One of the biggest challenges for charities is securing funding. There are so many creative and interesting ways to bring extra funds in, but it’s easy to forget that simple, well-loved methods are often the most appreciated by charities.
We wanted to share some meaningful options for giving back to communities and supporting charities that you genuinely care about.
Donate your time
This may seem simple, but if you find yourself with some spare time, volunteering is a thoughtful way to give back. Lots of charities, especially local small charities usually appreciate voluntary support. Find something you truly care about and utilise your skillsets and location when picking a charity.
Offer up your skills
Do you have a skill that might be useful for charities? Offering pro bono advice, or support for charities at a reduced price is a fabulous way to help. There are a few organisations that co-ordinate people volunteering their time such as Fair Collective.
Become a trustee
Give your time to the cause. By becoming a trustee, you voluntarily oversee the operations of a charity, this often includes ensuring the charity is run properly and you’ll have a larger role in developing the purpose of a charity. We’ve spoken to lots of trustees recently, who have raved about its importance to them, especially when the charity is close to their hearts.
Set up recurring donations
In this instance, you’re not giving a huge pot of cash to a charity all at once, instead you drip feed monthly. For many, this feels more feasible, yet is a larger long-term dedication to a specific cause. This also benefits the charity because they can then predict the amount of funding they should expect each month- it’s far more reliable and allows them to plan ahead for big projects and budgeting.
Create a legacy gift in your will
You can designate a proportion of your money or assets, like property, to a charity of your choice in your will. This means that, even when you pass, you are still making a meaningful difference.
Fundraise on the behalf of a charity
This is the obvious one, we know! But there are so many ways to raise money for charities, and if we all did it, then the world would be an incredible place. But you can make a difference. A full list of creative fundraising ideas is coming soon, but to begin, we would encourage you to think outside the box. Do something shocking or funny or impressive that will make people stop and think, okay this person must really care about the cause, and they’ll be more inclined to support you.
Talk about it
Advocacy and conversation are crucial for bringing awareness to a charity. Speak about the work of the charities which you support, perhaps someone you know would be interested in fundraising for them too? Please do get in touch if you want to share information about a charity you support. We love to hear about the ways you’re giving back!
The important thing is that you feel you are helping and making some positive change. At The Indispensary, we aim to do many of these things. We love to work with charities and provide support for them so that they can get on with the tasks that really matter. That’s our skill and how we try to make a difference. Our founder, Joanne, is also a trustee for Exeter Scouts. Proactively giving back to the community like this, can be so gratifying, especially when you get to witness local change.
We hope this blog helps you to think of some ways you could do your bit! If you know of any other ways to meaningfully help charities, let us know.
