#GivingTuesday - Why Give to Us?
Giving Tuesday is still relatively new. It is the day after Cyber Monday, which actually used to be Cyber Monday Giving (started in 2011). The United Nations Foundation and other large non-profit organizations urged a change so that Giving Day would be the Tuesday following Thanksgiving to get the season of giving off to a great start, and separating the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Why give to the Wendi Atwood Rogers Memorial Fund? Every year we host a FREE mentor workshop for anyone and everyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that wants to attend. We connect people, offer advice for students, job seekers, and those changing careers, and support rural communities through school supply drives. 2019 was our first year to make a grant to an after school program in a rural community where students can study and have a meal.
A few things to know. First, on Giving Day, you will not find our Fund listed as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS because we have not yet applied. Second, giving to our Fund is directly through Fidelity Charitable, which IS a safe, charitable giving fund. This allows you to write off the donation on your tax return, and allows us to grant money to a 501(c)(3) that we believe would meet Wendi's approval. Third, since we are not yet a non-profit, we are not listed in giving days around the United States, like the North Texas Giving Day, but our funds are held in a charitable account. Fourth, we do not spend a cent on anything but paying it forward in the form of a grant. Last, as we grow in time, we will apply to make "With Wendi's Help" a non-profit organization, and the Memorial Fund will continue to exist separately.
When giving, please consider that there are charitable funds through investment firms just like ours. It is an inexpensive way to get started, hold funds, grow funds, and pay it forward. Although it is not as convenient as giving through PayPal or a text message, Debbie, Kristine and I sincerely hope you will consider giving to our Fund. Every little bit helps.