Donating to charity can be one of the most rewarding ways to make a difference in the world. But there are various ways to help an organization without the need to give money.
In this article, we discuss some of the ways you can give back without having to sacrifice anything more than some of your time (and in some cases, perhaps a little effort).
1. Give while you shop
Over the past few months, the global pandemic has changed the way we live and we’ve been shopping online more than ever, with almost half of consumers saying that they think their shopping habits will permanently change due to the COVID-19 crisis. So why not help to raise money for a charity with the extra shopping you’re doing online?
Easyfundraising is a UK charity fundraising shopping website that allows you to give to a cause you believe in while you shop online at any of the 4,300 retailers in their network. You simply decide on the charity you wish to support and raise money as you shop, with a percentage of the cost of your purchased item donated to your chosen charity, with no extra cost to you. Similarly, Amazon has a specific AmazonSmile website, where you can shop as normal while giving to a charity of your choice every time you buy. When you shop on AmazonSmile, Amazon automatically donates 0.5% of the price of the item you wish to purchase to your chosen charity, again with no extra charge.
The advantage of fundraising in this way is that after you have set up your fundraising system, you can help a charity you’re passionate about without spending any extra time or money. Wherever you shop and whatever you spend your money on, you can make a huge difference with just a few clicks.
2. Try fundraising
More traditional forms of fundraising are still some of the best ways you can help raise money for charity by giving little more than your time and effort. You can raise large amounts of money for a specific cause you’re passionate about and with such a wide range of fundraising opportunities from charity runs to raffles to bake sales to concerts, you can do so while doing something you love (or at least something you want to get better at). It’s also a fantastic way to raise awareness for an issue you have a personal connection with and meet new people while you give back to a charity or organisation.
Of course, the current global situation has put a limit on some of the ways you can raise money. But, there are plenty of other forms of online and app-based fundraising you can do as well as the ‘give while you shop’ initiatives. While you may not be able to take part in the marathon you were planning for, you can still raise money everytime you go for a run with apps like Charity Miles.
You can fundraise while you walk your dog, while you use a search engine or open a new tab in your web browser. Fundraising allows you to spend more time on your hobbies, whether that’s going for a cycle or simply browsing the web, and make a positive change to the world while doing it.
3. Give volunteering a go
There are many ways you can help a charity beyond raising money for them and in these cases you can still use your passions and skills to make a difference. One such case is taking part in volunteering. Whether you’re doing volunteer work in the traditional sense, or taking part in remote volunteering online, it’s a fantastic way to use your unique skill set and help a charity fulfil its mission to make the world a better place. Charities depend on their generous and passionate volunteers as much as their donations and so by volunteering each week you could create positive change.
Especially in the case of online volunteering, charities are looking for volunteers with a wider variety of skills than ever. Whether you consider yourself a wordsmith or a dabhand with web design, there will be a role suited for you. Not only are a variety of volunteer roles on offer at charities, allowing you to find your passion, the work itself is flexible, particularly when volunteering online. You can work around your schedule and so can help the charity in a way that suits your lifestyle. Like fundraising, volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and feel part of a mission that is bigger than yourself. It allows you to gain a deeper insight into the charity sector and the issues facing lives in the world today. Most importantly, your actions as a volunteer, however small, will have a positive impact on these lives.
4. Become a Trustee
If you feel like you want to take on a bigger role in a charity and have your assistance influence the success of an organisation in a tangible way, becoming a trustee may be for you. As in their search for potential volunteers, charities are looking for trustees from a variety of backgrounds with a range of experiences. Whatever your background or sector, you can bring insights that could shape the running of a charitable organisation and make their work as far-reaching as possible.
As a leadership position, taking on a trustee role is not only one of the most impactful ways to benefit a charity and change the lives of others without the need to donate, it’s also a great way to experience how a charity works from the inside and so is invaluable if you are thinking of a more permanent move into the charity sector.
If the idea of becoming a trustee interests you, why not read our article on some of the reasons the role might be for you?
5. By raising awareness
You don’t need to be in a leadership position or sacrifice vast amounts of time to have a positive impact on a charity without spending money, however. One of the best ways to ensure a charity’s mission is successful is one of the simplest: by raising awareness of their work.
While taking part in large fundraising projects is one way to get an organisation’s message out there, if you don’t feel you have the time to commit to anything at length, you can increase the reach of a cause you’re passionate about by letting more people know about it. This can be anything from letting friends and family know what a charity does to supporting and sharing an organisation’s posts and success stories on social media. The more people a charity reaches, the more lives it can impact. You never know who might see it.
Would you like to help Children of Cameroon in our mission to help change the futures of disadvantaged children? If so, take a look at our volunteering opportunities.
Or if you would like to help children in Cameroon by giving money, why not visit our sponsorship page?
If you have any questions about our work or how you can help, leave a comment below!
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