Giving back in the Spirit of the Season

[Rae Kridel]

It's no surprise, we're all strapped right now, some worse than others. If your business is down and you find yourself with extra time on your hands, consider an altruistic gift that may have an additional benefit. Around this time of year, the Indianapolis Business Journal starts listing the Holiday Wish List for non-profits in town, which started with today's issue on page 34. The list is small so far, but grows every issue till it covers several pages.

How about doing some good with that extra time on your hands? Some non-profits need goods but many need services donated, like PR help, printing services, grant-writing help or some work on their Web site. Pick a non-profit, contact them and offer your time. If you have an extra printer, laminating machine or computer lying around, consider donating that too. We can all use tax deductions and now is the time to get them in before 2009 starts.

But here's the not-so-altruistic part. In doing so, you make some new contacts. And who knows, that might be good for your business too because it's a small town and people know people and they know other people (and to borrow from a really annoying shampoo commercial, and so on and so on and so on). And if you work at a non-profit, GET YOUR LIST IN TO THE IBJ!

[Rae Kridel]

Thanks. This time last year, I didn't have any extra time to do any pro bono work for a non-profit on the list but this year, I plan to pick one that needs some design or marketing help.

[Amy Stark]

Fabulous Post! =)