Spring means 2 things: nice weather, and more philanthropy events than you can count. Here are 5 ways to help you decide which ones to go to and which to pass on.
1. Association – for those who have friends in other organizations. All of your friends want you to support their organization, and if you have an event you want all of them to attend yours. Definitely go to your best friend’s but don’t feel obligated to please every friend you have on campus, and as a rule of thumb, if someone goes to yours specifically to support you, you should probably be willing to go to theirs.
2. Activity – for the athletes or gym class heroes. The nature of the philanthropy can be a game changer. If you are looking to get active, pick a team sport and find a few friends to participate with you. Whether you play competitively or not, you’ll have a good afternoon and if you’re lucky maybe even get a little tan.
3. Charity Navigator – for those who care where their money is going to. Charity Navigator is a non-profit website that puts up financial data on different organizations. It’ll tell you which organizations are paying their employees big bucks and which are spending most of their money on the cause they’re trying to help, so you can feel good about where your money is going.
4. Perks – for those who are low on money or love free stuff, or both (which, let’s be honest, is all of us). Some events include food, t-shirts or the like to incentivize you to go. Definitely take advantage of this and be on the lookout for this in event descriptions.
5. Time Commitment – for those in a long-term relationship with the library. Percentage nights are a way to support an organization quickly and effortlessly by allowing you to multitask, but if you want a break from club lib on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, taking an hour or two to play soccer or volleyball might be just what you need.
Pro Tip: Definitely go to at least one event! They’re a fun experience and always support a good cause.