Everyday Giving Blog

Veterans, Thank You!

If you are a veteran, I want you to know that I appreciate the sacrifice you have made in order to make the United States of America a great country. Freedom is not free.

Today is Veterans Day in the US. It is a day that is dedicated to honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

There was a Veterans Day Celebration held this morning at the Memorial to Our Fallen Heroes in Fredericksburg, Virginia. VIPs gave moving speeches, including Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Brigadier General Phillips. Enjoy a few of the photos below that I captured at the event.

Be sure you thank several veterans for their service today and throughout the year. Also, go to http://www.military.com/benefits/resources/support-our-troops to identify additional ways you can support our troops.

Thanks,
Roger Carr

Happy Birthday Wishes

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 50!

Happy birthday wishes rolled in from many people in a number of ways. My Facebook page was loaded with messages, several cards were in my mailbox, and I even received some emails, text messages and phone calls wishing me a happy birthday. A few of the Facebook messages were from people at nonprofit organizations I have supported. One text message was from my dentist.

I read them all!

Sending a personal "Happy Birthday" note to your donors and volunteers is a great way to remind them about your nonprofit organization and to let them know how important they are to you and the organization. As I described above, there are many ways to communicate your message. I was shocked (in a good way) when I received the text message on my Blackberry from my dentist. He got my attention.

How are you going to get the attention of each of your donors and volunteers on their next birthday?

Thanks,
Roger Carr

Photo credit: IngerM

Thank You Bricks

The Sharing Foundation continues to impress me with their creative ways of helping children in Cambodia, raising money and thanking donors.

I learned about the Sharing Foundation almost a year ago. Beth Kanter was turbocharging her use of social networking to win a $50,000 contest award for the Sharing Foundation. She asked me to play a part in the promotion and I'm glad I did.

In the latest Sharing Foundation newsletter, Dr. Nancy Hendrie (President) discusses a new project they are doing in Cambodia to thank "significant" donors.

The Sharing Foundation is in the process of constructing a new girls dorm. One of their resident artists is hand painting a scene on individual bricks. The name of a donor is written on each brick. Then a photograph is taken of the brick and sent to the donor. These bricks will be used in the construction of the dorm and located away from the outdoor elements so the artwork and names will last for years.

What a terrific way to say thanks! Think about all the ways these bricks will touch people's lives.

• A resident of the Sharing Foundation in Cambodia is able to put his artistic talents to great use
• Many of the residents in Cambodia will see these bricks on a regular basis and be reminded that there are people all over the world who care about them
• It provides a unique "thank you" to donors
• It may encourage additional donations from these donors because the organization has demonstrated they care and are thankful
• It may encourage new donors as current donors share the story and photos of these bricks with colleagues, friends and family

If you are a fundraiser or work for a nonprofit, consider using the Sharing Foundation's example and find unique ways to thank donors. It can have a significant payoff that goes beyond just your expression of thanks.

Easy Way To Express Thanks To American Troops

There are many American troops who will be away from their families, friends and country on Thanksgiving Day. One easy way to show your thanks for their dedication and bravery is by sending an encouraging and thankful text message.

Express your gratitude to the troops for their service by sending a brief message to 89279. Each text message sent will receive a response from an active-duty servicemember in return. I know someone who has already received a response.

Go to the America Supports You website at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil to learn about this and other ways you can support the American troops.

Giving Thanks, Love and Appreciation Is Powerful

Thanks, love and appreciation are powerful words when expressed from the heart.  How many times have you used these words today?

I recently received two thank you notes in the mail on the same day. Both of them were thanking me for the volunteer work I have been doing with the Arthritis Foundation. One of those notes was from a girl that suffers from juvenile arthritis. It was unexpected and really touched me. It also motivated me.

Saying "thank you" is powerful.

When I'm talking on the phone with my wife or son, I always tell them that I love them at some point during the conversation. If I'm on my cell phone in public during the phone call, heads turn in my direction with a smile when I say those words.

Recently I read a book by Dan Baker, Ph.D. and Cameron Stauth entitled "What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness can Change Your Life for the Better." I highly recommend the book. They discuss love being the opposite of fear. The best way to overcome fear is with love.

Saying "I love you" is powerful.

Several months ago I sent an e-mail to my clients and subscribers entitled "I Appreciate You." I received a larger response to that e-mail than any other before or after it. It obviously struck a positive chord with many readers.

In the same book mentioned above, Baker and Stauth wrote "Appreciation is the highest, purest form of love...Appreciation asks for nothing and gives everything."

Saying "I appreciate you" is powerful.

Share your feeling of thanks, love and appreciation with others through notes, telephone calls and face-to-face conversations. These simple acts of kindness have the potential to change lives and make the world a better place.

Celebrate National Volunteer Week

Volunteers make a positive difference in our lives and communities. They make our world a better place to live. If you are a volunteer, I want to thank you for your unselfish service to others.

National Volunteer Week started today. It is a service of the Points of Light Foundation and sponsored by Target.

Be sure you find a special way to thank and recognize the volunteers you know during this week of 15-21 April, 2007. Consider recognizing volunteers:

• Who are members of your organization or business
• Who volunteer in support of your organization
• Who live in your community

If you need some ideas on ways to recognize volunteers, check out the National Volunteer Week toolkit for 2007 at http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/tools.cfm.

Is the President’s Volunteer Service Award a Part of Your Volunteer Recognition Program?

Keeping volunteers on your team can be a challenge. You worked hard to recruit them and they are making a difference. Now, you should be doing as much as you can to retain them. One thing you should do is to find opportunities to recognize their efforts.

I recently learned about a volunteer award that you should consider for recognizing your faithful volunteers. What is the award? It is the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

This award has significant meaning. The recipient has to earn the award through volunteering a specific number of hours to community service. The volunteer hours have to be tracked and certified. There are different levels of the award based on the number of hours given. The award is not limited to adults. Children are eligible as well.

For details on presenting the awards or becoming a Certifying Organization, visit presidentialserviceawards.gov. If you are a volunteer, make sure the organizations you support are aware of the award.

My thanks to Kelly Perdew for making me aware of this award. Yes, he was the winner of the second season of "The Apprentice," with Donald Trump. He has also been appointed as a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Reasons to Give in December 2006

There are countless times that you might consider giving to someone. You don't have to look very hard to find one or more reasons every day. Be creative in finding reasons to do something for someone when they won't expect it. Pick one or more of these upcoming observances as reasons to help and surprise others with an act of kindness:

• Dec 1 - World AIDS Day - http://www.worldaidsday.org
• Dec 2 - Together We Can Change the World Day - http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com
• Dec 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons - http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disiddp.htm
• Dec 4 - National Cookie Day
• Dec 5 - International Volunteer Day - http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/intl-volunteer-day.html
• Dec 16-Dec 23 - Hanukkah/Chanukah - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanukah
• Dec 25 - Christmas - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day
• Dec 26-Jan 1 - Kwanzaa - http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org

Reasons to Give in November 2006

There are countless times that you might consider giving to someone. You don't have to look very hard to find one or more reasons every day. Be creative in finding reasons to do something for someone when they won't expect it. Pick one or more of these upcoming observances as reasons to help and surprise others with an act of kindness:

• Nov - National Alzheimer's Disease Month - http://www.alz.org
• Nov 4 - Together We Can Change The World Day - http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com
• Nov 11 - Veterans Day - http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday
• Nov 12-18 - National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week - http://www.nationalhomeless.org/getinvolved/projects/awareness
• Nov 12 - Chicken Soup for the Soul Day - http://www.chickensoup.com
• Nov 13 - World Kindness Day - http://www.actsofkindness.org
• Nov 14 - World Diabetes Day - http://www.worlddiabetesday.org
• Nov 15 - National Philanthropy Day - http://www.nationalphilanthropyday.org
• Nov 18 - National Family Volunteer Day - http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/NFVD
• Nov 18 - National Adoption Day - http://www.nationaladoptionday.org
• Nov 19-25 - National Family Week - http://www.nationalfamilyweek.org
• Nov 19-26 - National Bible Week - http://www.nationalbible.org/index-3.html
• Nov 21 - World Hello Day - http://www.worldhelloday.org
• Nov 23 - Thanksgiving Day - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

Martin Sabel Interview with Roger Carr

Martin Sabel interviewed me about why I started Everyday Giving, what it means to be a philanthropist, and some of the many ways a person or company can give to make a difference.

Go to http://www.EverydayGiving.com/martin_sabel.mp3 to listen to the interview.