“Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day”

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• Giving Doesn't Have To Be A Seasonal Thing, Says Author

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  The period between October and December is sometimes called the “giving season” — for many nonprofits, it’s a time of year when they receive an influx of donations from people who feel encouraged to give because of the season.

  But according to Jennifer Iacovelli, philanthropy needn’t be something deferred until the holidays. The author is a strong believer in the idea of giving all year round, and even every day.

  In a new book, Iacovelli offers six models of giving in her book to help people understand that giving can be something that happens daily in a person’s professional and personal life. According to her, simple acts of kindness are one way to start a new habit of giving.

  “It could be just anonymously paying for somebody else’s coffee,” Iacovelli said.

  She also said that there are also new ways of approaching philanthropy to consider. For example, instead of giving a large donation at the end of the year, think about pooling donations among friends and using those funds to give to an organization that is close to heart.

  Then, there’s the “giving it forward” model — the idea of giving in a way that inspires generosity in others. Studies have shown a link between adults and seeing their friends and family doing some type of volunteer work.

  “You’re sharing it with other people,” Iacovelli said. “You’re walking the walk and talking the talk and you’re inspiring others to do the same.”

  For more, check out Iacovelli’s “Simple Giving,” which will be released Oct. 27, 2015.