According to the book, "Millionaire Mindset" (Thomas J. Stanley) - as well as other books about how millionaires think - most millionaires are very charitable, sit on the committee of many non-profit organizations, and are actively involved in their community. The cynic in you might think its all for marketing and PR. The truth is, people who make a lot of money are some of the most giving people you'll ever meet. In fact, most millionaires were giving people before they made their riches. And non-profits can use all the help they can get, especially from entrepreneurs and artists.
If you're an entrepreneur, your skills and knowledge can really go a long way in helping non-profits stay sustainable. If you have good marketing skills, perhaps you should think about donating some time to help build a branding campaign for a local charity. If you're good at accounting, donate time to help out with fundraising, or bookkeeping for a non-profit. If you're a lawyer, perhaps you can help write grant.
Even creative people can get in on the action. If you're an artist, you can help gather local artists to put together a silent auction. If you're a web designer, you can help build a website that can take in donations, or sell merchandise. If you're a musician, you can help put together a fundraising concert.
Now, if I can't appeal to your altruistic side, perhaps I can appeal to the entrepreneur in you. Volunteering and being charitable is actually very good for business. First of all, as I said, there are many affluent people involved in charity, which means it's a great place for networking. Being charitable can also do wonders for your brand. And think of the free press you would get if you donated a significant chunk of change for a charity, or were elected to their board. Volunteering is also great as a team building exercise.
Even if you're unemployed - or especially because you're unemployed - volunteering can give you a sense of purpose, and it's a great way of meeting new people.
Hopefully, you would volunteer for altruistic reason.
Many millionaires say they give time or money to charities because it’s a way to stay grounded, and to stay connected to the community they live in. Some just have a big heart. Some may not do it for altruistic reasons, but I doubt the charities mind. I think staying grounded and staying connected to the community is a good thing regardless of your income. The fact is, regardless of the reason or income level, non-profits can use all the help they can get. Especially yours.
Young B. Kim is a writer, artist, serial entrepreneur, and the creator of ideavist™. Young's mission is to help people make their ideas happen through his writing, coaching, consultations, and through speaking engagements on creativity, productivity, and entrepreneurship.
Read more of his articles, visit www.ideavist.com