23 December, 2023
President Vladimir Putin sustains his power on the promise to Russians that he has, as he put it in 2010, “everything under control.” This week’s attack on the southern Belgorod region, launched from Ukraine, would have been alarming under any circumstances, but Putin’s posture as the man in command makes it particularly hard to explain away.
A string of bad news that began earlier this month suggests to Russians that their security system is crumbling. First came the drone attack on the roof of Putin’s residence in the Kremlin on May 4. Now comes an incursion into Belgorod, demonstrating that a year and a half into the war, the Federal Security Service, or FSB, which is in charge of the borders, does not have the manpower to protect against small units attacking from Ukraine. Russia was not even able to secure a nearby storage site for nuclear-weapons components, known as Belgorod-22—instead it reportedly moved the materiel away.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
When I spoke with Barbara Stanny, a financial educator who has written seven books about money management, she was very stern about the necessary groundwork. “The four rules of money: You spend less, you save more, you invest wisely, and you give generously — in that order,” she said. “If you don’t, not only do you sabotage your own future security, but you diminish the impact you can make.”
Stanny also believes that, when done properly, giving money away can also inspire people to make and save more of it. “For many of my clients, managing money seems boring and stupid, but when there’s a greater purpose, it becomes more compelling,” she says.
In philanthropy parlance, this purpose is known as a “giving plan,” and you don’t need to be rich to make one. You can read entire books on the topic (Stanny recommends Tracy Gary’s Inspired Philanthropy), but in short, it’s simply figuring out how much you can give, where you want to give it, and when you’ll be able to give more. If you can only pry a few bucks out of your budget right now, that’s okay.
“My advice is to figure out what your passion is, and match it to an organization or an area where you want to see that change,” said Mesch. This isn’t difficult: What do you ruminate about in the middle of the night? Pinpoint that anxiety, and find the people who can fight it effectively. If your thing is women’s reproductive rights, double down on it. If you’re more concerned about racial justice, start there. Websites like Guidestar, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch are great resources for researching nonprofits that align with the causes you care about; pick a lane (or a small few) and focus.
That said, don’t fall victim to analysis paralysis. No charitable organization is perfect, and the websites that evaluate them are flawed, too. Once you’ve decided on a cause and an amount, go through with it.
Charity _ 24 February, 2024
Charity _ 24 February, 2024
Charity _ 24 February, 2024
Charity _ 24 February, 2024
Our comprehensive articles, guides, and tools are designed to demystify finance concepts and provide practical advice to help you achieve your financial goals.
Charity _ 24 February, 2024
Our comprehensive articles, guides, and tools are designed to demystify finance concepts and provide practical advice to help you achieve your financial goals.