Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.
As I discussed in “Can More Money Make You Happier?”, more money will make you happier only if you use your excess money to help others. One way to help others is to give to a worthy charity.
My Favorite Charity
My favorite charity is the Central Asia Institute (CAI) run by Greg Mortenson. I first heard of Greg’s work in the Parade (Sunday) magazine on April 6, 2003. Since then, many articles have been written about CAI and Greg. I started giving to CAI after I read this article.
In 2006, Greg wrote Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, a bestselling book, on his life:
This book dramatically describes how Greg tried to climb K2, failed, and descended the mountain weak and exhausted. He accidently found Korphe, a remote mountain village, where the villagers nursed him back to health. He befriended the villagers and decided to help them build a school. Greg overcame multiple problems with money, supplies, transportation, graft, and theft. For instance, he had to build a bridge across a river before he could bring building supplies to the village. After he built the first school, he dedicated himself to building more schools in the region. He started CAI to support his efforts.
CAI builds schools and supports education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He focuses on the education of girls for several reasons:
- Girls lack the same opportunities for education as boys in that part of the world.
- Girls are more likely to stay in the area where they grew up and help raise the overall standard of living.
- Girls are more likely to support peace and stability in the region.
This region of the world contains many Madrassas that provide Islamic religious instruction to boys. Some Madrassas teach boys to hate the West and become terrorists. As a result, Greg’s efforts are a non-violent way to support peace in a difficult region. It may be one of the cheapest forms of anti-terrorism available.
A Reader’s Favorite Charity
The author of “My Year Without Sugar” left a comment on my “Can More Money Make You Happier?” post about an interesting organization called Kiva:
…I recently learned about micro-loans and a man named “Yunus” (2006 nobel peace prize winner) who is eradicating poverty putting his idea into action. Basically, the impoverished are given small loans to start a business. Then, they pay the money back and are eligible to get a slightly larger loan next time, and so on.
The amazing thing about this type of “micro-credit” system is that if you or I donate money to a charity that helps make this happen, at the end of the year, you get your money back.
My point is that for those who have trouble giving away their money, even to charities, this is a type of giving that comes back around and you can either receive your money back or opt to re-donate it.
My husband and I gave these donations to charities on behalf of family members for Christmas because we don’t believe in the consumerism of buying Christmas presents. Anyway, it’s pretty cool because at the end of the year, each family member will be contacted by the charity (KIVA in this case) and they can receive the money back or opt to re-donate.
I like Kiva because it’s a direct, personal way to help impoverished individuals or small families in underdeveloped countries.
Picking a Charity
Unfortunately, you need be carefully pick a charity because some charities are dishonest or highly inefficient. Charity Navigator is an excellent site for finding and evaluating potential charities. Kiplinger’s Five Ways to Check a Charity also has sensible advice.
Do you have a favorite charity? If so, what is it and why do you like it?
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Hi Roger,
“Three Cups of Tea” is one of my favorite books. Talk about someone who made a difference. His charity is one of my favorites too.
I also am a big supporter of the United Nations. Especially the fund that is used to help refugees (Angelina Jolie is the spokesperson). The reason why I am a supporter of the UN’s effort to help refugees is because my father’s entire education was funded by the UN. Due to his education (he is a medical doctor) he came to this country (USA) which is where I was born. If it were not for the UN, my life would have been completely different.
So why didn’t you bring the Miami weather back up here with you?
Nadia,
It’s great to pick a charity or organization that some how helped you or somebody you know.
I wish I could transplant the Miami weather here.
Hi Roger.
I also have “Three Cups of Tea” on a bookshelf, and we are expecting Greg to come through St. Louis soon on a speaking engagement and hope to go see/hear him.
Project Have Hope is a nonprofit organization run by Karen Sporacio, a photojournalist friend of my wife. They met while both were doing a photoj workshop in Uganda a couple of years ago. Karen has returned a number of times since, I think, and is working with children, helping them market/sell their handicrafts.
What I particularly like about that situation, besides being a former photoj myself and lover of photography, is that Karen is teaching the kids to “fish,” in that sense of equipping them to create a self-sustaining future for themselves, as opposed to just tossing money at them.
She also has photo work on her site, and talks about other projects she has going.
Adam,
I looked at the Project Have Hope website and it looks interesting. I agree with you that teaching a useful trade is a great use of money. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Hi Roger,
I haven’t read Three Cups of Tea so thanks for the introduction. The charity I support is a hospice dedicated to the care of those with terminal illnesses. I think than a beautiful ending is an integral part of an overall good life, and this organisation is excellent in the work it does. It’s also my way of honouring my late father’s memory.
I haven’t read Three Cups of Tea yet, but I’ve had it on my To-Read List for awhile now. I will have to dive in.
My favorite charity is The National Center for Children and Families (www.nccf-cares.org). It’s a great organization that helps families and child in the Washington DC area. I’m a volunteer there and every time I volunteer I feel so great. If you don’t volunteer already, you really should try it. It’s sooo rewarding!
@Daphne: In the West, we try to avoid the fact that we die. Hospices are a great way to help people die with care and understanding.
Postively Present: Volunteering is the most intimate way to give back. I looked at the NCCF website and mission and it looks like a great organization.
Hello Rojer! Thanks for the recommendation! I checked out the article and I will definitely check out the book. I don’t have a favorite yet but like everything else about the power of less, I suspect focusing on a favorite charity simply increases your effectiveness for charity.
Stephen,
You’re welcome for the recommendation! I think finding a favorite charity does make you feel more personally involved with the cause of the charity.