It seems like major gifts and their earnest givers are everywhere these days. When money like this starts making the news, you might begin to wonder how much difference a small donation makes. Well, the truth is, small gifts are vital. In fact, most organizations can’t survive without them. Multi-millionaires and billionaires are rare. Out of a population of over 331 million in the United States, only 788 people are billionaires. Those wealthy individuals are also struggling to meet their own charitable pledges. It is likely that many of your favorite charitable organizations do not have access to any of these donors or their gifts. This means that small donations, when combined together and sometimes matched by benefactors or corporations, can make all the difference.
Charitable organizations benefit from having a broad donor base to help them deliver on their mission so that even if donor giving plans change or they lose donors unexpectedly, others donors are available to keep an organization strong. When many give in a variety of thoughtful ways organizations can build resiliency and expand their work.
Not only can our gifts go further when we join forces, but we might get as much from giving as others get from receiving. Giving makes us feel like we are making a difference, that we are leaving a better world to future generations, and that we are a part of solving something important. So, get started making something big, by giving in one of these small ways.