Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

It’s difficult to describe, but there’s a feeling you get after you make a donation. You know—that warm and fuzzy sensation that makes your heart swell. And no matter if you’ve donated for the first time—or the hundredth, that warm and tender feeling manages to tiptoe its way back every time.

Where does it come from? Maybe it’s from knowing that your contribution is changing the lives of those in need, advancing social justice, or righting environmental wrongs. Or, maybe it comes from the simple pleasure of finding your new life’s purpose. Regardless of the reason, it’s a reminder that donating even a bit of extra pocket change can change your life—and someone else’s too.

With so many ways to donate, it’s easy to feel lost. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this chapter of our Continuum of Civic Engagement series, we’re laying out three proven donation strategies to help you find your footing and sponsor the causes that truly strike a chord with you. So let’s get started.

Strategy 1: Set Up Recurring Monthly Donations
Making a monthly donation to a charity, non-profit, or community-led group is sort of like subscribing to a streaming service. Every month you can pitch in a small budget-friendly amount, and in return you get to enjoy the impact that organization makes—like a Netflix account but more philanthropic.And unlike bulky, unplanned donations, streamlined monthly payments offer you a bird’s eye view into how much you’re actually spending.

So, you can cut out the guesswork when someone asks if you have anything else to spare. But the benefits don’t stop there—your cause has a lot to gain from monthly donations too.That’s because when non-profits have the safety net of predictable and recurring income, they’re better able to plan for the future, allowing them to continue lifting up the communities that depend on their services.

Strategy 2: Name Non-Profits in Your Will
What if you’ve been donating to a non-profit month-after-month for years? You’ve gotten to know the organization's team, maybe you’ve volunteered with them, and over time you’ve become woven into the organization’s fabric. And now, you want to help them deliver on their mission—even after you’re gone.

This is where leaving your charitable donations in a will can be an effective strategy - it’s another way to help an organization plan out their future. n the process, the organization’s ongoing success becomes part of your legacy. It can also have significant tax benefits because your donation may be deducted from your overall estate after your pass, making it a win-win solution for your cause, and your family.

Strategy 3: Contribute to Your Corporate Matching Program
If you only have so much to give, and want to stretch it even further, a corporate matching program may be your best bet. Corporate donation matching is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when your employer matches your charitable donations—dollar for dollar. A quick flip through your employment contract or corporate policy agreement, or even a visit to HR, is all you need to see if a matching program is already in place.

Even if there isn’t anything in writing—it never hurts to ask. Floating the idea over to your management team could be all it takes to spark a wider conversation, and architect a donation matching program for the future.


Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that charities, non-profits, and community-led groups are the sturdy footing our communities stand on. But without thoughtful and structured charitable giving, that foundation would slowly crumble and the people they serve would fall through the cracks. In many cases how we contribute is just as important as if we contribute.

Strategies that play the long game, like setting up a monthly donation schedule, naming organizations in your will, and sifting through paperwork to uncover a corporate matching program you didn’t know existed, are most effective. If you want to learn more about more ways to impact your community, you can always visit our Continuum of Civic Engagement to learn more.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

How To Connect With People Using Empathy Strategies

Struggling to connect with the people around you? Empathy could be the solution. When we hear the word empathy used in day-to-day life, it usually reminds us of a certain memory or moment. A coworker making you feel heard, a relative forgiving a mistake, or a friend giving you thoughtful advice. These are all great examples of empathy at work. At their core, empathy strategies are forms of emotional connection that lighten the load of everyday life through kindness .

But developing empathy isn't only for those we express it to, it has benefits for us as well. Expressing empathy strengthens the relationships we have with the people in our lives. Think of a time when you were down on your luck, when you felt alone or even unseen. Do you remember the person who was there to listen? Most of us would answer yes to this question.

That's because showing empathy builds trust, promotes cooperation and even resolves conflicts. Are you having issues with a colleague or struggling to connect with a friend? Being more empathetic might be the skill that makes the difference.

But how can you start being more empathetic? In this article we’ll cover 3 strategies on how to develop empathy. They include:

• Listening Actively
• Perspective Taking
• Self Education

By the end of the article, you’ll understand the value of having an empathy strategy.

Active Listening: A Great Way To Cultivate Empathy
What's the quickest way to start developing empathy? The answer is- active listening. Active listening, also referred to as empathetic listening, is similar to the traditional form yet with a few caveats. For starters, it goes past simply hearing the words someone is saying.Active listening pushes us to invest more into the speaker by being present, recognizing verbal and non verbal cues and validating their concerns. Listeners participate in the conversation, but active listeners help guide it.Here are a few quick ways you can improve your active listening skills.

Paraphrasing
If you're not understanding something clearly, say it in your own words, to confirm you're on the same page.

Reflecting
Take a moment to acknowledge and validate the speaker's feelings. This demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence and will encourage the speaker to share more.

Give Feedback
Constructive responses let the speaker know you're invested in their success and happiness.

These are all great examples of how to cultivate empathy through the power of active listening.

Sharing Perspectives: An Important Way To Improve Empathy
It may not be easy, but putting yourself in someone else's shoes can go a long way. By sharing someone else’s perspective, you'll see the world through their eyes. It can give you valuable insight about their challenges, fears, frustrations, as well as other feelings. This insight also allows us to understand why these feelings exist.

Sharing perspectives is a lot like sharing eyeglasses. The world might become harder to navigate, depending on which ones you try. The next time someone tells you they're having troubles at home or stress at work, ask yourself, "How would I want people to communicate with me? Or "What advice would I want to hear right now"?

Asking these types of questions will change how you connect with the people around you. It’s also a great exercise on how to improve emotional empathy.



Educating Ourselves: Build Empathy Through Knowledge
It's not always easy to understand every problem someone is having. You may lack context, experience or the ability to relate. What if you've never lost your job or experienced the pain of a divorce? This is where education comes in.

Education can be a valuable resource to bridge the gap between what we need to know and the people we want to help. It's an empathy building tool that gives us a chance to understand the full scope of an issue someone is having. That understanding can reshape our perspectives and help provide constructive feedback.

Here are a few ways you can educate yourself to increase empathy:

Seek Out Educational Resources
There are endless online, and offline, resources to help understand people's circumstances. Books, courses and forums are a few great examples that offer perspective and improve empathy .

Volunteer
Volunteering gives us a chance to engage with people from diverse backgrounds. These interactions can provide a lot of insight into the challenges people are facing.

Seek Out A Professional
Licensed professionals are great at teaching empathy and sharing information about navigating different situations. They can also provide you with more advanced empathy techniques .



Conclusion
Empathy is a skill set that often goes unpracticed. But it rarely goes unnoticed.When we practice empathy we build bridges between people, rather than tear them down. It's not easy though. It involves active listening, perspective sharing and the willingness to educate yourself. But with time, empathy can transform the relationships we have with the people around us. Friendships can be rebuilt, families can be saved, and colleges can begin to trust. If you're prepared to put in the work, time, and effort, developing empathy can be life changing.

If you would like to learn more about developing empathy, check out our Continuum of Civic Engagement.