Making Your Charitable Dollar Work Overtime: Because Even Your Money Deserves a Good Workout

Three Places I Call Home

I have been fortunate to have strong connections to three wonderful communities.

I grew up in Buffalo, New York. I spent most of my adult life in Minnesota, where I practiced orthopedic surgery and raised my family. Today, Naples, Florida, is home.

Each community has given me something important.

And each has organizations doing extraordinary work, often without much publicity.

As I think about charitable giving, I find myself increasingly interested in smaller, community-based organizations where donations, volunteer time, and personal involvement can make a visible difference.

There's something satisfying about supporting an organization where you can meet the people doing the work, understand the needs being addressed, and occasionally see the results firsthand.

Not every worthwhile charity is small, of course. Some of the most important services in our communities require large, sophisticated organizations.

But size alone shouldn't determine where we give.

Minnesota

1. Phillips Neighborhood Clinic

The Phillips Neighborhood Clinic in Minneapolis is a particularly appealing example of community-based healthcare.

The clinic provides free healthcare services through a volunteer model involving University of Minnesota health-professions students and licensed clinical supervisors.

It serves people who might otherwise have difficulty obtaining medical care.

As a physician, I especially appreciate the combination of patient care, education, and volunteer service.

Students learn not only clinical skills but also something equally important: the responsibility of caring for people who may have limited resources.

This is the kind of organization where donated time and professional expertise can be just as valuable as financial support.

2. Hennepin Healthcare Foundation

The Hennepin Healthcare Foundation supports Hennepin Healthcare, including Hennepin County Medical Center.

HCMC holds a special place in my life. I began my surgical training at the old Minneapolis General Hospital in 1975 and experienced the transition to the new HCMC in 1976.

Its work in trauma care, emergency medicine, specialized treatment, and medical education extends well beyond Hennepin County.

Supporting HCMC is not simply supporting a hospital. It is helping preserve an essential part of Minnesota's healthcare infrastructure.

The foundation is a different kind of charitable opportunity from a small volunteer-run clinic. Its programs, fundraising, and institutional support should be evaluated on their own merits, including published financial information and the purposes of specific gifts.

I discuss HCMC's history and financial challenges in a separate Musing, "HCMC: A County Name, a Statewide Mission, and a Hospital Worth Saving."

3. Dunwoody College of Technology — From Skilled Trades to Engineering Degrees

Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis has a special connection to my family. Family members attended Dunwoody, so I've long appreciated its emphasis on practical education and preparing people for meaningful careers.

Founded in 1913, Dunwoody has traditionally been known for teaching skilled trades and technical occupations. Its graduates have helped build, maintain, and improve the infrastructure and industries on which our communities depend.

But Dunwoody has evolved considerably.

Today, students can pursue bachelor's degrees in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, along with programs in construction, manufacturing, automotive technology, design, and other technical fields.

What particularly appeals to me is its hands-on approach. Students don't simply learn how something works in theory. They learn how to make it work in practice.

And that brings me to charitable giving.

A scholarship to a motivated student who lacks sufficient financial resources can be an extraordinarily meaningful gift. It may help that student obtain a career, achieve financial independence, and eventually support a family.

The benefits can continue for generations.

There are also opportunities to support equipment, laboratories, and other educational resources that help students acquire the skills employers need.

In a society where we sometimes place too much emphasis on prestigious degrees and not enough on practical abilities, Dunwoody reminds us that technical education deserves tremendous respect.

After all, when the air conditioning stops working in Naples in August, nobody asks whether the technician graduated summa cum laude. We just hope someone knows how to fix it!

My Two Cents: Helping someone obtain a practical education can be one of the most productive forms of charitable giving. You're not simply providing temporary assistance. You're helping someone develop the tools to become independent and successful.

Learn more: https://dunwoody.edu/

4. Sharing & Caring Hands

Sharing & Caring Hands provides practical assistance to people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and other serious hardships.

Its services include food, clothing, shelter-related assistance, and help with basic necessities.

What appeals to me is the directness of the mission.

Sometimes the most important charitable intervention isn't complicated. It's helping someone get through a difficult day with dignity.

5. Joyce Uptown Food Shelf

Joyce Uptown Food Shelf addresses food insecurity through community food assistance.

Food shelves may not generate the excitement of a new medical breakthrough, but for a family struggling to afford groceries, they can be life-changing.

6. Community Emergency Service and 7. Second Harvest Heartland

Community Emergency Service works with people facing hunger and economic hardship.

Second Harvest Heartland operates on a larger scale, helping move food through an extensive network of community partners.

These organizations illustrate an important distinction: a small neighborhood organization and a large regional food bank may both be highly effective, but they accomplish their missions differently.

Naples

1. Lorenzo Walker Technical College — Giving Someone the Tools to Succeed

One Naples institution that particularly interests me is Lorenzo Walker Technical College.

We often think of charitable giving as providing food, shelter, medical care, or financial assistance to someone experiencing hardship. Those are essential services.

But another powerful form of generosity is helping someone acquire the education and skills necessary to build a successful career.

Lorenzo Walker Technical College offers career-focused education in healthcare, automotive technology, aviation, construction-related fields, and other technical occupations.

Its programs emphasize practical training and preparation for employment.

For many students, technical education offers a direct route to a rewarding career without requiring the time and expense associated with a traditional four-year college education.

That can be especially important for individuals who need to begin earning a living relatively quickly.

I particularly like the possibility of supporting scholarships for motivated students who have the ability and determination to succeed but lack the financial resources to complete their training.

Imagine helping someone become a licensed practical nurse, an automotive technician, or a skilled tradesperson.

That education could provide years of employment, financial security, and personal satisfaction.

And the benefits don't stop with the student. Families and the entire community may benefit.

As an orthopedic surgeon, I've always appreciated people who possess practical skills. Whether it's repairing a complex fracture or diagnosing why an automobile refuses to start, there's something impressive about someone who can identify a problem and actually fix it.

Of course, the mechanic generally has an advantage. If the repair doesn't work, the car doesn't complain nearly as much as the patient!

My Two Cents: Charitable giving doesn't always have to address an immediate crisis. Sometimes the most meaningful contribution is helping someone acquire a skill that can prevent future financial hardship.

Supporting career education can be an investment in independence, dignity, and opportunity.

Learn more: https://lwtc.collierschools.com/

2. St. Matthew's House

St. Matthew's House provides services addressing homelessness, hunger, addiction recovery, and related needs.

Its combination of immediate assistance and longer-term programs makes it worth examining for donors interested in helping people rebuild their lives.

3. Empty Bowls Naples

Empty Bowls Naples uses a community-centered fundraising approach to support efforts addressing hunger.

I like the symbolism of the empty bowl.

It reminds us that something as ordinary as a meal is not guaranteed for everyone.

4. Our Daily Bread Food Pantry

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry helps families and individuals facing food insecurity in the Naples area.

Food assistance is a particularly practical form of giving because the need is immediate and understandable.

5. Collier Senior Center

The Collier Senior Center serves older adults through programs that support connection, independence, and well-being.

As we get older, social isolation can become as important a challenge as many physical ailments.

An organization that helps seniors remain engaged and connected deserves serious consideration.

6. Harry Chapin Food Bank

Harry Chapin Food Bank serves Southwest Florida through food distribution and partnerships.

Its regional scale makes it different from a neighborhood food pantry, but both approaches are important.

Buffalo: Remembering Where It All Began

Buffalo will always be part of my personal history.

And like many older industrial cities, it has communities where dedicated local organizations work hard to meet persistent needs.

1. Friends of Night People

Friends of Night People provides meals, clothing, and other assistance to people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

It represents the kind of direct community service that can be especially meaningful to local donors and volunteers.

2. Response to Love Center

Response to Love Center serves people facing poverty and hardship in Buffalo.

Its community-based approach reflects the importance of helping people close to home.

3. St. Luke's Mission of Mercy

St. Luke's Mission of Mercy provides food and other assistance to people in need.

Its mission is grounded in direct service and community relationships.

4. FeedMore WNY

FeedMore WNY addresses hunger across Western New York through food distribution and nutrition-related programs.

Like Second Harvest Heartland and Harry Chapin Food Bank, it demonstrates the value of regional organizations that can reach many communities.

Does Low Overhead Mean a Better Charity?

Here's where charitable giving gets interesting.

We frequently hear that a charity is especially good because it spends a very high percentage of its budget directly on programs.

That can be encouraging.

But it's not the whole story.

A charity with very low administrative expenses may be wonderfully efficient.

Or it may be underinvesting in staff, technology, training, financial controls, and the systems needed to deliver effective services.

Conversely, a charity with higher overhead may be providing complicated services that require substantial professional support.

Running a trauma center is not quite the same as organizing a neighborhood food drive.

Both can be important. Their cost structures will naturally differ.

I would rather support an organization spending 80 cents of every dollar on genuinely effective programs than one spending 95 cents on programs that accomplish very little.

And I would be cautious about any charity that promises extraordinary results without providing enough information to verify them.

Five Questions I Would Ask Before Making a Significant Donation

1. What exactly does the organization accomplish?

Look for measurable outcomes, not just attractive mission statements.

How many people receive services? What changes in their lives? How does the organization know its work is effective?

2. Can I review its finances?

Most tax-exempt public charities are required to file an IRS Form 990, although exceptions apply.

You can often find filings through the charity's website, Candid, or ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.

Review revenues, expenses, leadership compensation, fundraising costs, and financial trends over several years.

3. Does the charity demonstrate accountability?

Look for responsible governance, financial transparency, and evidence that its leadership understands the community it serves.

4. Could my time or experience help?

Writing a check is important, but it's not the only way to give.

Physicians, teachers, businesspeople, tradespeople, and experienced volunteers have knowledge that may be extraordinarily valuable.

A few hours of professional assistance can sometimes accomplish more than a modest financial contribution.

5. Does this mission mean something to me?

Giving should reflect your values.

Some people are passionate about medical care. Others care deeply about hunger, education, homelessness, children, or older adults.

There is no requirement that everyone support the same causes.

Giving Appreciated Stock: An Opportunity Worth Considering

For people who own appreciated investments, donating shares directly to an eligible public charity may be more tax-efficient than selling the shares and donating the proceeds.

Under applicable rules, donating qualifying long-term appreciated securities can allow an eligible donor to avoid recognizing the capital gain while potentially receiving a charitable deduction, subject to limitations.

The details depend on the type of asset, the recipient organization, holding period, deduction rules, and individual tax circumstances.

It is worth discussing with a tax adviser before making a substantial gift.

The goal isn't simply to save taxes.

It's to allow more of the value you've accumulated to support causes you care about.