Simple Giving

Book excerpt: You can make a difference on a daily basis, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. Simple Giving includes more than 40 ideas to make the world a better place. Most people think they have to donate a lot of time and money in order to make a difference. But there are simple ways to integrate giving into our personal and professional lives that don’t involve either. In Simple Giving, Jennifer Iacovelli shows us how to make giving a part of our daily routines. It can involve something as simple as holding the door open for a stranger or paying someone else’s toll, which will brighten that person’s day. We can also think about ways to make sustainability and social good a part of our business models. After working in the nonprofit sector and soliciting and coordinating donations for ten years, Iacovelli became frustrated with the disconnect between givers and receivers. Givers (or potential givers) didn’t realize how much of an impact they could make, while recipients couldn’t thank the organization enough. In Simple Giving, Iacovelli inspires us with the stories of how people ranging from moms to social entrepreneurs are giving back in creative ways. By being more mindful of how our actions impact others and taking steps toward positive change, we also live happier and more fulfilled lives.