A Cause to Care For: Guest Blog by Brittany Fisher
A Cause to Care For: Getting Involved With Your Local Community
If there’s something you believe is important and you want to advocate for it, the perfect place to start is in your own community. Whether you’re looking to support social justice, neighborhood safety, voter registration, environmental awareness, or something else entirely, getting involved is often straightforward. Here are a few ways to consider, courtesy of You = Me Foundation.
Research
Before you decide on a course of action, your first priority should be to carry out a bit of research. This means learning about the local charities and organizations in your area and deciding which ones (if any) share your views/values. You should also arm yourself with knowledge about your cause and learn about any potential counterarguments and differing points of view so that you’re entering into the process with a well-rounded knowledge, and you’ll be able to speak with others about the ins and outs of the movement.
Volunteer
Arguably the most effective, simple way to support your cause is to volunteer with local organizations. This could mean helping with logistics, administration, sales, crafts, door-to-door action, or simply lending an extra hand; Zelos shows that the roles are almost limitless. Start by reaching out to the organization either by phone or online. It’s also important to remember that many positions do require training, onboarding, or accreditation, so check ahead and be certain of what you may have to undertake before you move forward.
Also, the municipal government is always in need of civic-minded individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and talents. From committees and boards to elected offices, there is always an opportunity for people to make a difference at the local government level.
All too often, people have opinions or complaints but fail to get involved in order to bring about change. Volunteering can be one of the best ways to ensure that your voice is heard - not only by allowing you to share your thoughts and ideas with those in power, but also by representing your community's interests on various boards and committees. Take a stand, get involved, and make a difference!
Donate
Charities and organizations don’t just require monetary funding, many also need the physical resources that people have going spare at home. Reach out to your local front desk and see if they’re interested in clothes, linens, books, cleaning supplies, electronics, or even musical instruments.
If you’re supporting a pet-focused nonprofit, they may need items like pet crates and muzzles. It’s best to check ahead and be certain that what you’re bringing in is going to be useful to the team, since, as Country Living points out, there are some common items that should not be donated. You should also make sure that the items you do donate are in working condition and, most importantly, clean.
Local Events
If you can’t commit on a long-term basis or just want to get a feeling for a charity/organization, local events can be highly useful. Through fundraisers or open days, you can often meet key figures, pick up useful experience and learn more about the cause itself.
To learn when these are taking place, keep an eye on social media announcements and online directories or check local notice boards and newspapers and ask around the community. Once you’ve been to your first event, you may find you develop the connections for future activism.
You can also join a charity you are passionate about and offer to help coordinate an awareness walk. These walks are often done in areas with high foot traffic to keep walkers safe, but also to ensure more exposure.
Form a Nonprofit
Sometimes, the organizations in your area don’t quite satisfy your requirements, in which case it might make sense to create an organization of your own. Before you commit time and resources to this, make sure you read up on the administrative, logistical and financial requirements.
You may, for example, need to apply for grants or public funding to get things off the ground - to do this, you’ll need to form a nonprofit corporation and create bylaws that detail how you’ll operate. These will include how the corporation is governed, how often board meetings are held, how voting works, and any additional rules on conflict of interest.
Market Your Venture and Events with Invitations
Once you’ve started your nonprofit, it’s time to start marketing! In addition to spreading the word via social media, it’s a great idea to put together an invitation for an event you’re hosting that you can share online or print off and hand out to further raise awareness. If you aren’t sure where to begin, look online for an invitation maker to boost your brand that uses free templates and tools to help you get started.
Pitch in to Make a Difference
When there’s a cause you care about, it’s important to show up and take action. Volunteers and self-starters are the key assets that keep the world’s nonprofit sector alive and kicking. Just make sure to carry out plenty of research and go into your new role armed with knowledge.
You = Me Foundation is here to fight inequality, bigotry and racism. Click here if you’d like to donate – and thank you!
Guest blog by Brittany Fisher