1. Know your charity.  Read the mission, make sure that there is a clear description of program accomplishments, and a listing of the Board of Directors. You should know that a .org in the website does not necessarily mean it’s a nonprofit organization. Also, some questionable charities use a name that closely resembles a well respected charity name. If you have any doubts about the organization, check the entity on Internal Revenue Services website and CharityWatch.com or other watchdogs.

2. Make sure that you know where your dollars will go. Ask what percentage of every dollar goes directly to program services. It should be at least 60%, which the AIP rates as a “C” organization. “A” rated organizations are spending 75% of every dollar directly on programs. Building Goodness Foundation, I found out today, spends 88 cents of every dollar on direct program services! A+++ I’d say!

Some AIP A-Rated organizations are: Action Against Hunger, American Red Cross, CARE, Doctors without Borders, Save the Children and Salvation Army. See more on CharityWatch.com.

3. Be certain that you can obtain contact information. email, phone, snail mail address. Make sure that the organization has a physical address within the US.

4. Don’t be enticed by the pathetic sob story.

5. Give safely. Only donate to charity sites that use encryption technology to scramble your personal and credit card info. You can tell it’s secure if there is an “s” after the “http” (https) that precedes the internet address.

6. Give directly. Or if the charity you want to give to does not offer online giving, go to Network for Good or JustGive. Building Goodness Foundation uses Network for Good.

7. Keep paper records. For gifts over $250, the IRS requires you obtain a receipt from the charity for tax purposes.

8. Don’t respond to spam solicitation or pressure to contribute on the spot.

9. Consider giving generously.

http://www.BuildingGoodness.org

http://www.CharityWatch.org

http://www.irs.gov/charities/

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: http://www.wina.com/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4328165

People have asked me why I want to have a radio show. It’s an easy answer. I’ve gotten feedback from people that I appear to be professional, successful, kind of together.  What motivated me to do the show, however, is the Jennifer Till that people don’t see. I am a 46 year-old business owner, divorced twice, (I like to say that would make 2 was-bands), single mother for 16 years, sole financial support for my now 16 year-old son, daughter of 80 year-old parents who live in Pennsylvania, sister to two siblings who live across the country, newly in a love relationship, and I’m a friend. I have high cholesterol. I bought my first house 8 years ago. I’ve faced financial struggles, relationship challenges, long-distance caregiving. I’m surviving the teen years. I’m learning how to be in a love relationship in a more adult, and hopefully, healthy way. I fight to keep my workouts on the calendar 4 times a week.

Although we each come at life from our own unique history, conditioning, beliefs, talents, interests, and perspective. While we are each unique, we share several commonalities. We share the same human struggles and we have the same human desires. So, like you I struggle with balance and alignment, wanting everything to “be” perfect, feelings of isolation, setting healthy boundaries, wanting people to like me, maintaining effective relationships, time management, health and fitness, personal finances, focus. I can see how I’ve let myself be the victim in life and how I’ve abandoned myself.  And, maybe like you, I want to be heard, to be valued, to be loved. In fact, I want to feel special, and paradoxically, I want to feel like I’m part of something greater. I want to be happy. I want joy!!!

And I’ll bet that my story is not much different than yours, really. The content is different of course, but I promise you, I have struggled with similar issues and I want the same love, the same acceptance, the same happiness that you do.

My hope is that, over time I’ll get to know you and you’ll get to know me, and that together we create a shared community where you can talk about your challenges, your concerns and your successes, and that this will become the place for you to come to hear how other women face their challenges, reframe their failures and celebrate their success.

I’m envisioning  that the show will have one of three formats:

1. 2-3 guests will talk about how they approach this week’s topic;
2. I’ll interview an expert in the area of thisweek’s topic;
3. Real Life -I’ll share emails or blogs from listeners.

Each week I’ll share a quote of the week, and a tip of the week. I’ll ask guests to tell you about their favorite website.

If you’re not able to make it on Saturday mornings at 8:30AM, you can download the show’s podcast. You can reach me either through e-mail at jennifer dot l dot till at gmail dot com or by commenting on this blog.

Saturday mornings at 8:30. Join me for coffee and conversation. Do it for you. If you’re ready to REALLY love your life!