Everything moves so quickly that it can be hard to take the time to feel the gratitude for all we have going for us. At Thanksgiving we appreciate our good fortune, but it’s also a time to think about donating money to organizations that are doing strong work. If you’re young and haven’t done that sort of thing before it can be intimidating. Here are some thoughts that might help get you in the spirit.
Start Small. There’s nothing wrong with making a $25 or $50 donation—that’s how the process begins. You’re signaling that you care about a cause and you’re starting a relationship with a charity or a non-profit. One day you’ll send more and you might end up getting more involved, donating time or skills, or even sitting on a junior board.
Environment. I feel a responsibility to give back to the places where I fish. When I was younger I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t think that much about that. Climate change means that trout, Atlantic salmon, bonefish and tarpon are under pressure and won’t thrive (or, I’m afraid to say, survive) without support. There are many great organizations, I donate to Trout Unlimited, Bonefish Tarpon Trust and Atlantic Salmon Federation.
Altruistic. This is a time to think about people who can use our help, who need food, clothes and shelter. City Harvest has been doing great work in New York for 40 years. My friend Randy Goldberg whose company works with homeless shelters across the country recommends City Relief and Human.nyc as really good organizations here in the city.
Cultural. Do you have strong connections to a public radio station, museum, garden, library or cinema? Maybe there’s a place you visit every time you go to Boston or San Francisco or Minneapolis? Your parents always took you to the opera, then think about making a donation to the Met in their name.
If there are organizations you support please mention them in the comment section. I think other readers would be interested to read about good causes.
YEAR-END TIPPING
Beyond larger organizations, there are also the people in your life. There will always be questions about tipping because it’s not an exact science. There’s one basic principle that should guide the process: Either you’re a person who tries to be generous and wants to tip well, or you’re a person who tries to do the least he can get away with. Certainly we all aspire to be the former. And that means tipping at the end of each year.
If you live in a big city then there are people you see on a regular basis who make your life easier. Your dry cleaner, your barber, the very good restaurant host, your housekeeper, your doorman. That’s a good thing—you live a full life!—and it’s important to give them something. Sometimes we don’t know what to do and out of fear of awkwardness don’t do anything. Well my feeling is $20 is always better than $0.
Now I’m not telling you exactly how to do this. I didn’t live in a doorman building until last year and am trying to sort it out myself. But trying to do the right thing is a good first step—sometimes we avoid this because we think we’re not doing it right.
A good first step is to put cash in an envelope—that makes it much more natural and just better. Don’t hand people cash like they’re the host at the Copa Cabana. For a housekeeper I would say whatever you pay for a typical day then give that amount (if it’s $100 each time then give them $100). A doorman is harder, especially since you might have more than one. I think the range can be $20-80 depending on how well you know them, how much they do for you, how personal your relationship is. If you tip your super throughout the year then a smaller tip at the end, but also $50-100 is probably good.
I think it’s nice to give $20 to your dry cleaner or barber or anybody else you see on a regular basis. If you know your barber loves whisky then give him a bottle of whisky. You’re telling people that you see them, appreciate them and that you’re happy to have them in your life. That should happen more often than it does, which is why it’s even important to take the time to say thank you.
Also, be sure to tip your mail carrier for the Holidays—hard job—don’t take your mail carrier for granted!
Your local public library is always a great choice. Collection materials, programming--especially youth and childhood literacy initiatives. Community centers are always grateful for one's time and assistance in any of their honorable endeavors. Thank you, David.