By Jathan Janove (Guest Contributor)–
As I reflected on what my 2024 New Year’s resolutions should be, it struck me that I could be donating more money to nonprofits and charitable organizations than I have been. “Why?”, I asked myself.
The Problem
It struck me that here’s what gets in the way when you don’t have a single charity or nonprofit with which you’re heavily affiliated and which takes up the lion’s share of your charitable giving:
- So many organizations compete so aggressively for donations that it becomes cognitive dissonance. Having given to many charities and nonprofits, I am daily inundated with requests. One such organization, which I won’t name, sends me a half-dozen requests on a daily basis. The rule of cognitive dissonance is that when there are too many competing choices, you pick what’s simplest and easiest. For me, that’s holding on to my money.
- Another problem is due diligence. I don’t have the time or motivation to do much of it yet do worry that the organization that wants my money may not be as wonderful as its website represents. Without putting in the due diligence effort, it’s easier to conclude that I’m better off not making the donation. Better safe than sorry.
- There’s the lack of personal connection. I make my online donation which generates a thank you letter. At a human level, somehow this doesn’t feel very fulfilling.
These factors point toward keeping your money vs. giving it away. Consequences include that many wonderful organizations doing wonderful things aren’t supported to the level they could be.
My Solution
For my 2024 resolutions, I decided I would start identifying people who have been good to my family or me, or who otherwise are doing good in this world, and that I would make a donation in each of these persons’ honor to organizations they select. Based on an initial estimate of the number of people who would qualify and assessment of my finances, I came up with $200 per donation. (Your number may be less…but anything helps!)
I can happily report that this new initiative has been wonderful! Results include:
- Overcoming the previously described excuses not to give. Thousands of dollars that otherwise would have gathered dust are now going to lots of good organizations doing lots of good.
- Personally, a whole new level of energy, zest and feeling of connection with charitable giving that previously did not exist.
- Creating opportunities to let people know that you appreciate them. How often do we miss opportunities to let the people important in our lives know this? How often do the people you’ve positively impacted in their lives not let you know? Problem solved!
Indeed, the only “downside” of this initiative is that I underestimated how many people I would identify who have been good to my family or me or otherwise are doing good in the world. The list keeps growing! Thus, this initiative is costing me a lot more money than I originally anticipated. Yet it’s very worth it!
Jathan Janove is Principal of Janove Organization Solutions. Through consulting, executive coaching and training, he works with employers to create fully engaged workplace cultures. He also practiced law in Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.
