Once you’ve made the determination to contribute to a cause you support and how much you’re willing to give, these are some other considerations. Is your family taken care of? What can I give of my life to benefit others in donating my time and efforts as an alternative to monetary donations? Do I need recognition or acknowledgment or will it be anonymous? The answers to these questions will always depend upon the individual. Giving from the heart your time, assistance and monetary donations is up to you and your priorities.

Each charitable act you decide is important and deserves your support should be vetted and its full transparency investigated. Giving of your time, support and money to organizations that pay other organizations to administer their nonprofits, often take the lions share, leaving little left for the ones that need it most. Directors or CEO’s of nonprofits that receive millions of dollars in salaries or bonuses are to be avoided. Recipients of your help should also be vetted or means tested if at all possible.

With so many people now in need and the requests for assistance flooding our lives, we need to be vigilant and cognizant of scams and unscrupulous people and organizations. Reputable organizations like Candid’s GuideStar can help in determining the nonprofits legitimacy and rating.

Humanitarians of little means are the true hero’s of our times. Often doing meaningful work helping others without compensation. Feeling good about yourself is rewarding enough and something money can’t buy. My hats off to those who care.