It’s been said that God loves a cheerful giver, but there’s nothing wrong with being a smart giver as well. One way to know that a donation is being used for the intended purpose is to give locally.
This week, the United Way of Central Kansas “thermometer” was raised to over 20 percent, which means there is still something close to 80 percent left to raise. There are 21 local agencies that benefit from donations to this united fund, and 99 percent of the money donated stays in our communities. For more information, check out the website uwck.org.
Another vehicle for giving locally is the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Executive Director Christy Tustin told a local civic club Wednesday there are many reasons donors use the foundation, whether considering year-end gifts or legacy giving. For immediate needs, the GBCF plans to copy of “Fairy Godmother” program in Manhattan by enlisting local “Prairie Godmothers.”  This is a program of women helping women in ways that local charities typically don’t. (Example, a single mom needs a new car battery so she can keep her job.) For creating a lasting legacy, GBCF is promoting an idea called Keep 5 in Kansas (keepfiveinkansas.com), which encourages individuals to leave 5 percent of their estate to their local community foundation. They can choose how the money is used, or make an unrestricted gift to the fund of their choosing.
There’s nothing wrong with giving to national or global causes, but it’s great knowing exactly where the money is going.
Other opportunities for local giving abound. A good way to learn about upcoming fundraisers is to read your local newspaper, by the way.