Redirect how others give to you On social media, you’ve seen friends or relatives asking for donations on their behalf instead of receiving gifts. It’s
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an easy way to give back — and you’ll likely feel better about it than getting another not-quite-right gift you never use. You might even start a new family tradition.
Be an advocate Just like businesses, nonprofits are affected by laws and other regulations — but they
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Purchase from charity shops In addition to
usually don’t have the same lobbying
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clout. You can assist in their
donating used goods to charity or thrift shops, you can spend some
efforts by writing to elected officials, contributing op-eds to the local paper, or taking other steps
of your shopping dollars there too. Every time you buy,
you’re supporting important causes, including homeless shelters, food pantries, disaster relief and beyond.
to ensure their voice is heard.
Swap your shopping habits There’s been a proliferation of shopping platforms that contribute a percentage of
Use a charity credit card Many financial institutions offer the option of a charity credit card, which automatically
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your sale to your charity of choice. Good Shop, for example, offers shopping through 7,000 merchants and connections to more than 114,000 nonprofits and schools. Amazon Smile gives you the same shopping experience as regular Amazon, while donating 0.5% of the total to your chosen charity.
donates any earned rewards to a nonprofit of your choice. Make sure to research the rates and terms to make sure it fits your financial needs as well as
contributing to a worthy cause. In addition, realize that the credit card processing fees will be deducted from any donation you make.
Serve on the board of a nonprofit Nonprofits aren’t just looking for volunteers to help on an occasional basis. They need smart, dedicated people to lead the organization in its mission. If you’ve got the time and interest, serving in a board role can be a way to make an outsized impact on how they operate on a day-to-day basis. 10
calbanktrust.com/ inyourcorner
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