1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to find your cause. The world has 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: so many needs and it's hard to know how to 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: make a difference. One approach is to do what you 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: can anytime you receive a request. But I'd encourage you 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: to be a bit more strategic. Finding one cause to 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: go all in on can feel more rewarding, which means 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: you'll wind up giving more generously than you would otherwise. 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: If you already have a cause you're devoted to great, 11 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: I'd encourage you to go deeper. Can you double your contributions? 12 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: Could you make a bigger volunteer commitment once a week 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: or more? But if you're not yet sure how to 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: direct your giving, keep listening. Think about what gives you've 15 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: most worked up. What topics can you talk about and 16 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: read about for hours? It might help to think about 17 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: topics that have always interested you but aren't directly related 18 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: to your work. For instance, I'm drawn to issues of 19 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: healthy eating and food insecurity, even though these aren't topics 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: I write or speak about. I know a lot of 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: people are moved by the cause of anti racism, or 22 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: maybe children's well being in the face of a pandemic 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: response that has taken so many protections and supports away 24 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: from children. Once you've zeroed in on something that makes 25 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: you want to learn more, research organizations that are doing 26 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: good work on the issue. I'm partial to ones that 27 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: are involved in your local area because you'll be able 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: to get more personally involved, but there's a good case 29 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: for looking at organizations that do good work on a 30 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: national or global scale too. Look at the ones you've 31 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: heard about, but google articles on the topic and see 32 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: who else is listed as well. Then visit their websites, 33 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: read about their missions and programs. Check out the board 34 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: lists and donor lists. When you see that individuals or 35 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: institutions you respect or support the organization with time and money, 36 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: that's a vote of confidence. You might also consult their 37 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: I R s for or the Profile and Guide Stars 38 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: nonprofit directory. After you found an organization you think could 39 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: be a good fit, get involved, sign up for their newsletter, 40 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: make a donation, and I really think this is important, volunteer. 41 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: As you do, you can get to know the staff 42 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: and other volunteers and those who benefit from the organization's work. 43 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: If you do this over time, you will probably find 44 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: yourself giving more and more of your time and money 45 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: to support the organization, even telling your friends about it 46 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: or serving as a volunteer leader or board member. It 47 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: is satisfying to provide significant support to an organization that 48 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: you believe is doing good work, and by concentrating your 49 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: efforts and gifts on a single organization or at most two, 50 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: you're able to see more of an impact than if 51 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: your support is more dispersed. Some families get involved to 52 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: gather maybe you and your adult siblings or you and 53 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: your kids. Some faith communities and workplaces support particular organizations, 54 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: and you might find it rewarding to volunteer alongside people 55 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: you're already connected with, or you might enjoy the new 56 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: relationships and experiences you have through an independent connection to 57 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: a nonprofit. It can be a great way to expand 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: your circle now I know. There are various utilitarian arguments 59 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: about giving to the places where you know a dollar 60 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: will go furthest which tends to be relief for health 61 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: organizations working in developing countries. There's also the question of 62 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: why our own satisfaction and sense of meaning should guide 63 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: giving it all. Perhaps It sounds selfish that we want 64 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: to see actual impact, and yet the world will always 65 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: have more problems than any of us can solve. None 66 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: of us can solve everything. Choosing one cause inevitably means 67 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: not choosing others. But when we feel more connected to 68 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: a cause, we feel compelled to do more. Making real 69 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: impact in one small space is worth celebrating whatever other 70 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: causes still exist. So what's your cause? You can tell 71 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: me about how you got involved and the impact the 72 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: organization is having on its beneficiaries and on you. You You 73 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: can reach me at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart 74 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: media dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks 75 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 76 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 77 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 78 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod 79 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: that's the number four then Breakfast p o D. You 80 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast 81 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: at i heeart media dot com. That Before Breakfast is 82 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, I 83 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a 84 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: production of I Heart Radio For more podcasts from I 85 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, 86 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.