When asked as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, I sometimes replied “philanthropist.” It seemed a clever way to say, “I want to be so rich that I can give away money.”
Maybe the career choice was inspired by the fictional J. Beresford Tipton, whose agent, Michael Anthony, presented a $1 million check to some presumably deserving but unsuspecting soul every week on TV’s “The Millionaire.” Tax-free.
The show ran from 1955 to 1960, a time when $1 million sounded a whole lot more life-altering than it does now. (Especially given Nashville real estate prices.) With inflation, an updated version today would have Mr. Anthony handing out $10 million checks.
(An aside: Mr. Tipton’s beneficiaries seemed often to struggle under the weight of his largesse. I think I would manage fine.)
As it turned out, journalism was not the best profession to choose if my life’s goal was to be rolling in dough. At least, not journalism at the rung on the ladder that I occupied.
In retirement, however, I’ve come to realize that charitable giving doesn’t require Bill Gates-levels of assets and million-dollar bestowals. Lots of nonprofit organizations, especially local ones, rely on much smaller donations to keep their financial heads above water. And it’s not that hard to help make a difference.
I don’t mean with the kind of one-time, $10 gifts some people hand out willy nilly. Those probably cost the recipient organizations more than they’re worth in paperwork and the resulting, never-ending solicitations over the years.
Better, I figure, to limit the number of recipients, crank up the amount to something more substantial but not painful and to give every year. Maybe you can even get some tax benefits, if you itemize
How much to give is a personal matter, determined by finances and comfort level. Whom to give to is also personal and calls for some time spent in research. As Consumer Reports advises, “you need to look carefully at the organization to make sure you are sending your money to the right place.
“The best course of action before giving is to check out the charity with one or more of the major charity watchdogs, including the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and CharityWatch.”
Even with careful vetting, there are many organizations that do good work and are worthy of contributions. But you can’t support them all. I’d suggest doing what I did: Focus on causes that are close to your heart, for one reason or another. And, when possible, close to home, in keeping with the old saying about where charity begins.
I had one other requirement: that the organizations would not sell or give my name to other groups, lest I end up with endless appeals from all over. (I get enough as it is.) Aside from my church, these are the groups that I decided on and the reasons:
• Nashville Cat Rescue. (www.nashvillecatrescue.org) Because we’re cat people, and these folks specialize in saving them.
• Nashville Humane Association. (www.nashvillehumane.org) Because dogs, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and other creatures kept as pets deserve safeguarding, too.
• Excel by 5 Mississippi. (www.excelby5.com) Because this group, founded by married friends from my hometown, provides books for children in need every month up to age 5. Because reading is important throughout life, and reading at an early age is fundamental to that. Bonus: It’s affiliated with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
• First Light Community. (www.firstlightcommunity.org) Because it provides caring homes in Mobile, Alabama, for people with intellectual disabilities. Including my brother Mark.
• Special Olympics Tennessee (www.specialolympicstn.org), and the Arc Davidson County and Greater Nashville (www.arcdc.org). Because they offer support, services and opportunities for people like Mark.
• The Parkinson Foundation. (www.parkinson.org) Because it raises money to find a cure for the disease that, bit by bit, robbed Daddy of his ability to move and speak in his final years.
Maybe some of those organizations’ missions speak to you, as well. Or maybe some other causes speak more clearly. Find them, and be as generous as you comfortably can.
I hear Christmas is an excellent time for giving.
Joe Rogers is a former writer for The Tennessean and editor for The New York Times. He is retired and living in Nashville.