Charity, Community', Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

Do you want to help out those less fortunate but don’t know where to start? Do you want to give, but feel like your small donation won’t make a difference? Not everyone can afford to open a school in another country or donate a million dollars to a natural disaster, but that doesn’t mean you can’t affect positive change right in your own community. If you’re looking to help others, start with those closest to home and organize a drive that can make an immediate change in the lives of others.

  • Blood Drive
    • Every two seconds in the United States, someone is in need of a blood transfusion, with nearly 21 million blood units transfused each year. The blood bank is filled exclusively through donations as blood cannot be manufactured, and although 38% of the population is able and eligible to donate, only about 10% of that 38% do. Reach out to the Red Cross and see if you can help save lives by organizing a blood drive.
  • Toy Drive
    • For children living in poverty, they’re lucky to have food on the table most nights, so buying toys really isn’t a financial option. Holding a toy drive in your community, especially around the holidays, can really make a difference in the life of a child.
  • Tampon/Pad Drives
    • A newer type of drive looking to solve a long-standing problem, Tampon and Pad Drives are sweeping the nation, answering the prayers of homeless women everywhere. Feminine hygiene products like tampons and pads are expensive with the necessary amount costing upwards of $100 a year, a price that’s simply not feasible for women who are homeless. These drives collect said hygiene products and distribute them to homeless women in need.
  • Food Drive
    • Many municipalities have food banks that do a great job of providing those in need with food. You can show support and do your part by hosting a canned  food or dried food drive to collect non perishables for your community food bank.
  • Blanket Drive
    • On cold, winter nights, there’s nothing like curling up on your couch with a blanket to keep you warm. Now imagine you don’t have a house, much less a couch to curl up in; blanket drives are one of the best ways you can ensure that people without homes or shelters stay safe against the element during the cold months.

Trends Impacting Philanthropy in 2017

By

On January 7, 2017

In Lloyd Claycomb

2016 was a great year for philanthropy, breaking previous records and continuing to grow. Though the nonprofit sector is dwarfed by business and government, philanthropy has continued to gain traction as more and more self-starters are deciding to give back.

We can’t say for sure how the sector will change throughout the year, but we have a few guesses as to the trends that you can expect in 2017.

Philanthropy Becomes More Mainstream

Up until recently, philanthropy has generally been seen as something for the wealthy—with the spectacle of large donations and even larger checks to back this notion up.

Now, this paradigm is changing. It’s becoming easier than ever for individuals to donate and know where their donation is going. New generations have become more aware of social issues and are passionate about solving them. This alone has driven many millennials to try to make an impact—and these microdonations can collectively have a significant impact on the sector as a whole.

Impact Investing Improves

Impact investing, the practice of making investments for social and environmental gain in addition to earning money, has created a massive reserve of capital for many foundations.

The intention to gain a positive ROI is still there, but in addition to a desire to create lasting change. Expect impact investment to continue to grow throughout 2017.

Technology Changes Nonprofits

With philanthropy becoming more mainstream and younger individuals making smaller donations, nonprofit organizations will have to leverage changing technology and improve their marketing practices to stand out in the figurative crowd.

Individuals are more willing to give when they perceive an organization as being authentic, and updating obsolete marketing methods may be the best way to get through and effectively spread a message.

Women Step Up Giving

Another notable trend in philanthropy is the initiative that women have taken when it comes to giving. Women currently control more than half of the U.S’s private wealth, and that number is expected to continue growing.

Both large donations from individuals and the rise of women’s funding networks have encouraged more and more women to engage in charitable giving.

Tech Philanthropy Continues to Grow

As philanthropy becomes increasingly trendy among individuals with resources, individuals that have earned their wealth through technology are joining in. With some big names such as Jeff Bezos making large donations, it’s expected that more and more Silicon Valley tech magnates will step up in the near future.

Why Giving Makes Us Feel Good

By

On December 3, 2016

In Charity, Community', Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

If you’ve ever been on the giving end of benevolence, then you know the good, warm feeling you get inside of you when you lend a hand to those in need. But what about giving is it that makes us feel this way? Why does helping other paradoxically make ourselves feel better?

  1. There’s a physiological response in our bodies to giving.
    • While it absolutely seems to be a paradox, when we give to others, the pleasure centers and reward areas of our brains light up, but get this — our brains light up the same way they would if we were the receiver of the gift, not the one giving it. A 2008 study from Harvard Business School found that giving money to others lifted the levels of happiness of participants more than it did if they spent the money on themselves. This is because your body produces boosts of endorphins during acts of generosity that make us feel good about ourselves and others, the same kind of feeling describes as a “runner’s high.”
  2. Giving is good for your health.
    • Studies have shown that helping others has numerous positive effects on your body, most notably in the brain and the heart. Giving helps us physically by lowering our blood pressure (especially when the volunteer is elderly) and stress levels through providing a sense of appreciation and meaning in our lives. Giving is also good for your mental health, and has been linked to decreasing depression in volunteers.
  3. We feel better about ourselves when we volunteer.
    • Giving to others in any form has been shown to increase not only the volunteer’s self-esteem, but also their overall satisfaction in life. People who volunteer experience a boost in mood, feel physically healthier, and feel less stressed out overall. Giving to others has been shown to promote gratitude in our own lives by helping us “count our blessings” and explore how much in our lives we truly have to be thankful for. When you feel as though you have so little, seeing how much the little you have can do in the life of someone who has even less, it puts things into perspective.
  4. We help ourselves by helping others.
    • There’s an old saying that goes “you can’t help someone up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” In the process of giving, we gain from others as much as they gain from us, especially for causes that hit close to home. If you were victimized by something in your life and then you go on to become an advocate for those affected, you’re helping yourself through the battle as much as you’re helping others and empowering them to give themselves a different outcome.

Why People Give to Charity

By

On November 28, 2016

In Charity, Community', Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

If you read my blog post last week, you learned a little bit about why some people don’t give to charity; this week, as we enter the season of giving, I decided to take a look at some of the reasons why people choose to give their money to those less fortunate. On a personal level, it’s great to….. From a philanthropic perspective. if you’re hoping to entice people into donating to your charity, you first need to understand why people are donating their money and what their motives are for giving. Maximize your business’s efforts to raise money by checking out some of the top reasons why people choose to give.

  1. The cause hits close to home.
    • This can be in both a figurative and a literal sense; people are more likely to help out a cause in an area near them, and people are going to feel drawn to causes that raise awareness and benefit particular hardships they’ve personally endured. Consider if you were raised in the foster system — as an adult, you would likely want to benefit other children who are currently sharing in that experience.
  2. They’re looking to make a difference.
    • In times of crisis, it’s easy to feel powerless in the face of calamity. For this reason, people often choose to give their money because they are looking to affect positive change and make lives better for a specific group of individuals. If you are moved by the plight of an impoverished nation, you’re going to seek out ways that your donation can directly benefit them and improve their lives.
  3. They want to give back to something that benefited them.
    • If a particular cause or organization made a lasting impact on your life in one way or another, you’re likely going to want to give back once you’re financially able; for example, if your house were to burn down and you receive assistance from the Salvation Army or the Red Cross, you’re going to be more likely to make a routine of donating to them in an attempt to give back and show gratitude for all the help you were given.
  4. They want to preserve a legacy.
    • Many academic and athletic scholarships are given in honor of — and in the name of — a loved one as a way to preserve their memory long after their lives are over. Some people choose to start scholarships or grants to donate to people or organizations that help to carry on the vision of the loved one who has passed away. Other people, like Bill and Melinda Gates, have decided to use their incredible wealth to build one of the world’s largest nonprofits so that their money could keep helping others long after they’re gone.

There are many reasons why people choose to give to charity, but the important thing to remember is that people give with their hearts and not their heads. That’s not to say that people are going to give mindlessly; rather, people are more likely to give to causes that appeal to their emotions and their basic human instincts.

lloyd claycomb millennials philanthropy

Millennials in Philanthropy

By

On November 23, 2016

In Charity, Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

You’ve probably heard the term millennial used before to describe the generation of young adults born between 1980 and 1999. There are a staggering 80 million of these young adults living in the United States alone. There’s an awful lot of discussion around the millennial generation. Some call them entitled while others call them innovative. What we are not hearing a lot about, is their philanthropic efforts.

They give more.

Millennials may not have as much disposable income as those of the generations above them, but it certainly is not hindering their giving. An astounding 84 percent of millennials donated to charity in 2014 alone. That’s a lot of giving. Those donations also averaged to about $481 per person. These young adults are making a huge difference in shaping philanthropy.

They volunteer more.

Young adults are not just giving money, they are volunteering their time too. It’s estimated that over 70 percent of millennials are volunteering in some capacity. They don’t just volunteer at the first place they can find either. Most millennials look for areas that they can use their skills to maximize their time and do the most good.

Influenced by social media.

It’s probably not much of a surprise, but millennials are heavily influenced by their peers and social media. Remember the ALS ice bucket challenge? It was a viral social media campaign that caused an enormous influx of donations to the ALS Association. This was only one campaign, but social media shed light on the cause and millennials stepped up to the plate with their smartphones and their wallets.

Issue based donors.

Lastly, millennials are often issue based donors. They donate their time and money to causes they feel strongly about. Largely, these causes are social issues or things pertaining to children. Millennials also do their homework when it comes to their donations. They want to know how the money is going to be used before they are ready to give. They understand it’s not enough to simply give, you need to be giving to causes you believe in.

Millennials are the largest living generation to date. By 2020, they will make up 50 percent of the workforce and be a third of the adults living in the US. These numbers are huge and so is the impact they have. As they come into more money and settle into careers, we are going to see their efforts make even more of a wave than we already are.

lloyd claycomb Why People Don't Give to Charity

Why People Don’t Give to Charity

By

On November 23, 2016

In Charity, Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

Helping those less fortunate than yourself is a great way to make a difference while spending your money, and many people across the country are seeing the benefits themselves. Each year, the number of people donating and the amount they’re giving increases; in 2015, the total amount donated to charitable organizations was $373.25 billion, an increase of 4% (adjusted for inflation) from 2014. However, with all that people are giving and all the good that’s being done, for some reason or another, some people still don’t see the need to donate their money to benefit others. Here are some of the top reasons why people don’t give to charity, and why they should anyways.

We feel most strongly connected with those closest to us.

In terms of intimacy as well as geographical distance, we are more likely to give to causes or victims that are close to us than we are to help long-distance. Australian philosopher Peter Singer noted that, while Americans generously gave over $1.5 billion in disaster relief to the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, their donation during Hurricane Katrina of $6.5 billion  was more than four times as much; to put this into perspective, 1,600 people were killed during Hurricane Katrina while 220,000 were killed in the tsunami. Our overwhelming interest in helping only those closest to us has lead to only 5% of the country’s donations being sent to help on an international level. While you may not feel as though you need to give because your home is not directly being affected by a tragedy or plight, there are countless people out there who are and could greatly benefit from your help.

“I need my money for my family.”

Providing for your family and those dependent on you should always be your number one concern when it comes to money. However, even between bills, loans, and saving for the future, there are ways that you can still contribute without digging into your family’s future. First, look for little expenditures in life you could give to others instead; maybe give up your morning coffee one day a week and set that money aside for charity. Next, identify charitable organizations that have a track record of being reliable and effective, then target your donations to them for the maximum impact for your dollar.

We don’t think our contribution makes a difference.

In times of crisis, it’s not uncommon to see celebrities or other public figures donating tens of thousands of dollars towards the cause, which can make your $10 or $20 donation feel irrelevant. However, in some of the most impoverished nations, the smallest donations can make a huge impact. In fact, the organization Project Healthy Children (PHC) has developed a fortification operation that can feed a person for an entire year for less than a dollar. With the varying costs of living around the world, a small amount of money in the United States can go a long way in other countries in need.

We assume someone else will do it.

Often referred to as the “bystander effect,” we as humans have a tendency to believe that, even if we don’t lend a hand, there’s someone else who will pick up the slack. This belief allows us to quiet our consciences and feel as though we contributed by giving thought to helping without actually helping at all. Instead of letting the burden of responsibility fall to someone else, be proactive and affect change by helping out in whatever way you can.

lloyd claycomb grateful

3 Ways to Stay Grateful

By

On November 23, 2016

In Community', Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

As the holiday season approaches, it can become very easy to get wrapped up in things. While there’s nothing wrong with being excited about new toys, there’s something to be said for being grateful. Unfortunately, many people stop being terribly grateful the moment they can’t get what they want. If you need a bit of help appreciating what you have today, you might want to look at the ideas below.

Spend Five Minutes Thinking About the Past

One of the hardest things for most people to admit is that they have it better now than they did in the past. While many people romanticize the past, it’s not too hard to remember that life is always about moving forward. If you want to be grateful for what you have today, take a few moments to think about what you didn’t have in the past. You had times when you struggled or when you could barely make ends meet, and being able to move past that is a major accomplishment. It’s much easier to be grateful when you remember that things haven’t always been so good.

Volunteer!

Perhaps the best way to stay grateful is to work for the betterment of others. Go out and volunteer, and not just during the holidays. If you really care about others, you’ll go after those positions that have little glamour and require quite a bit of work. While the work might be hard, it will also teach to start valuing what you already have. A bit of volunteering is good for the soul, and it’s also great for those who want to be a bit more grateful for what they already have. Volunteer organizations are always on the lookout for help, so make sure you get out there!

Catalog What You Have

You’d be amazed by all the assets you actually have in your life. Take a few minutes to write down everything that’s in your house. If you find that too overwhelming, just write down everything that is in the room in which you are currently sitting. Once you realize the sheer amount of things you have, you’ll realize that you’re so much better off than most people have been during human history. It’s easier to feel like you aren’t doing well when you ignore what you have, so take a look around you in order to feel grateful.

Staying grateful is a process that requires a good deal of vigilance. Get out there, help others, and keep track of what you actually have today. If you can do all of that, you’ll find it easier to be honest about where you are in life – and much easier to be grateful for those things that benefit you now.

origins of philanthropy

The Origins of Philanthropy

By

On October 31, 2016

In Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

Philanthropy is an age old ideal and belief system that deals with the desire to help those less fortunate than you take care of themselves. While the primary focus of charity is to help reduce the suffering and pain caused by social problems and injustices, philanthropy differs by actively seeking solutions for the various social problems themselves. In essence, charity and philanthropy demonstrate the two halves of “give a man a fish, feed him for the day; teach a man to fish, feed him for life” philosophy, respectively. Philanthropy seeks to empower the individuals in need by helping them actualize their own potential and learn valuable skills that can help them get their lives back in order.

Etymologically speaking, philanthropy literally means “the love of humanity.” The word itself comes from the Greek word philanthropia — meaning kindness/humanity/love/benevolence to mankind — with philo meaning ‘loving’, and anthropos meaning ‘mankind.’

Modern philanthropy — or what we think of as philanthropy today — has its roots in ancient cultures. Many old-world cultures have placed great importance on the act of benevolence; Chinese classical thought, Hindu scriptures, and the ancient Greeks all considered philanthropy and acts of giving to be an essential part of our existence as human beings and even as “fundamental to democracy.” Similar ideals on giving can be seen across many cultures all throughout history; ancient sub-Saharan civilizations held kindness and the act of reciprocity in high esteem, Native American cultures believed in the practice of giving as a way to promote balance and harmony in their lives, and classic, widespread Judeo-Christian religions all preach “doing onto others as you would have done to you” as a means of helping others.

In the 1100s, Moses Maimonides — a philosopher and rabbi — first put all of these similar ideals together in the same words under his “Golden Ladder of Charity” found in the Mishneh Torah where he details the different levels of giving, from being forced to give to willingly donating to people unknown. His hierarchy for philanthropy and giving has helped to shape our notions of giving all the way up through present times.

Sources often cite 1914 as the date when modern philanthropy began in the United States. Ohio banker Frederick Goff developed the idea for ‘community foundations,’ a new type of philanthropy that focused its attention on the problems found in the individual philanthropist’s home area, be it a town, city, or small neighborhood.

When it comes to philanthropy, it doesn’t matter how much you give, the important thing is that you are doing something to help make better the lives of those less fortunate than yourself. As Saint Mother Teresa once said, “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters.”

disaster-relief

How to Give When Disaster Strikes

By

On October 18, 2016

In Lloyd Claycomb, Philanthropy

To view this post as a video, please click here. 

When a disaster happens, you want to help in any way that you can. Be it a hurricane like in New Orleans, an earthquake like in Haiti, a tsunami like in Japan, the terror attacks like in France, or any other natural or manmade disaster, humanity leaps into action to rally behind whatever nation or nations have been affected. While it can feel great to donate your money to help people in need, the opportunity to lend aid also comes with people looking to take advantage of benevolence. Make sure that your kindness isn’t exploited and read these tips for giving during a disaster.

  • Don’t donate supplies. When you hear on the news that people have gone for over a day without food or water, the tugging at your heartstrings can make it difficult not to start a canned food or clothing drive to lend a hand. As nice of a sentiment as this is, it’s not a practical way to help the people who need it most. It would be difficult to send packages into the disaster area especially if no one is there to receive them and distribute them accordingly. If you have supplies to get rid of that you’d like to donate to a cause, look for a place like Goodwill that takes clothing donations or sell your used garments to a thrift shop and then donate the money you make to aid the disaster victims.
  • Don’t donate over the phone. While it might be much more convenient for you to give over the phone than have to mail in a check or visit a donation center, it’s one of the easiest ways for people looking to exploit the disaster to operate. For this and many other reasons, you should never give out your credit card information to someone who’s called you soliciting money over the phone. If the cause is one that strikes your interest, ask them to send you more information and do more research before donating.
  • Do your research before donating online. Before donating on one of the websites that pop up in your Facebook feed, make sure you know where your money is actually going. Many ‘charities’ — if you can call them that — operate under the guise of lending aid but some keep as much as 97 cents on the dollar, donating just 3 cents to the causes they claim your donation is going to help. Do your homework and find causes who are actually committed to helping the same cause that you are; if possible, go to the charity’s authorized website directly to find how you can help. The same way you should be skeptical of causes reaching out for you to donate over the phone, be wary of email solicitations as well, and make sure you know where you’re giving before you do.

 

Page 1 of 2

Next →

April 2024
M T W T F S S
« Apr    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén