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Mary's Christianity Blog

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide to Christianity since 2005

4 Ways to Maximize Your Charitable Giving in a Receding Economy

Friday December 5, 2008
Maximize Your Charitable Giving
Photo: Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
With a declining economy and recession fears on the rise, even the most generous donors are trimming back on their charitable giving this year. More than ever, it's important to choose wisely by giving only to trustworthy and reliable charities.

Some Christians may feel they have to choose between charitable giving and gift giving in today's tough economy. However, one top rated charity is making a unique effort to help Christian families stretch their holiday dollars. I've learned that Compassion International (a Christian child development organization) is partnering with Christian Book Distributors this holiday season. If you sign up online to sponsor a Compassion International child before December 31, 2008, you will receive a $25 gift card to Christianbook.com. The gift card can then be given as a gift, or used to do your Christmas shopping.

Here are a few more simple tips to help maximize your donations and make the most impact with your charitable giving this holiday season:

• Read: How to Maximize Your Charitable Giving
• Also:
Top Christmas Charities

Comments

December 6, 2008 at 1:12 pm
(1) Chris Bradley says:

Hi Mary, glad you gave the charity navigator b/c I think we need to be good stewards into the charities we do give to. I have tough time giving into any ministry that doesnt want to open their books.

Also, in addition to giving to charities, we like to give to families that are struggling this time of the year, we let them know this is the love of God working through us.

Chris

December 8, 2008 at 8:40 am
(2) Mary says:

Hi Chris -

I agree about giving to needy families. In fact, I mention that in the “maximize your giving” article. One of the best Christmas memories in our family is the year we “adopted” a single mom. My friend was barely making ends meet and didn’t have money to buy gifts for her small child. Together with my husband’s family we bought gifts for both of them and replaced her broken down washing machine the week of Christmas.

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