Philanthropy, giving back, and supporting communities in need have been more important than ever throughout the past year and a half—and people have stepped up to the challenge. In fact, despite financial turmoil from Covid-19, charitable giving actually rose by two percent in 2020. On Giving Tuesday in early December, an astonishing $2.47 billion was donated to U.S. nonprofits by 34.8 million people.

Whether you are looking to get more involved in philanthropy as an individual or you’d like your company to do more philanthropic work, take the advice of these three women who are making a difference in the field.

  • Find work that genuinely excites you. The folks who have found success in philanthropic and nonprofit work all have one thing in common: passion. No matter which specific issue is close to your heart, it’s crucial to find it and use your spirit and excitement about the cause to energize your efforts.
  • Be ready to provide support in unexpected ways.  Each organization and foundation has its own purpose, but sometimes the need is greater or different than what we are familiar with—and it’s up to each organization to figure out where it fits in and how it can help in its own way. Each of these women shared a story about how their organization pivoted and adjusted to fulfill the needs that the Covid-19 pandemic created, and deepened their connections with the community in the process.
  • Do it for the right reasons—and go in with a game plan. With customers being four to six times more likely to champion mission-driven companies, many companies are hopping on the philanthropic bandwagon. However, while consumers do want to engage with brands that take a stance on important issues, they’re also able to spot the companies that are not doing it for the right reasons.

Read the full article about women's philanthropy by Carrie Kerpen at Forbes.