Posts Tagged ‘charity’
Tuesday, August 11th, 2015
By Dennis Powell, e-Management
e-Management supports A Wider Circle, a charity focused on eliminating poverty. What are your favorite causes or charities? #mypriority #AWiderCircle
Charitable giving which includes financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteering can be one of the most fulfilling things anyone can do. Yet, there are actually some charities that take advantage of the public’s generosity. How are a few nonprofits getting over on donors? Well, CNN reported that the “nation’s 50 worst charities” wastefully paid fundraising companies almost $1 billion during a 10-year span. Even more concerning, these same 50 charities gave “less than 4% of donations raised to direct cash aid.” In other words, if I give $100 to my favorite cause, only four dollars go to programs that support real action.
So, how can consumers find charities that focus on maximizing donations for people and causes rather than consultants and executives? e-Management has gathered a few tips that may help anyone who is thinking about giving to charities…
-
Confirm that the charity is real. The Charity Navigator—a nonprofit with the mission to help empower people to give intelligently—recommends donors confirm the 501(c) (3) status of charities prior to committing any dollar to a cause. In the United States, 501(c) (3) organizations are tax-exempt nonprofits that meet special requirements under Section 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)). Donations to these organizations are tax-deductible. According to the Charities Review Council, consumers may also be able to deduct expenses incurred while volunteering at these nonprofits as well as get a deduction on some of the cost of attending a charity event sponsored by 501(c) (3) organizations.
-
Request an annual report. Not all 501(c) (3) organizations are run efficiently to maximize dollars that support their causes. CNN exposed a Florida based charity that raises millions of dollars every year, yet it spent “less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.” In contrast, e-Management works with , a 501(c) (3) with only 2% overhead (operational expenses) and the charity is committed to using fundraising dollars to directly “serve those in poverty.” Clearly, A Wider Circle is putting its donations toward advancing its mission! Donors can get financial information about charities by requesting an annual report or a statement of activities. An annual report gives donors insight into how a nonprofit uses its resources and oftentimes showcases the successes of their programs. Some annual reports will even explicitly list top donors, which may offer additional peace of mind for donors.
-
Build a relationship with your charity. Charities are living organizations that may experience highs and lows. Many nonprofits rely heavily on private donations. Once a charity has been qualified as a 501(c) (3) that provides services to advance its mission, consumers may want to consider setting up automatic and periodic donations (e.g., monthly, annual) to their trusted charity. Donors may even consider volunteering a few hours every week or month. Another option for donors is to find out how they can become social media advocates to help their cause secure additional supporters, volunteers, and donors. Supporters of charities may also want to attend annual fundraising events and invite their family and friends to buy tickets. Seasoned leaders, managers, directors, or executives may want to consider joining planning committees or boards of advisors/directors of their favorite charities to ensure of the organizations’ long-term success.
-
Learn about new charity scams. It seems as if every day there is a new online or telemarketing charity scam that targets people who want to make the world a better place. The good news is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the consumer protection agency, makes identifying such scams easy. Donors can visit the FTC website, which gives consumers a Charity Checklist to help them avoid costly scams. Click for more information. It’s that simple!
What charities or causes are right for you?
Forbes magazine ranks the in the countries based on private support and other criteria. The on the list are United Way, Salvation Army, and Feeding America. (1) Did your favorite charity make it on the Forbes list? (2) What are your favorite causes? (3) What do you look for in an organization when you donate?
Tags: #mypriority, A Wider Circle, cause, charity, CNN, Dennis Powell, , , Forbes, fundraising, nonprofit, Ola Sage, Salvation Army, United Way
Posted in Entertainment, Family, Lifestyle, Social Media | 22 Comments »
Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
By Colleen Schuler, e-Management
For Memorial Day, thousands visit the famous Iwo Jima statue at the Marine Corps Memorial located outside of Washington, DC. How will you honor the fallen this Memorial Day? Photo Source: https://goo.gl/lh4X3e
“It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on,” President Abraham Lincoln declared. “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
The President, of course, was referring to the Union soldiers who had died five months earlier at the Battle of Gettysburg. It would be another 20 months of fighting before the last general of the Confederate Army surrendered.
Decoration Day Commences.
Three years after the Civil War ended, Memorial Day was created to honor the fallen soldiers on both sides of the conflict. After World War I, it was designated to honor all soldiers who died while serving their country. Originally known as Decoration Day (the soldiers’ graves were decorated) and celebrated on May 30, it wasn’t until 1971 with the passage of the National Holiday Act that it was moved to the fourth Monday in May. In 2000, President Clinton signed the National Moment of Remembrance Act designating “3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day each year as the National Moment of Remembrance, in honor of the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.”
Yes, Memorial Day is in remembrance for the fallen. But I suggest we broaden our view. Let’s honor the memories of those who’ve fallen in service to our country by using the gifts and talents we have to help and serve the living. Everyone can do something.
Twenty dollars.
Perhaps you’ve heard of Myles Eckert, whose father, U.S. Army Sgt. Andy Eckert, died in Iraq when Myles was an infant. Last year, Myles found $20 in a restaurant parking lot outside of Toledo, Ohio. He was going to spend it on himself when he saw a man in uniform—Lt. Col. Frank Dailey of the Ohio Air National Guard. Instead, he gave the money to Dailey with a note: “Dear Soldier – my dad was a soldier. He’s in heaven now. I found this 20 dollars in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my family. It’s your lucky day! Thank you for your service. Myles Eckert, a gold star kid.” That’s a big heart for an 8-year-old.
Clear Water.
In 2007, fresh out of college on a ROTC scholarship, U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin Sklaver was sent to northeast Africa. In Uganda, he saw that clean water was vital for the health of the people, especially those living in small villages, and worked to provide that. When he came back to the States, he set up the to continue helping the Ugandans. Two years later, Sklaver was redeployed to Afghanistan, working in civil affairs doing much of the same work that he had done in Uganda. But he lost his life to a suicide bomber. His parents and friends continued the work of his foundation; eight years later they are still going strong.
Kick for Nick.
U.S. Army Pvt. Nick Madaras inspired many people to honor his memory—with a global reach. Madaras, a soccer aficionado and youth-soccer coach from Connecticut, had been deployed to Iraq. He found that soccer broke down barriers, especially with the Iraqi children. Madaras’ goal was to send soccer balls to the Iraqi children. But he was killed by a roadside bomb in 2006. A Korean War vet, Ken Dartley, read a local newspaper article about Madaras and started a soccer ball drive. That has evolved into the . People from forty-seven states have sent more than 42,000 soccer balls to 19 countries. Cal Holt, an eighth grader from Winston-Salem, N.C., saw a video about Madaras and started his own drive for a school project. He and his friends collected 33 soccer balls. They ended up in the hands of children from the African nation of Djibouti. Seeing pictures of the smiling children, Holt said, “Doing this, I’ll remember this for a long time.”
What a great way to honor Pvt. Madaras—a seemingly small act with a big impact.
What does Memorial Day mean to you?
The beginning of summer? A paid holiday? Great bargains? Blockbuster movies? Cookouts?
Let’s remember the fallen. Let’s resolve that those who gave their lives for our country will not have died in vain.
Let’s make it a day that inspires. What will you do?
Tags: charity, ClearWater Initiative, Colleen Schuler, , Kick for Nick Foundation, Memorial Day, Ola Sage
Posted in Corporate, Entertainment, Family, Leadership, Lifestyle, Travel, Uncategorized | 20 Comments »
Giving is Better than Receiving
Monday, October 21st, 2013
By Dennis Powell, e-Management
e-Management's staff and friends are committed to A Wider Circle's "Race to End Poverty." In 2013, the group was the top fundraiser for the second year in a row.
Is giving better than receiving? Well in America, it certainly seems that way. According to a Giving USA 2013 report released during summer, people in the U.S.A. gave $316 billion to charitable causes last year, which is up 3.5% from 2011. That’s a pretty significant rise if you factor in all of the uncertainty around U.S. and global economies.
Many of us have our favorite causes. At e-Management, every employee who volunteers their time to community or charitable organizations gets an extra “admin” day—essentially, a day off that doesn’t reduce their vacation hours. The company has a charitable commitment to organizations focused on energy, education, and the elimination of poverty. e-Management even donates up to 10% of its profits to charitable organizations. Clearly, e-Management and its staff love to give back to local and even international communities. So, we decided to blog about charity and causes in hopes that readers will add their favorite causes and spotlight the good deeds of those organizations.
To get the conversation going, here are our favorite causes.
-
Helping to eliminate poverty. One of our favorite charities is A Wider Circle, formed in 2001. The nonprofit has a mission to lift adults and children out of poverty. A Wider Circle has several programs to help those who are dealing with the realities of poverty, including furniture and home goods redistribution to more than 17,800 families, which represents 65,000+ individuals. The Catalogue for Philanthropy has named A Wider Circle, “one of the best” charities.
-
Helping to improve education. e-Management demonstrated its commitment to lifelong learning by offering a 4-year scholarship to business students at the University of Maryland. Students have the opportunity to gain relevant work experience through paid-summer internships with the company.
-
Helping conservation efforts. e-Management’s staff and friends collectively support energy and conservation through ENERGY STAR, a federal government program developed to help “businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.” The company’s Energy Star campaigns have exceeded corporate goals by more than 50 percent. Over the past four years, e-Management pledges have resulted in cumulative savings of 860,193 lbs. of greenhouse gases.
Time to add your favorite charities and causes…
According to the Forbes Top 100 Largest Charities list, the United Way is America’s No.1 charity followed by the Salvation Army, Catholics Charities USA, Feeding America, and the American National Red Cross. Do any of those charities make it on your list of favorite charities? If not, what organizations do you give to or volunteer your time to the most? Why do those charities have a special place in your heart?
Note: e-Management is not endorsing any charity. Instead, we are shining the spotlight on nonprofits and charities to assist you in your search for organizations that may support your charitable giving goals and priorities.
Tags: A Wider Circle, causes, charity, conversation, Dennis Powell, , education, Energy, ENERGY STAR, nonprofits, Ola Sage, poverty
Posted in Uncategorized | 29 Comments »
Times are tough, but…our hearts are tougher!
Friday, April 20th, 2012
By Dennis Powell, e-Management
e-Management will participate in The Race to End Poverty, Saturday, April 28th in Rock Creek Park. How do you support your community?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 46 million people are living at or below the poverty line. Can you imagine being a family of four having to survive on an annual income of $22,314? Well, that’s the official definition of poverty in the United States. Imagine how many more families are living on annual incomes of 2-3 thousand dollars more and are omitted from the poverty designation. Arguably, the consensus on the radio, TV, or cable network news is that many people are concerned about our nation’s economic stability. Times may be tough; but Americans are still lending a helping hand to make life better for those in need.
How are people helping out?
Giving: According to Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest evaluator of charities, giving is once again trending upward even though the economical outlook is uncertain. In 2010, Americans and foundations gave nearly $300 billion—about 2 percent of the GDP (gross domestic product).
Volunteering: More than one in every four of us volunteer our time to causes we love, says the Corporation for National and Community Service. In fact, one in every three persons who lives in Minneapolis-St. Paul volunteers—the highest rate in the country.
Participating: Tens of thousands of people participate in marathons, walkathons, and other races that bring attention to issues such as heart health, cancer, homelessness, and many other causes dear to our hearts. The Boston Marathon alone raises more than $10 million every year cites the Nonprofit Quarterly (April 10, 2012) for local charities!
Corporate giving/volunteering: Many companies donate money and time to make their communities better! At e-Management, we are focused on corporate citizenship; so, we are engaged in charities around energy (sustainability), education, and the elimination of poverty. We’ve exceeded our ENERGY STAR goals for the last three consecutive years. In addition, we’ve established a scholarship at the University of Maryland. This month, we plan to participate in The Race to End Poverty, a 5k organized by A Wider Circle. The organization provides “beds, dressers, and other basic need items to families that are moving out of shelters or living in neglected neighborhoods.” A Wider Circle also puts on workshops in low-income schools and “teaches health and wellness classes at shelters and public housing facilities.”
How are you helping out?
Our goal is to create a list of charitable organizations that need our support. We feel great about giving financial support, volunteering our time, and participating in causes dear to us. What about you? How do you give back to your community? Where do you volunteer? What are some of your favorite charities? Do you plan to participate in The Race to End Poverty or another walkathon, marathon, or race to benefit charities?
Tags: A Wider Circle, charity, cure, Dennis Powell, , ENERGY STAR, giving, marathon, Ola Sage, poverty, race, volunteer, walkathon
Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Events, Family, Leadership, Lifestyle, News, Uncategorized | 21 Comments »
Having My Cake and Giving It Too
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
By Bill Bodine, e-Management
Note: The following blog article is not an e-Management endorsement for any charitable organization; but rather an example of how one specific e-Management employee is giving back to his community. We also invite you to check out other organizations that our employees support by clicking here.
There are so many ways to give: (1) to your chosen church or nonprofit organization; (2) by monetary donation; or (3) by volunteering your time. I found a unique way of giving about a year and a half ago – the Frederick Giving Project (FGP).
A Giving USA Foundation report out this week reveals that after 2 years of decline, Americans are finally giving more to charity, foundations, and nonprofits. How do you give back to your community?
The is “a group of extraordinary people looking to improve their community, inspire more giving, and nurture the next generation of community leaders and philanthropists.” And boy, they do all of those and more! I am honored to have become a member of the leadership team early on as a member of the grants committee. In fact, Comcast TV recently interviewed me about FGP and all the great things they do. You can view that interview .
Collective Philanthropy
FGP is a fantastic group of people who simply want to improve the Frederick, MD community by collectively giving back. We also want to inspire others to give with us. The idea is that we can make a bigger difference collectively. Not only do we pool funds for local nonprofits, we also volunteer for them. This allows us to not only help the chosen non-profit with achieving their vision, but we get to build meaningful relationships with each other, which further strengthens our community.
Supporting Local Charities
Our pooled charitable contributions and volunteered talents give support to local nonprofits. We plan and participate in group service projects, we network, and we socialize at all kinds of events, from happy hours to house parties – all while raising awareness for numerous issues that affect thousands of lives.
Our fundraising events help raise money outside of membership fees to cover operating expenses so that 100% of our membership fees go to a chosen local non-profit. Each year, we accept applications from nonprofits, vote, and make a combined grant to a local Frederick County nonprofit and the people they serve.
FGP – Having Its Cake and Giving It Too
Last year, we made our first grant award. FGP was able to raise more than $8,000 and give that as a grant to Cakes for Cause. This organization helps young people in the child welfare system transition successfully into adulthood by teaching them the skills to work in the restaurant industry. Moxie Bakery & Cafe in downtown Frederick provides revenue for the nonprofit and a training ground for the young people. Don’t try the cookies – you’ll be hooked!
The Big Payback
Giving in this way has been very rewarding for me as an individual, knowing that my contribution is combined with others to make a larger difference. As Aristotle once wrote, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” I encourage you all to look for ways to be a giver in your local community. If you live in Frederick County, please check out the FGP!
Giving is Fundamental
I’ve gone on and on about FGP. Feel free to list other charitable organizations that may need support. More than 4,000 people read this blog every month. Let’s give them some ideas about charitable giving. So, we want to hear from you. How do you give back to your community? What are your favorite charities? How does your company or agency support nonprofits and community outreach groups?
Tags: Aristotle, blog, Cakes for Cause, charity, community, , Frederick Giving Project, Maryland, Moxie Bakery & Cafe, nonprofit, Ola Sage, service, volunteer
Posted in Events, Family, Leadership, Lifestyle, Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
|
|
