Charities Review Council - Featured Smart Giver: Joanne Kendall

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Featured Smart Giver: Joanne Kendall

Why do you give?

I feel as though I knew about the importance of giving before I could articulate it. As a toddler, with my parents at Sunday worship services, I watched wide-eyed as the wooden plate filled with offering envelopes was passed down the row of worshippers. A year or two later, I was given a nickel by my father or mother to drop in the plate myself. Soon, my offering came out of my 50-cent weekly allowance. I was old enough to drop my dime into the offering plate myself and pass it to the person sitting next to me.

The short answer...giving, modeled first by my parents, is something I have done for causes of personal importance - my church, my college, my community, and now to causes working for changes I would like to see made in the world - educational, political, social or environmental.

Why do you think giving is important?

I give now because I have grown increasingly aware of the inequities in our world and have found many organizations committed to balancing some of them. I know, also, that I can't personally do the work these groups are involved in, but I can give monetary support to assist in that balancing.

What do you look for in an organization that you’d like to support?

My first question is always "What proportion of the contributions an organization receives go directly to address the stated mission?"

What about your experience working with charitable organizations?

I have had the privilege and challenge of developing a program to encourage, work with and recognize donors giving to a long-term care organization. The facility and its care-giving program were established almost 40 years earlier. Understanding the donors’ interests, keeping accurate records of their donations and recognizing their generosity are key factors in fundraising success. When I began working in development, I expected organizations on my own giving list to be doing those things well.

What advice would you give to other potential donors?

Be careful that you are not solely attracted to a dramatic need or a well-told case for giving. There are an increasing number of ways to determine whether the gift you give will be used well. The Charities Review Council is one the first places I go when researching an organization to which I'm considering giving. The Council’s aim is clear and concise: "helping donors make informed giving choices and building strong, accountable and ethical charities." I have made phone inquiries to the Council as well as using the helpful information provided by both the Smart Giver website and the Smart Giver newsletter. If the organization in which I'm interested has not been reviewed by the Council or by another credible review organization, I do not give.

What has been your best giving experience?

Participating in a new Christmas giving tradition in our family has been a wonderful experience. For the past seven years, our four families have not given gifts to the adults. Rather, each family donates to one or several charities of their choosing. They then write a brief description of the work of the organization and why it was chosen. For several years now, these narratives have been exchanged by email if we cannot be together during the holidays. We all take time before opening gifts received from others to share how our gifts are supporting important causes. My five grandchildren, now mid-teens to early 20s, are becoming increasingly involved in choosing the charities to which their families give.

What can donors do to strengthen non-profits?

Donors can be open and specific about their giving motivation and interests to help establish a strong relationship with the organization.

Donors should ask probing questions about how their donations will be used. Refusing to provide a direct answer should be considered a red flag and ought to prompt the donor to do more research of the organization before giving.

Although it shouldn’t be the primary motivation for giving, organizations should recognize their donors through personal thank-you notes or phone calls. Listing the names of donors in a publication shows a commitment to accurate record keeping (and is a good way for the donor to verify that a gift was received). Organizations that keep in touch or inform donors of organizational programs and events at least annually are telling donors that, "This organization cares about you and understands and values our partnership.”