In this final post of 2013, I asked a few people for their tips on keeping generosity alive in 2014. These are real people with really practical ideas.

Here are my two favorite.

Easy ways to keep Giving Tuesday generosity alive in 2014

1. Explore payroll deduction

   “If your employer has a program setup, make charitable contributions through payroll deductions. The advantages of this are:

   • It is much easier than having to write a check or enter your credit card online
   • It makes it easier to consistently donate, once you set it up, you don’t have to worry about it anymore
   • It makes your contributions more valuable if your employer has a matching program
   • At the end of the year, you have a record of exactly how much you gave for tax purposes
   • You can typically choose from a variety of organizations (both local and national) to give to

   Click Here for more information on how to give through payroll deductions.”

   Jay Kelly, VP-Operations, Social Media Explorer

2. Don’t wait for “influencers”

   “Be generous with your invitations; everyone has something to offer.

   “In this social media realm of experts, followers and Klout, it’s tempting to only extend opportunities and partnerships to certain ‘influencers.’ But this year, I’ve been amazed and humbled by what less ‘established’ people offer when invited to contribute. Be open to giving everyone a chance; the potential rewards are worth it.”

   Marlene Oliveira, Founder and Managing Editor, Nonprofit MarCommunity

What will you resolve?

Those are a couple ideas for helping keep generosity alive in 2014. What will you resolve to do?

Tell us in the comments!

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Read more about Social Media Explorer’s #GivingTuesday program.

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But it also means that we often “miss” disasters once the news cycle rolls on. Disasters like the one in West, a town in Texas. On April 17, a fertilizer plant explosion damaged a 37-block area of the town, leaving 15 dead, over 200 injured, and destroying hundreds of homes.

So far, about $1.3 million has been raised. The estimated damage costs top $200 million.

In a recent newspaper article, Karen Bernsen, the interim executive director of the West Long-Term Recovery Committee said:

“They want to come back to what they know. They want to come back to church on Sunday, lunch at the community center, coffee at the bakery. It’s just going to take some time to get back to what they know.”

Will you help them get back to what they know?

Make a donation today

Donations for West’s Long-Term Recovery are being handled through the Waco Foundation at their donation page here: Donate to West’s Recovery.

To learn more about the recovery and what you can do to help, visit the West Long-Term Recovery Committee website or check out their page on Facebook.

Here’s a slideshow of images related to the explosion shared by a local news station:

Tell Social Media Explorer about My Donation for Aggregated Reporting Purposes Here

Read more about Social Media Explorer’s #GivingTuesday program.

The post West, Texas – #GivingTuesday appeared first on Social Media Explorer.