Part Four: The Generous December Group Writing Project

As of this evening, half the lights of the Menorah will have been lit, the seventh window on the Advent Calendar will have been opened. It’s already time for part 4 of the Generous December Group Writing Project. Events are well-underway, but I guess it is too easy to be carried away on a wave of enthusiasm too early.

There can be a downside to charitable giving. Kelly the Nonprofiteer sent me a link about thinking critically about how charities are administrated and what, in the end, they actually accomplish. That is exactly why I chose not to make the Generous December Group Writing Project a random contest. I wanted the freedom to look at how much a given non-profit gives to the world in terms of service, compared to how much they spend on administration, marketing, and other expenses. I also made some pretty heavy demands on bloggers who enter. They (We) have had to explain completely why they have a relationship with the charity of their choice.

This project is a lot of work for everyone, but it is educational for all of us. I am not sure how comfortable I am with bloggers asking for donations for specific individuals outside a charitable context, but I wouldn’t censor someone who wants to raise money and/or awareness for friends in need. I have a great respect for the intelligence, both emotional and mental, of other bloggers. I expect all of us can determine our own comfort levels.

Since the Nonprofiteer does this kind of work all the time, I can’t wait to read Kelly’s entry about where she gives her time and money after she has applied her financial/ethical matrix.

I wrote the introduction to the Generous December Group Writing Project with some pretty strict rules that will allow me to be as careful as possible. So far, I haven’t read anything in the blog posts, or on the charity sites, or in the major and minor media in three countries that I follow regularly that sets off any alarm bells. In fact, through this initiative I’ve read about small organizations that have carefully defined one job they want to do well. I think that often prevents the administrative money-pit that can (but doesn’t always) come with donations to larger NGOs. If you have heard anything “different” about any of the non-profits entered in this GWP, please let me know.

That said, let us now return to the spirit of hope and the light of enthusiasm:

Tom at 501c Files, became the first tax guy to make me cry (which, since I pay taxes in Europe is saying something) when he wrote about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Kadi Prescott is thinking about how to give one particular family in crisis a gift this Christmas. Her post made me think about all the other families out there who give presents to children who would otherwise get nothing. Does anyone have any particular “toys for tots” organizations to recommend?

SlackerMommy has been sharing her upbringing on here blog and has some excellent insights into preventing child abuse. Her cause does work that supports the whole family to create a safe environment for children.

That’s three new entries, combined with those from part one, part two and part three, that makes a total of 18 entries so far. Hopefully, we’ll have enough entries to post part five on Monday. As soon as we have 20 entries, the donation amount will double.