I once worked for a large urban church in downtown Chicago, which hosted a fancy fund-raiser every year. At a certain point in the evening, the host invited the crowd to raise a wooden paddle in a show of open-ended giving: Who wants to donate $500? What about $1,500? Any takers for $5,000? My twenty-two-year-old self wondered if I’d ever be in a financial position to write that kind of check, and I viewed my paltry $25 a year donation as insignificant in comparison.
But that’s all I could afford on a shoestring budget, and I know lots of other people are in the same boat. I felt self-conscious about giving only a little bit of money here and there; however, there’s no reason to be embarrassed. A donation is a donation, regardless of the amount. Philanthropy is less about how much you give to a cause or organization, and more about your willingness to be consistent, informed, and active, whether you choose to donate your time or money or both. You don’t have to wait until you’re a millionaire before you decide to give back, and donating small amounts of money is entirely possible—and worthwhile—without going broke.