Aug 10, 2010

Who Wants Free $$
(To Donate, That Is)!?

I wrote very recently about my awesome experiences at the Future of Jewish Nonprofit Summit in New York City, which was hosted by Social Media and Nonprofit guru Dave Weinberg. Most specifically, I wrote about DonorsChoose.org, which helps classrooms all over the country to meet their financial goals for projects on such things as salmon, the Holocaust, and the Great Gatsby (to name just a few, of course). DonorsChoose provided those of us in attendance with $10 to use on the site, so we could get started and really feel the goodness of giving (it's easier to give when it isn't your own money, right?) and hopefully inspire some of us to continue giving (I helped a friend meet his classroom's goal of math supplies!).

So I'm here to pay it forward, and hopefully, I can inspire some of you to start giving, too. I truly think that giving once (in this case it's free money) can really spark your neshama into a constant effort of tzedakah (charity).

GIVEAWAY: I have TWO $10 DonorsChoose gift cards to TWO individuals. The winners (that is, GIVERS!) will be chosen at random from individuals who comment below. You will get the gift card information via email, at which time you'll head to DonorsChoose, pick a project, and give your $10. The result should be a feeling of great pride, mitzvah awesomeness, and hopefully, as I said, an urge to give again and more often.

TO ENTER: When you comment, to fulfill your chance at $10 to give at DonorsChoose.org, you have to write about either an experience in which you gave (whether charity or time) that truly impacted you OR about a project on DonorsChoose.org to which you plan to give your $10. 

GIVEAWAY ENDS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2010, AT 6 PM EST. 

Nu? What are you waiting for? Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, and everywhere else. 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I gave $50 through Kiva to get a small sewing business going. I looked through the listings and the woman was $50 away from her goal and had been for quite a while. I donated and she was on her way. So far she's been paying enough back that I almost have my $50 back. When I do I'm going to give it to somebody else.

Risa Tzohar said...

Interesting idea. Count me in for the giveaway.

Claire (@sparklebooth) said...

I would love to donate money to a project in my hometown, Ellijay. There is an ESOL teacher there who needs some vocabulary flashcards. $10 wouldn't be much, but it might encourage others to give as well (sort of how you put some $ in the tip jar so people won't feel weird about being the first ones). The project is here: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=395010&verify=-303925659 - and I'll match the donation.

The sweet babies in the picture are so precious.

Suburban Sweetheart said...

What a great giveaway! I'd like to donate to "Let's Talk About Sex," a project at a high-poverty North Carolina school, to help students learn the risks of sex. And what better way to put an end to the abortion debate than to decrease the number of unwanted teen pregnancies? I think sexuality education is woefully underrated & underfunded, especially in low-income areas - where it's needed most!

TMC said...

Excellent idea!

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=392463&more=true

I'd like to give a little bit to Ms. V's room. (see link above)
My mom is an amazing kindergarten teacher. I know it isn't an easy job, and I know that it's common for teachers to have to buy their own supplies and tools. These workstations for science, math, language are an important and effective way to teach the kids at their level.

KR said...

I'd love this for my project. This technology would be wonderful for my kinderkids. DonorsChoose is the ONLY way this can happen.
(Plus the 17th is really my birthday! Would be awesome to win!)
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=402893

mj.coward@gmail.com

maculated said...

I was in the middle of trying to build a non-profit climbing gym two years ago and we were coming up short on money. I'd just finished the chapter on tzedakah in The Committed Life and decided that even though I really couldn't afford it, I would finally donate to Kiva as I always wanted to. Within a week, I had a check for the climbing gym funds that was 1000% more what I had donated and it was so concretely wonderful that ever since, I always give more than I really ought to and it feels wonderful.

SusQHB said...

I think DonorsChoose is awesome because so many of my teacher friends are stuck paying out of pocket for all those little things they need in their classrooms. I would visit the site and find a classroom that's goal is nearly met so I could put those students one step closer to meeting their fundraising goal and making a big impact on their young lives! And I'd dedicate the donation in honor of my Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Broccolo. Because she put up with my BS for not one, but two years. And let me tell you, a 5-year-old Susanne was NOT an easy student. Props to Mrs. Broccolo!

PS Yes, I was held back. You got a problem with that?!

Mottel said...

In my experience, the most meaningful time I've donated has been the time spent in Camp Gan Yisroel - Lithuania. Most of the campers come from broken homes and with crazy stories. The experience of bonding with those kids and making a difference in their lives has forever changed mine . . .

Allyson Maiolo said...

I have several projects on DC right now. I don't necessarily want to win :) but maybe somebody is looking for a place to spend their winnings! ;)

http://www.donorschoose.org/mrsmaiolo

Keith Wysocki said...

Some friends and I recently ran the Cincinnati Half Marathon as a fundraiser for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). It was really moving to get to meet people from the ALS Association after the run and see how excited they were about our participation. I am currently preparing for the Omaha Half Marathon and hope to raise more money for ALS.

Chaviva Gordon-Bennett said...

I've chosen WINNERS! Check the blog's main page to find out who ...

KR said...

Congrats to the winners!!

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