Support a Charity Without Spending a Dime

You probably have a cause you are passionate about; whether it is saving seals, feeding the hungry, or providing employment for those in need, you care deeply about fixing one of the world's problems. Chances are there is a non-profit that supports that same cause. If you don't know which charity shares your cause, visit The United Way's or Internal Revenue Service's website for a list of the U.S.'s more than 100,000 non-profits.

There are many causes I am passionate and many charities I wish I could support but, working for a non-profit myself, I don't make enough money to donate to all of them. As a non-profit employee, I have learned many free ways to support my favorite charities.

Donate Time
There is the obvious way to donate time to a charity, which is volunteering for any volunteer position they have available, if they have any available. There are other ways to offer your time. Attend a charity event, or participate in a walk-a-thon, 5K, or another fundraiser the charity holds. Offer to do simple office work or provide transportation, if necessary. You can even volunteer for your favorite non-profit from home, by editing reports, at night. Many tasks that the non-profit employees don't have time to complete during the workday can be finished by charity angels at night.

Donate your Skill
Many non-profits are small organizations that can not afford skill-specific employees, such as graphic designers or website managers. If you have a skill that could benefit a charity, think about donating that. If you are a photographer or film maker you can document an event, write a script for an awards show, design invitations, or figure out the logistics for a 5K.

If you a little more time and have a skill such as fundraising, your favorite non-profit would probably love to have you as a board member. Many non-profits have advisory boards; serving on an advisory board takes a lot less time than serving on a board of directors.