Giving Compass' Take:

• NYLON talks with Matthew Herman, co-founder of Boy Smells (a gender inclusive candle company) and UNICEF NextGen, about using your creative skills to develop a philanthropic vision.

• In what ways can Herman's lessons apply to work in the nonprofit sector? Are we utilizing all of our talents in pursuit of social change?

• Here's more on how to overcome the creativity crisis for a better future.

There are tons of different ways to give back: You can offer time, in the form of volunteer work; or money, that can be donated to people and organizations who know how best to use it. Then, also, you can offer your skills, as do lawyers who work pro bono. Such is the case with Matthew Herman, who utilizes his creative design skills in his work as UNICEF Next Generation’s Creative Chair.

Herman is the co-founder of Boy Smells, a candle company whose mission is to make scents more gender-inclusive (what’s the deal with “men’s soap” anyway?), and which has expanded into offering a variety of inclusive products, such as underwear and, soon, apothecary. Before that, he was the senior dress designer at Nasty Gal and head designer at Z-Spoke by Zac Posen. All that creative energy, he says, is what he felt could do the most good when it came to his favorite philanthropic causes, which led him to become a member of UNICEF NextGen.

Herman’s focus right now is Unicef NextGen’s annual Masquerade Ball, which has, over the years, turned into a true philanthropic destination—due in no small part to Herman’s devotion to making the event as unique as possible. This year, the Masquerade Ball is fundraising to end violence against children in Madagascar and will feature performances by Foster the People and Lion Babe, with a Post-Modern Surrealist theme.

Read the full article about using creativity to give back to the world at NYLON.