Don't Forget to Ask for the Money

From the writing of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz ...

"When the giver is out of the picture, like dust and ashes, 

there is no one above or below him, 

there are no levels of value, 

and the act of giving is spontaneous, natural, and simple."

May we all be so inspiring to all we meet.

The full quote may be found here:
http://arthurkurzweil.com/rabbi-adin-steinsaltz-if-one-is-truly-nothing-in-his-own-eyes/4043

Being Charitable Without an Income

This just rattled my begging bowl! (I always put some change in there to encourage others to donate and to enable me to be charitable as well ... even in these very rough times.)  What do you think?

http://philanthropy.com/article/White-House-Says-Charitable/130862/?sid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en

Here's my reply:

NEED AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION? HOW ABOUT $21/HR. FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER LABOR?

Looking for a bail-out-free economic stimulus? If you volunteered your time to a nonprofit organization, it was worth more than $21/hour (national average, per Independent Sector) in 2010. Would have been great to deduct it, but IRS says you only can deduct your direct expenses.

Please share this petition with your Facebook and Twitter fans, family, etc. Tell your elected official running for or against the incumbent to make this a campaign priority! Something on which they can all agree.

Let's not be romantic about volunteerism. We're really doing essential WORK that in a better economy a person would have been paid to do. Soon it'll be the top bosses with big salaries and volunteers.

America is a great working society, but volunteer labor -- estimated by the Corporation for National Community Service (funny, profit-making sound) accounted for $173 billion in 2010 (up from $168 billion in contributed time in
2009) but not counted in the GDP.

And remember,

No Matter What

Don't Forget to Ask for the Money!

Uber - Super Rich ... Less Rich? Where are you?

An article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy really rattled my begging bowl today for 2 reasons. (I always put in a few coins into the abyss even if no one else will ... just to exercise my own need to be generous!)

The first is the language: "lot less rich" ... Where are we on the economic continuum? Does it run from super-uber rich to super-unter poor? The sky's the limit when we speak about wealth but it's not called "rock" bottom for no reason. Two times broke is still broke. This article is a mirror on the desperate reality that there is a disconnect within the “haves” and “have-nots”. The middle (class) is incapable maintaining balance because of that great sucking sound from above. (Funny ... or not ... that the heavier kid always ends up at the bottom on a see-saw! Is Justice playing a game?)

The second is the lack of concern that we folks who, in addition to cash and non-cash goods, donate our labor / work / expertise / skills / time to “help” nonprofits deserve a tax deduction (currently valued at $21+/hour on the average by Independent Sector), as well as for the material donations (cash, stuff, etc.) Nonprofits are laying-off paid staff due to budgetary issues, but the unspoken reality is that they know there is a pool of free, skilled (or not) labor to fill in the gap. What do volunteers get ... good feelings? Try to take that to the bank when it’s time to pay bills. I hope my petition to the President at the White House website http://wh.gov/8rM will attract some strong attention. Please sign it if you haven't already.

And remember, no matter what

DON'T FORGET TO

ASK FOR THE MONEY!