This Spring, Take a Fresh Look at How You Give Back to Your Community

Spring is a time for renewal and growth. Whether we’re spring cleaning or preparing our taxes, many of us are taking stock of where we’ve been and taking a fresh look at where we want to be in the future. Spring is also the perfect time to take a fresh look at how you give back to the people and causes you care about in your community.

There are many ways to give back: Volunteering at a local nonprofit, making a gift or opening a charitable fund, mentoring someone who can benefit from your expertise, or advocating for an issue you’re passionate about. Many people associate philanthropy with giving large sums of money, but philanthropy takes many forms. This season, I encourage you to spend some time thinking “outside the box” about your philanthropy, paying particular attention to three concepts: Community, legacy and impact.

Community

Individual giving is important, but giving back can be even more rewarding when you surround yourself with a community of like-mind- ed people. Join the board of a local nonprofit whose mission you care about; bring your family and friends together to launch a giving circle, pooling your dollars to support a particular cause; or get involved with groups like the Friends of the African American Philanthropy Committee of the Cleveland Foundation, which brings together philanthropic-minded individuals in Greater Cleveland.

Legacy

Over the course of my career, I have advised many individuals and families who want to leave a legacy of generosity. Whether you are passionate about helping young people, supporting arts and culture, protecting the environment, or something else entirely, consider the many ways you can make a difference in that area – and build your personal philanthropic brand around these issues to amplify your impact. For example, if you already give money to a scholarship fund, consider additional ways you might help students succeed – like joining an advisory board, advocating for college affordability, or serving as a mentor.

by Terri Bradford Eason

Impact

There are many urgent needs and opportunities in our communities today, and all of us have the ability to make an impact. Take time to learn about the issues that matter to you as well as the people and nonprofit organizations who are working on those issues. What are the biggest challenges they face? What resources or support do they need most? Then, consider what you can bring to the table to make a difference. Maybe you have financial resources, expertise in a particular field, or a powerful personal or professional network – these are all valuable tools that can help you give back in an impactful way.

No matter how you choose to give back, take time every once in a while to reflect and evaluate what you’ve done and what you might do in the next season of your life. Consider the legacy you want to build and the impact you want to make. And be sure to tap into your community –friends, family, colleagues and professional advisors – for advice, ideas and fellowship along the way.

by Kayla Lowery

Stepping into the business world, I have learned the importance of having a LinkedIn account.

In my junior year of high school, I dabbled in the LinkedIn realm, almost humorously, just to check it out and see what the ‘holy grail’ of networking was all about. After creating an account, the feeling of confusion overwhelmed me as pop-ups appeared (possible connections). The question of who I am and what I want to do, and so much more flooded me as an introduction. I found myself stuck. The account ultimately lasted around a week. Nothing but my name and an empty screen was left, opening me up to a shut door.

As I entered my sophomore year of college, I began rubbing my hands together, preparing to finally sit down and be the professional woman I aspire to be. As I revived my account, I arrived right back where I began. While all of this can still be nerve-wracking, I started with my photo. This photo already gives me the headspace that this account is now in action and the motivation for me to fill in the gaps so those looking can know who the face is. Following the steps that LinkedIn clearly lays out for you, moves can be made to turn that empty account into a beautiful place to breed your future.

Starting with your “headline” this will be one of the first items viewers can see on your page. This can be a short but sweet synopsis of where you are in life and what you ultimately aspire to experience. For example, something as simple as “I am a sophomore finance major aspiring to be a lawyer” can be a great way to get your point across. Next follows your “summary,” where you can put the meat of who you are and your hopeful goals for your future.

Following the LinkedIn pop-ups will lead you to “experiences,” where you include all jobs and internships you have had, listing them from most recent to the earliest. Going forward, add all education you have received, both past and present. Ensure you include all volunteer experiences and any certifications or licenses you may have. Fortunately, LinkedIn allows you to state your skill sets and how you can help best in the workspace. I personally took the opportunity to take the skill set quizzes on topics such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, where a series of questions were asked. If you scored within a specific range, a badge could be seen on your account to show possible employers that these particular areas are where you can be of great assistance.

Setting up my account only took around an hour, including quizzes and fine-tuning. With time and desire, you can make your account precisely what you need it to be.

Happy networking!