Each year at this time, out of some combination of generosity and
procrastination, millions of Americans rush to make donations to the causes and
institutions important to them. It is a beautiful thing, but it is also
something of a scramble.
As the end of the year
approaches, we all scramble to make those last minute charitable donations. And
because we “scramble” we don’t always donate to organizations that most
represent our ideals or morals.
This method of donating,
however, is not the only way. As mentioned in a New York Times article, a new game
called “Talk About
Giving” helps families discuss values and philanthropy throughout the
entire year. This in turn leads to families making more meaningful charitable
donations at the end of the year.
The game includes a deck of
cards with questions like:
-
What is our family’s history of helping?
-
If you could have changed anything that happened
in the world this year, what would you change?
-
Should we volunteer even if we don’t want to?
-
What do you appreciate most about our town?
-
How much did tonight’s dinner cost?
For additional insight on making your end-of-year donations,
refer to the New York Times article “As
the Year Draws to a Close, Deciding How to Slice Your Charitable Pie.”
References: The New York Times (December 7, 2012) “As the Year Draws to a Close, Deciding How
to Slice Your Charitable Pie”
The New York Times
(December 10, 2012) “Playing the ‘Talk About Giving’ Game With
Your Family”