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Column 5

Daily Camera

Enid Ablowitz

It’s all about money, isn’t it?

We work. We spend. We save.  We give?

Well, some do, and some don’t.  Our attitudes toward money reveal a lot about who we are. Why do we spend so much time trying to acquire it?   Money has no intrinsic value; it represents security, status and pleasure, and if we let it, satisfaction, fulfillment and purpose.  Too little of it can cause hardship and pain. Too much can encourage excessive consumption, laziness, dependence and arrogance. Finding a balance is each person’s challenge, and each person has a unique relationship with his or her money.

Giving is about sharing wealth.  What does the word wealthy mean to you? Does it mean having more income that you need to pay your bills? Is someone wealthy if they have $10,000 in their savings account?  $100,000 in assets?  A house worth $500,000?  An estate worth a million dollars?

For months, a book called The Millionaire Next Door was on the New York Times bestseller list. It challenged some of the misconceptions about wealth.  The guy driving the Mercedes might be just squeaking by each month to make his lease payments; the guy in the pick-up might own it free and clear.  The point is, wealth is relative, and is not always about lifestyle. 

In a culture where money is a measure of worth, as incomes increase, there is a correlating ‘need’ for more ‘things.’ Alternatively, being wealthy can mean having a sense of the abundance of life and love, and of being secure.  Prosperity isn’t always about having more money, and those who achieve that kind of equilibrium are more likely to be givers.

So, you don’t have to be rich to give. In fact, as a percentage of income, those with limited resources are more generous. We hear lots about high-profile donors making 7,8 and 9 figure gifts, or establishing major new foundations. But there’s a place for those of us who want to give but don’t have millions to spare right now.

In fact, while the big gifts get lots of publicity, it is the sustained giving of many smaller donors who provide the life-blood of most non-profit organizations.  In fact, sometimes it is the modest, well-placed gift that has the greatest impact.  Ask the single mother who receives a tuition scholarship so she can finish her degree, or the home-bound senior who looks forward to receiving a warm meal and a friendly hello.

So, how much should you give?  None of my business, right? Right.  It’s a very personal matter. But I’d bet you wonder what other people like you give.  Statistics from the IRS show charitable contributions are rising, both as a percentage of income and in raw dollars.  The average contribution claimed on tax returns (for those who itemize) is now over $3000.  Even for those who don’t itemize, charitable gifts are increasing.  In fact, there’s a national movement afoot to encourage people to make gifts of 2% of their income.   

What’s 2% of your income?  As I’ve said before, you don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist.

Send your questions about making charitable gifts to Enid Ablowitz, Features, Daily Camera, 1048 Pearl St., Boulder, 80302 or e-mail???/Fax????

Ablowitz, the Asst. Dean for Advancement at CU’s College of Engineering is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and has been working with donors for over a decade.  She is writing a book called Making Money Matter: 8 Steps to Thoughtful Giving.

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