Full-disclosure: Trying to muster up the motivation to blog since by Grandma passed away has been difficult. In reality, trying to muster up the motivation to do anything but drink entirely too much wine has been slightly difficult. Knowing she won’t be reading and that she won’t be calling me to chat about whatever it is I posted has kind of taken the fun out of it for me. But I think it is time to get back on the horse and get the party started once again.

Losing a loved one is a crazy experience. So many people will tell you that it gets easier with time. In my opinion, that’s a lie. It actually gets worse but in a different way. But life doesn’t stop and that unfortunately is one of the hardest parts. As life moved on, my inbox continued to fill up and one such email caught my attention in the midst of my Eeyore-like misery when I swear a rain cloud was just floating above my head. The subject read “Charitable Giving Is About Intent, Not Amount.” That sounds kind of like my personal mantra so I opened it. The email was in regard to a book called “How to Save the World on $5 a Day: A Parable of Personal Philanthropy” by Fred Lawrence Feldman. My interest was piqued and a copy made its way to my doorstep. I had the opportunity to ask the author a few questions about the book and giving in general and I am thrilled to be able share his message with you.

I’ll be honest, the book itself reads like a cheesy Lifetime movie. I love a good cheesy movie so I was all about the book. It’s a quick read infused with various lessons that ideally people will apply to their own lives. I see the book itself being a great read for older children or teens and a great teaching tool for parents, church groups or teachers to use to encourage kids to give back. It’s not a really intellectual read but I love any attempt to spread the message that we all can give back and it doesn’t really matter what you do or how much you give as long as you have a passion for what you are doing.

Without further ado here’s what Mr. Feldman had to say…

Me: You have a long history in fund-raising and charitable work. Why did you feel like the message in this book was so crucial to share based on your experience over the years and why did you want to present the message in this format?

I felt the message in this book was crucial to share because we’re the only species on the planet with the impulse to give. Parables on the value of charitable giving are in every religion and culture. What drives that? Why do we put such value on altruism – often to total strangers? I wanted to address that question. I chose the fiction format of a parable to deliver my message on the benefits of mindful charitable giving because I wanted How to Save the World on $5 a Day to be entertaining. I want to keep my readers turning the pages to find out what’s going to happen in the story – all the while discovering how their charitable giving can be a pathway to enlightenment.

Me: “Charitable giving is no longer perceived as a privilege and a pleasure, but a duty that provides us with about as much satisfaction as dashing off a check to the electric company.” Why do you think that is and how can people change the way they perceive charitable giving?

The heart and soul of How to Save the World on $5 a Day can be summed up in 10 simple words: When it comes to giving, it’s the thought that counts. Taken the obvious way, the cliché way, that’s simply a way of saying it’s nice to be nice to others; the Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That relegates charitable giving to being something you ought to do; that’s what I mean when I say we have come to see giving as a duty.

But viewed through the lens of mindfulness, the idea that when it comes to giving, it’s the thought that counts becomes a mind-blowing epiphany.

Being mindful and present during our acts of giving allows us to see the world with new eyes. If we dash off a check to a charity as if we were paying the electric bill, it’s merely the cliché aspect of following the Golden Rule that I’ve described above. It’s admirable, but it won’t change your world, which means it won’t change the world, since the world manifests itself according to how each of us perceive it. However, if we follow the tips in my book to treat our act of giving as a meditation, we will see our world – hence, the world – with new eyes.

Me: Many people are skeptical or less inclined to give because of the small proportion of money that goes to the actual cause. As someone who has worked with various charitable organizations what would you say to someone who was reluctant to give for that reason?

There are a number of online sites easily found via Google that rate charities on their accountability and wise stewardship of contributors’ dollars. Also, most charity websites have a page providing financial information, including breakdowns of where the money goes. In my experience the vast majority of major charities are above-board and worthy of the public’s support. 

Me: “The secret is not how much you give. It’s how you give…” How would you encourage people to find a cause that they can truly be passionate about?

One way is to be loyal to a charity. It may sound odd to think of being loyal to a charity the way you might be loyal to your favorite sports team, but those who get the most out of giving are those who are their cause’s greatest fans. Find a charity that resonates with you and stick with it. Build connections between yourself and the cause by spending time on its website, exploring links, perhaps advocating on its behalf, participating in its events (walks, runs, biking, etc.), and maybe even volunteering.

Or, simply contribute financially, but root for your charity to ‘win’ – and you’ll experience far more emotional pleasure when your charity shares with you the good news of victories earned with your help, and personal involvement when you’re informed of challenges still to be met.

 “You can prosper in mind, body and spirit by perfecting the art of personal philanthropy” People often give to help others and neglect to realize the positive benefits they will get from the act itself. What do you think are the best side effects of giving for the giver?

In the book, one of the characters talks about what I call the Charitable Lifeline. Our lifeline runs across our palm. It’s said to represent our physical vitality. In a similar way, I think that crease across our palm symbolizes our Charitable Lifeline. It represents our spiritual vitality and the state of our connectivity to the world.

Everybody knows that being connected to others is a good thing when it comes to work and social life. Connectivity is paramount in one’s spiritual life as well. I think our Charitable Lifeline runs from left to right across our palm:  “Generosity → Giving → Positive action→ Gratitude →Satisfaction.”

You can get yourself in a mindset where you feel generous, so you give.  Next, you get an emotional charge from taking a positive action. And when you receive or simply visualize the gratitude of whoever or whatever it was you helped, you feel satisfaction.

Those steps along the Charitable Lifeline get you connected to yourself, to the cause you helped, and to the world – provided you invest yourself by savoring the experience and paying full attention to your giving. You can travel the path of the Charitable Lifeline and experience its benefits by involving yourself in any charity you choose, whether it’s close to home or halfway around the world… All it takes is being fully aware and attentive during your moments of giving.

Fred Lawrence Feldman is a professional fund-raising consultant who has worked with charities like Habitat for Humanity and the Alzheimer’s Association. He has helped raise millions of dollars for various charities and has seen firsthand how and why people give.

*I was provided a copy of this book under no obligation to review it or to speak positively about it. All opinions expressed are my own.