Student Volunteering: The Importance of Philanthrophy
Student volunteering plays a historical key role in colleges across the county. Through hands on experience, today’s students are tomorrow’s philanthropists.
Are you among those people who think philanthropy is for the wealthy? Think again. Giving back to society is not a matter of being wealthy but rather the extent that you are willing to go to make a difference in society.
Recently, the number of college students participating in charitable work has increased tremendously. But, how do these students manage to give back to society, yet a majority of them are not rich? Well, many college students may not have the funds to donate, but they surely are capable of volunteering.
Student volunteering is not a strange thing. These charitable programs have been in there for several years. It is just that the momentum in giving back among college student has grown significantly in recent years.
However, not all charitable organizations are legitimate. You need to be careful with the organization that you choose to work with. Here is a guide on how to choose a charity.
Finding a Charity Organization
The first step to giving back to society is to find a charity organization that you will use to reach the underprivileged in society. Use the following steps to find a charity that suits you.
1. Have Clear Values
Before you decide to join any charity organization, make sure that you clarify the values that you stand for. This is the first step to ensuring that you pick the appropriate organization for your charity work.
2. Determine the Preferences of Your Student Volunteering Activity
The second step that you should do is deciding why you want to indulge in the charity. What motivates you to give back to society? Remember, student volunteering is mainly driven by passion and the desire to make a change in society.
While determining your preferences, it is also important to decide where the charity work will take place. Will it be limited to a specific region, or will it extend across the globe?
It is also important to ask yourself if you will commit to small or huge charitable projects.
3. Mission
The mission of the charity organization is important. It will help you determine whether the organization has goals and ambitions that are similar to yours. The mission statement of the organization should tell you the values that an enterprise is championing.
For example, the Honor Society Foundation has a mission to fund higher education by offering educational scholarships to high achievers. This mission automatically tells you that the organization champions for the education of the bright but needy students in the community.
4. Shortlist the Organizations That Meet Your Criteria
Now that you have identified several institutions that can help you give back to society, it is time to narrow down to those that actually meet your criteria. Make a list of the organizations that you think best suit your values pertaining to charity work and do away with the rest.
5. Confirm the Legitimacy of the Organization
The remaining organizations may have qualified, but are they really legitimate? Even in charity work, con artists can prevail. It is essential that you check the legitimacy of each of the selected charity organizations before finally deciding to join them.
Non-profitable charity organizations are also exemConfirm the Legitimacy of the Organizationpted from tax by the IRS. You should use this information to determine the legitimacy of the organization.
You can also use databases such as Guidestar to check the profile of the charity organization in the process of determining the legitimacy of the organization. If you fail to find the organization, ask to see the letter of determination.
The organization should show you a copy of the letter of determination unless it is faith-based. In such a case, ask to see the organization’s official listing in a directory according to its denomination.
6. Get the Facts Straight
Good non-profitable charity organizations should have the information straight. These organizations usually have a clear mission and objective since they do not have anything to hide. Look for such hints to determine if a specific charity organization is suitable for you.
Moreover, honest charity organizations have measurable goals that they use to track their performance time after time. These organizations also have a well-defined mechanism to describe their achievements.
7. Compare Charity to Charity
Before settling for one charity organization, take your time to compare the work of similar charity organizations. Charity work may be similar, but the expenditure of the organizations may be different. Take your time to assess the financials of the selected organization comparing their expenditure and the types of work that they do.
8. Do Not Tolerate Charity Organization That Don’t Share Their Information
Concealing information concerning student volunteering is a sign that something is wrong with that particular charity organization. Reputable charity organizations will share information concerning their finances. Any sign of reluctance to share financial information is a red flag.
You also need to be aware of organizations that pressure you to join them or make a donation. You should avoid charity organizations that pressure you to donate as that would mean that they are after your contributions.
Moreover, reputable charity organization often share their current literature concerning their projects. They can also offer links to their website so that you can get to check out their work.
Non-reputable charity organizations, on the other hand, do not know how to take a “NO”. Beware!
9. Follow Your Instincts
At the end of the day, your instincts will tell you which organization to select. If you have any suspicions or doubts concerning the work that a particular charity organization does, do not contribute. Instead, find another organization that offers similar services and give you donations.
Is It Worthy?
Giving back to society is a worthy cause. The activity helps to nurture a community of philanthropist who will inspire the next generation to give back too. Nick Beckstead and Mark Lee from Rutgers University are an example of the many college students who are giving back to the community.
The duo has vowed to give 10% of their graduate-student stipend and give half of their salaries to the less privileged once they are employed.
Student volunteering can be done effectively; you only need to use the above strategies to find a good charity organization.
Contact us to become a volunteer or a member of the college honor society.