As we enjoy the holiday season, gratitude and giving take center stage as people connect with friends and family.
Gratitude can be thought of as “recognizing and acknowledging the good things that happen resulting in a state of appreciation.” "When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."- Maya Angelou
Having spent my career in nonprofit organizations, I see how giving, philanthropy, plays a critical role in mission delivery. The Oxford Dictionary defines philanthropy as “the desire to promote the welfare of others.”
Nonprofits skillfully steward resources, seeking diverse funding sources and partnerships to fuel their missions. Even with generous support of grants, foundations and sponsorships, there are always gaps to fill, and that’s when philanthropy powers our ability to serve community.
In the last year, philanthropic gifts to Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota:
- Enhanced our computer lab and digital literacy programs to help people increase earning potential and access more jobs.
- Funded community needs assessments to assess future workforce skills demand.
- Supported a new text-for-services function that 500+ people connected with us for career resources.
- Allowed us to expand our services and programs by adding a new campus.
We’ve been creating career possibilities together since 1919 and philanthropy is an important value-add piece of our funding portfolio. With donors’ support, we can do more together.
Giving positively affects our brains. When we volunteer or donate, the brain lights up with serotonin, dopamine and endorphins that positively affect how we feel. Donating time, energy and ideas through volunteerism is a gift to nonprofits and the community.
In this season of gratitude and giving, consider giving to a nonprofit whose mission and service inspire you.
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota is truly grateful to the thousands of people who support our organization: people dropping donations at our stores, customers shopping secondhand to help fund our mission, donors and funding sources, alongside our dedicated Boards, employees and partners.
With gratitude,
Michael Wirth-Davis, DPA
President & CEO