Are you approaching the Big 50, 60 or 70? You might feel healthy and energetic but the “R” word (retirement) is still around the corner. There are many stereotypes of retirement––the three “Gs” of golf, gardening and grandkids––but for most Baby Boomers and Generation Xers those activities will likely feel a bit empty. For the generations traditionally concerned with civil rights, poverty, hunger, the environment, climate change, education, immigration and health, income and gender equality, retirement will likely have to include socially conscious activities. Few want their retirement “giving” to be limited to greeting people at the senior center.
But how do you “give”? How do you navigate the complex and complicated world of charity and volunteering from hands-on tutoring, working at food pantries and overseas “voluntourism” to working with existing non-profit organizations (NGOs) and service clubs in your community like the Lions or Rotary?
If you have professional skills, how do you locate charitable groups that put your exact expertise to use? If you have resources, how do you identify worthy charities for donation and take advantage of the newer financial models like crowdfunding, microfinance programs, philanthro-capitalism, and social entrepreneurship?
