A Message from the President of SHARED

Ten Ways to Get Better at Giving Back

Dear Friends,

Do your New Year's Resolutions include getting better at giving back? Here are ten ideas for you to meet and exceed your own expectations.  They are a great way to start the New Year.

1. Commit to making a monthly, tax-deductible donation to SHARED in any amount that is comfortable for you.  Address 12 envelopes to SHARED and put them with your other monthly bills so that you will remember to mail a check once a month.  If you would rather charge your contribution , set up your donation on our secure web site or as an electronic payment through your bank.  Your donation will be automatic and hassle-free.

2. Make a one-time donation .  Instead of waiting for the end of the year to contribute, start off the year with a contribution that will give you satisfaction for all 365 days in 2011.

3. Volunteer!   We are always looking for volunteers to help us organize events or provide other skills essential to running our organization.  What time and talent can you offer to help the people we serve?

4. Organize a fund raising event of your own and donate the proceeds to SHARED.  Bring together family, friends, colleagues, or peers who care about improving global health and hold a yard sale or bake sale.  Use your imagination and generate some fun while fundraising for SHARED.

5. Create some connections . Know people who would be interested in learning more about SHARED?  Introduce those people to us via our web site , email , or telephone and let's see where the introductions lead.

6. Attend a fund raising event .  SHARED hosts various events throughout the year.  Join us, meet our team, and learn more about the important work that we do providing medicines, medical equipment and supplies to people in need.

7. Forward our web site address to your contacts and ask them to support SHARED.   Surely you know people who would be interested in our work.  Please share this email with them and encourage them to do the same.

8. Become a friend on Facebook.   We are working hard to improve our Facebook page to find out what is important to you in the world of global health and the work we do.  Friend us today!

9. Share your ideas with us .  We are always interested in new fundraising ideas, different ways to engage our volunteers and supporters, and better ways to run the organization.  Contact us and lend us your creative energy. 

10.    Borrow or buy The Complete Idiot's Guide to Giving Back . There are countless ways to get better at giving back and the Guide to Giving Back provides lots of information about the nonprofit sector, ways to organize your charitable giving, ways to give back, and much more.  I should know - I wrote the book!

Regardless of whether you choose to follow any or all of these suggestions, the important thing is to do something to give back to the world in which we live.  Together we can change the world, one person, one child at a time. 

With best wishes,

Elizabeth A. Ziemba
President