Find your cause

Go all in to make a big difference

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to find your cause. The world has
so many needs and it's hard to know how to
make a difference. One approach is to do what you

(00:25):
can anytime you receive a request. But I'd encourage you
to be a bit more strategic. Finding one cause to
go all in on can feel more rewarding, which means
you'll wind up giving more generously than you would otherwise.
If you already have a cause you're devoted to great,

(00:45):
I'd encourage you to go deeper. Can you double your contributions?
Could you make a bigger volunteer commitment once a week
or more? But if you're not yet sure how to
direct your giving, keep listening. Think about what gives you've
most worked up. What topics can you talk about and
read about for hours? It might help to think about

(01:07):
topics that have always interested you but aren't directly related
to your work. For instance, I'm drawn to issues of
healthy eating and food insecurity, even though these aren't topics
I write or speak about. I know a lot of
people are moved by the cause of anti racism, or
maybe children's well being in the face of a pandemic
response that has taken so many protections and supports away

(01:30):
from children. Once you've zeroed in on something that makes
you want to learn more, research organizations that are doing
good work on the issue. I'm partial to ones that
are involved in your local area because you'll be able
to get more personally involved, but there's a good case
for looking at organizations that do good work on a
national or global scale too. Look at the ones you've

(01:51):
heard about, but google articles on the topic and see
who else is listed as well. Then visit their websites,
read about their missions and programs. Check out the board
lists and donor lists. When you see that individuals or
institutions you respect or support the organization with time and money,
that's a vote of confidence. You might also consult their

(02:14):
I R s for or the Profile and Guide Stars
nonprofit directory. After you found an organization you think could
be a good fit, get involved, sign up for their newsletter,
make a donation, and I really think this is important, volunteer.
As you do, you can get to know the staff
and other volunteers and those who benefit from the organization's work.

(02:38):
If you do this over time, you will probably find
yourself giving more and more of your time and money
to support the organization, even telling your friends about it
or serving as a volunteer leader or board member. It
is satisfying to provide significant support to an organization that
you believe is doing good work, and by concentrating your

(02:58):
efforts and gifts on a single organization or at most two,
you're able to see more of an impact than if
your support is more dispersed. Some families get involved to
gather maybe you and your adult siblings or you and
your kids. Some faith communities and workplaces support particular organizations,
and you might find it rewarding to volunteer alongside people

(03:21):
you're already connected with, or you might enjoy the new
relationships and experiences you have through an independent connection to
a nonprofit. It can be a great way to expand
your circle now I know. There are various utilitarian arguments
about giving to the places where you know a dollar
will go furthest which tends to be relief for health
organizations working in developing countries. There's also the question of

(03:44):
why our own satisfaction and sense of meaning should guide
giving it all. Perhaps It sounds selfish that we want
to see actual impact, and yet the world will always
have more problems than any of us can solve. None
of us can solve everything. Choosing one cause inevitably means

(04:06):
not choosing others. But when we feel more connected to
a cause, we feel compelled to do more. Making real
impact in one small space is worth celebrating whatever other
causes still exist. So what's your cause? You can tell
me about how you got involved and the impact the

(04:26):
organization is having on its beneficiaries and on you. You You
can reach me at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart
media dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks
for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody,

(04:48):
I'd love to hear from you. You can send me
your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with
me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod
that's the number four then Breakfast p o D. You
can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast
at i heeart media dot com. That Before Breakfast is

(05:11):
spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, I
look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a
production of I Heart Radio For more podcasts from I
heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.