Resolving to make a difference
Wednesday 23 December 2009
For many New Zealanders, "making a difference" is more than just an aspiration – the Charities Commission estimates that we donated more than 1.3 million hours of work per week to charities in 2009, and more than $2.4 billion in donations.
Over the past year, support from New Zealanders in terms of donated time and money has touched the lives of thousands. Volunteers have been able to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people, migrants, the elderly, young people, people with disabilities, and animals through education programmes, community services, health initiatives and other programmes supporting the care and protection of those needing a helping hand.
For many people, the New Year might be a good opportunity to reflect on their own good fortune, and a time to put into practice any intentions to make a difference in their community or internationally, by donating either their time, goods or money to charity.
In New Zealand there are more than 24,000 charities registered with the Charities Commission so there are plenty of options when it comes to selecting a charity to support. People wanting to make a difference can research and support their decision making process by using the Charities Register established and maintained by the Charities Commission.
A browse through www.charities.govt.nz will provide useful information about the charities registered with the Commission, including their rules, annual returns and financial details, contact details, and information about who they are helping.
"Making a New Year's resolution to donate either time or money to charity is a great idea but before choosing a charity people should visit the Charities Register so they can be assured that their support or donation is going to make the difference they desire," says Charities Commission Chief Executive Trevor Garrett.
2010 will also see the introduction of payroll giving in early January, which will make donating regularly to charity a more efficient process for both the charity and the person donating. Before selecting a charity to donate to through payroll giving, first you need to check that your employer is participating in the programme, then check Inland Revenue’s website to be sure that they are on the online donee list.
If they are, chances are the organisation is also registered with the Charities Commission, so you can find out more about them, and check that their operations and aims fit with what you are looking for.
The Charities Register can give supporters and donors to charity some peace of mind about whether an organisation is exclusively charitable, and furnish information about how its funds are being used.
All organisations on the Charity Register meet the criteria of the Charities Act and have a charitable purpose. The Charities Commission also has an ongoing monitoring and investigations role to ensure charities on the Register continue to meet all the Charities Act’s requirements.