Intentional Charitable Giving: Budgeting, Vetting, and Year-Round Impact

Key Quotes

"My grandmother took me and my siblings in there were five of us my older sister was eight I was four another sister was three and twin brothers who were two parents had a lot of issues and they were about to send us all off to foster care and split us up and she said no bring them to me had it not been for my grandmother's rescuing us where would I be maybe not in such a great place and so that has always motivated me I have given to charity from the time that I earned money either through my money or my time and so I do encourage people as part of their budget to build in charitable giving."

Michelle Singletary explains that her deep belief in charitable giving stems from her own experience of being taken in by her grandmother, which prevented her and her siblings from entering foster care. This foundational event motivates her to encourage others to incorporate charitable giving into their budgets, emphasizing that it has been a practice for her since she first earned money.

"Now what I do say is a caveat is that you give out of your abundance you give out of your extra so you make sure you've taken care of your necessities roof over your head food on the table you know your savings and then you allocate that to charitable giving."

Michelle Singletary clarifies that charitable giving should originate from one's surplus resources after essential needs are met. She stresses the importance of ensuring necessities like housing, food, and savings are secured before allocating funds to charitable causes, framing it as giving from one's "abundance."

"I think it imposes discipline if you know that a key part of your budget is going to charity I think that sets a different stage for your budget and it introduces a level of gratitude that I didn't get to where I am just by my own divine there were people along the way who helped me who opened doors who coached me mentored me let me cry on their shoulder so it just makes you puts you in a posture of saying I am grateful for what I have and I want to give back as part of this whole of earnings."

Michelle Singletary argues that including charitable giving as a fixed part of a budget instills financial discipline and fosters gratitude. She suggests that this practice encourages a mindset of appreciation for one's own blessings, recognizing the support received from others, and a desire to reciprocate by contributing to the well-being of others.

"I personally think that everybody should have some of their time devoted to giving to a charity or working and I have believed that since I was a teenager when I was a single woman and just had a little dog I used to visit a nursing home with my dog because they found that a lot of times people in nursing homes they don't necessarily connect with people but they connect with animals."

Michelle Singletary expresses a strong conviction that individuals should dedicate some of their time to charitable work, a belief she has held since her teenage years. She shares a personal anecdote about visiting a nursing home with her dog, illustrating how animal interaction can facilitate connection for residents who may struggle with human interaction.

"And so if you're not sure how to do this the um federal trade commission if you go to ftc gov it has a tip sheet on how to check out a charity you can go to to the bbb which stands for better business bureau wise giving alliance online and they have a way for you to check out charities and then charity watch also sort of rates charities and gives you an idea of how if they're legitimate."

Michelle Singletary advises listeners on how to verify the legitimacy of charities before donating, recommending specific resources. She suggests consulting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov) for tips, the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Watch, which rates charities to help donors make informed decisions.

"Be intentional about checking out charities be intentional about giving be intentional about giving of your time and I tell you when you work in the community when you work with people who are in need when you work with people who are struggling it creates a sense in your soul that I think makes you a better person."

Michelle Singletary emphasizes the importance of intentionality in charitable actions, whether it involves vetting charities, donating money, or giving time. She posits that engaging with the community and assisting those in need or struggling cultivates a profound sense of fulfillment that contributes to personal betterment.