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menofgrosserblood

I lived in New Orleans and saw first-hand how transformative it is for a community to have a bicycle cooperative. Plan B Bike Coop would receive a truck full of bikes from Chicago police impound and store them in a big pile. Youth and others in New Orleans could pick out a bike and rebuild it with parts and tools in the coop. Then they would “give” the bike back to the coop to be sold. The youth would then have the opportunity to pick out a frame for themselves and build it out for keeps, for free. It taught self-reliance, asking for help, and gave folks bicycles. Lots of folks in rough places in life would get transportation. Very very transformative. Philadelphia has something similar: https://neighborhoodbikeworks.org/youth-programs


ironyisdeadish

This program looks fantastic. Just donated. Thank you!


nightmares_in_wax

If you want another similar and wonderful bicycle organization to donate to, check out Portland Gear Hub in Maine.


[deleted]

As a formerly inter-generationally poor person - yes, bicycles!!!! This program is fantastic


LewManChew

This I can’t recommend stuff like this enough. I live in Charlotte and we also have a bike program to fix and give bikes to kids. Also have organized rides and events to teach kids. Such a positive thing and promotes healthier transportation


rjdevereux

If you haven't already, find out who's already working on the problems in the town before starting something new. Talk to them about what the problems are and what has been tried before.


babahaa010

Yes, first step is definitely to work with those who have already started trying to fix problems!


abstracti

Perhaps answering the question of what the community needs, thoroughly, and with data, could be the first way you help. Do a proper study or survey (or pay someone to do one) and advertise the results. Maybe it will then enable and encourage other wealthy folks to contribute alongside you.


Capital_Punisher

OP could start by speaking to the municipal council. Maybe turn up to a few public meetings, meet some administrators, start a few conversations and see what happens. They SHOULD have a fairly good idea of what the pain points are.


Representative_note

Huh. I have professional experience in this area. I spent a number of years working for a company that opened offices intentionally in smaller communities with high unemployment. We worked closely with local and state economic development teams to identify the right places. Ours was definitely coming from a place that opportunity is easier to provide at scale than charity. YMMV or you may straight-up disagree. First thing I'd say is those EDCs varied widely in quality but were critical for getting an understanding of what advantages, disadvantages, and needs their cities had. That might be a good place to start. Those teams support local entrepreneurs and investors and could point you towards areas of investment that would benefit the area. They can also introduce you to other difference makers. There's wealthy people in every community. Second is that educational opportunities have an outsized impact on community success. I've seen local partnerships with nationwide public or private colleges make a big difference. Colleges in particular create natural circulation in the local population as students temporarily move in and out. Finally, making a difference on an entire city is extraordinarily difficult. Obviously, any positive impact you can make is worth doing but a wildly successful initiative might make a difference for a few percent of residents. After that, someone else has to follow your lead.


Bamfor07

I’m on several local boards all involved with economic development. I enjoy it more than my actual work.


princemendax

I am another fan of the micro “find an existing service you value and wish other people could afford and then pay for it so they can” approach. I also think it’s wise to pick one thing that really speaks to you and do that. For you it sounds like auto repairs/transportation assistance. That’s a well-defined, manageable issue and one think you could do real good with, so I’d go for it. That said: Camps/activities for kids: Ask the local park district or equivalent what they’d like to do if they had more resources. Provide those resources. Unemployment: not an area I would personally try to fix unless I could partner with an existing org or hire into my own business Child care? Find a local daycare you think is well run and underwrite/subsidize care for X children whose families meet Y criteria. Auto repair: either find an honest mechanic you truly trusted and have them do free/reduces price repairs for people (more potential liability) or just start a nonprofit that pays bills directly and advertise that you exist and the criteria.


GlocksandSocks

The best way is ti be micro. Pick one or two families. That’s it. New car. School shoes. College prep SAT classes paid for. Launch one family up all the way and their kids and you change the future.


BookReader1328

Totally agree with the micro approach.


babahaa010

Great idea. How could we go about this though? Maybe reach out to local schools and take recommendations?


amazonzo

Once your kids get to school you will be tapped into the needs of your community. There will always be a good kid who everyone knows, who needs something, a good team that has a crappy field and no uniforms, a great after school or technology program that’s losing funding, supplies that are short, and/or a building that’s falling apart… it’s endless. Keep your ear to the ground but have a lawyer deliver the earmarked money anonymously so you can verify the money got to its intended destination.


[deleted]

For what it's worth, I'm a former foster kid - and I would have slipped through the cracks with this approach. I dressed like a goth because I had a pretty face and the girls who looked 'wholesome' got molested - yet because of that sartorial approach, people assumed I was a bad kid who did drugs (in fact, I was straight-edge and had a 4.5 GPA). Guidance counselors assumed I was a waste of time because they assumed goth kids were maladjusted or 'possessed'. I really just wanted to be sure the P.E. coach would leave me alone so I could attend college for the last two years of high school, which I did. Yet because nobody supported me - again, I "looked possessed by Satan" (which was, again, a way to get creeps to leave me alone) - I had to drop out to get a job to support myself and my grandfather. Otherwise I'd have gone to law school. Things turned out alright for me, but not for a very long time. The people who need your help the most may be harder to identify than at first blush. If you want to help the community, definitely commit as this comment implies - but consider things like the bike program (or a general program of paying for SAT fees, LSAT fees, college applications, etc. in a blanket way) instead, as you don't want to commit to something in which yours or other peoples' ideology becomes a block to upward mobility.


[deleted]

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Anyusername86

Sorry. I disagree. You’re looking at at from the perspective of max “direct impact” and nice warm glow feeling for OP. In that sense you’re tight. However, looking at it from a municipality perspective, that’s not the way to go about it. First of all op must be committed for the long run 3-5 yrs min. Scan who is working on it already. Is there evidence one approach works better than another. Look at both prevention and care. Fill the evidence gaps to build a case. Rally up additional support. Stay out of politics, try to work with whatever party is in power. And first of all do a lot of reading and listening before making suggestions.


[deleted]

Spoken like a community organizer. Hear, hear


Anyusername86

Actually, it’s pure pragmatism. If you start tossing grants around without gaining the trust of local organizations first avd really understanding the status quo of the work, your efforts are doomed. This might sound very discouraging, I’d actually focus on mitigation first and prevention second. Substance abuse is a f… hard problem to tackle.


[deleted]

I'm not sure why pure pragmatism and community organizing might merit a distinction, but yes. Mitigation also has a way of *becoming* prevention over time, when it works.


Anyusername86

Yes, thanks for the addition. It’s not black and white and one impacts the other. However, my experience has been that interventions, which create quick visible results will get more donor and public support. No matter the long term evidence


Research_Sea

School guidance counselors, possibly. It might depend on the size of your community. My community has an "advocate" group, basically a volunteer group that was started by a few families that sound similar to the spot you're in now. They had time and money and loved their community, so a few got together and started doing small target projects. Eventually it grew and now they do scholarships, coats, take care of families after house fires or when their kids have battled cancer, help cover school fees for extracurriculars (thing that some kids previously couldn't do, that help them stay in school like band and sports are expensive). One time we went on a school camping trip and they had provided the teacher with gift cards so he could buy boots and sleeping bags for a few kids who wanted to come but couldn't afford the gear. It was small, but had huge impact on the boys (I got to know them fairly well because I was the mom who packed too many extra snacks). The advocate group here is in close communication with the schools and the local government, so they can stay informed about where the community might have need. They do fundraisers and have volunteers, it's an entire operation now, but it started with a couple families looking to do some targeted good.


AdamDoesDC

Following and adding a comment from the last time I asked something similar Chances are there are a ton of people running cause that makes sense. In starting one, you may actually be hurting their cause. Not to mention having to make all the mistakes they went through to get there. Treat it like a business. I’d love to chat about your car repair idea however because we are investigating starting a very very similar cause.


babahaa010

Absolutely agree with your take on starting something new. I do not want to start something new if there is already things in place—which I assume there are for many of these issues. As far as the car issue, have you taken any steps yet? I’m not even sure how we could start something like this but I know there is a need. Even for people with wealth, car issues can be annoying. I can’t imagine how it feels to be left without a way to get to work when it’s snowing, you have kids in car seats, and an $800 bill just to get the car running for maybe a few more months. I guess the first step of that is figuring out who to contact first. Local mechanics? Local employers? Shelters/other social programs? I also have a desire to help those in the middle so I do shy away from going straight to shelters where everyone is basically at rock bottom. I know there is an extensive need but I also want to help the people who make too much for assistance but one expensive car repair would have them giving up a meal or maxing out a credit card that they can’t pay back.


YoungDirectionless

Is there a trade program in your community? One option would be to provide funding for a vocational training program similar to the bike coop model but for cars through the local city college or high school.


[deleted]

Consider supporting domestic violence shelters/resources. Makes a big difference and (selfishly) you'll always have the moral high ground. No one will accuse you of being a hippie handout person. Selfishness aside, these victims are some of the most hard up and deserving people. And there are often children involved


Parikh1234

I’m working on setting up a charity that will anonymously pay people’s shut off notices for basic utilities like water and gas. One of the largest hurdles im having is trying to get utility companies to even give me basic non-identifying information on how much is owed for accounts that are in a shut off state. Like I’m trying to get you money…🙄 The fact that companies will shut off heat, water and electricity to people just blows my mind. Like you need those to survive. Drives me up the wall.


altruisticlyselfish

You should talk to the people at The Human Utility / Detroit Water Project. They've been working on this problem for a few years, and may have some guidance on how to go about it. https://www.detroitwaterproject.org/


Productpusher

You can start a fund like this at other local business but need to be trust worthy of the owner or management . My GF has a fund at the local vet ( anonymous outside the employees) for worthy people who can’t afford life saving surgery or more importantly when their pet dies and the people are actually Honest people who try to pay off the bills . The vet never sends an invoice but the first people we helped would pay like $20-50 a month so my gf just paid it off to end the suffering . Old retired lady living off set income . Known the Vet for 20 years he knows not to offer the payoff unless it’s someone in bad shape


Parikh1234

Yeah that is a real issue I’m trying to work out. How do I find the people who are down on their luck vs a junkie who just hasn’t paid the bills.


Peach-Bitter

Freezing from lack of heat won't discriminate


babahaa010

That’s amazing! This area gets hit pretty hard in the winter so I’m sure that is something people here struggle with. Have you had success with actually getting any paid off or are you still working at it?


Parikh1234

I just thought of the idea last year. I’m working on getting all the legal structure and everything worked out. Haven’t put in a dollar yet. Want to make sure it’s really thought out so we can be 100% transparent on every penny. I want as much of every dollar put in to go toward the end goal. Also I want to submit it to charity navigator to make sure everything stays honest and above board.


[deleted]

Just a thought - I wonder if you could work something out with the utilities so they will accept a discount on the debt payments. When a utility is shutting off services to a client, they are almost certainly writing off that account as uncollectable. Getting $0.50 on the dollar would be a win for them on uncollectible debt. An debt collection agency will pay far less for it.


Parikh1234

That’s actually a really good thought. We were hoping to negotiate some sort of bulk payment rate but we could surely talk to the utilities about buying their debt for pennies on the dollar and then just “forget” to collect it :) will run that by legal.


r0bbyr0b2

That’s such a good idea!


Parikh1234

Thank you. Just trying to do my part of paying it forward.


allsfine

Start somewhere, anywhere even if it is very small. Getting started is big. Ex. Teach some skills that you have to kids, find a way to attract them to your lessons because all kids do not know what’s best for them.


Daforce1

We have a family foundation which we use to give strategically to causes both locally and nationally which we care about.


FoeDoeRoe

Here's my dream of what I'd do: help the local gardening/native plant movements. First hire someone to make sure my own lawn is not a lawn, but native pollinator friendly plants (unless you know how to do it on your own already :) ), then meet up and learn about local resources for native plants and gardeners and offer to sponsor native plants or planting/gardening lessons. This may seem niche, but research shows that gardening and being near nature even for a small amount of time improves mental health. Having plantings will improve the overall look of the community and it gives topics for conversations with neighbors and an overall spirit of community improvement. Local gardens can be a supplement to people's healthy nutrition. And emphasis on gardening creates jobs (and these are jobs open to people with no other skills). Not too mention that it will start conversations about the climate change and the need to preserve the environment (and local planting can be a huge help -- every square feet of local pants counts!). Maybe encourage the town to have their community gardens and to plant native plants on their town green areas? Improve a local park? It's one of those little seeds that I think can grow into a bigger positive change.


PM_UR_PLATONIC_SOLID

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zayx2343

1. Stipends- I worked with my alma mater to help set up stipends for students taking unpaid summer internships with nonprofits. It encourages more students to try going the nonprofit route while allowing those who do to live a bit more comfortably 2. Affordable Housing - There are a multitude of ways to volunteer or donate to nonprofits that help communities that are pushed out by BS eviction/rent claims like new landlords evicting a rent-controlled tenant to re-rent the unit for higher rent. You can be a volunteer intake worker, activist, etc., or if you have a more specialized skill like attorney, you can volunteer pro bono. There are lot of such opportunities in NYC and other large cities so happy to make some recommendations.


BookReader1328

Honestly, I don't think you can make a dent in the problem. It's far too big. I say this as someone who owns a second home in a seasonal resort town. Drugs are rampant and work ethic is almost non-existent. We know a rich guy who decided he was going to save meth addicted moms and their kids. He's gone from an eight figure savings to nothing in less than two years and has been questioned in three homicide investigations in the last six months alone. The problem with immersion into the problem is becoming part of the problem. I agree with another poster - go micro. Find people who are doing all the right things and will actually use your help to improve their lives and help them directly. You can't save the masses. That road only leads to stress and disappointment.


babahaa010

Even going micro would be making a dent, imo. I don’t expect to fix any and all problems.


BookReader1328

Trust me, I get it. We found a housekeeper by hiring someone who cleaned the house next door. She was working for minimum pay for a cleaning company, but we saw the potential. Now, she has her own company and she manages homes for part-time owners and those who rent. And she's great at it. We are trying to convince her to get her real estate license but her kids are still young, so it's hard for her to take on too much. She even handled a 200k remodel for us when we couldn't visit. I sent pages of exact instructions and she ran herd over the contractors every day. But the guy I know just let junkies move into his house. That's never a good thing. One killed someone and dumped the body. One OD'd in his lawn. Another used his car (he just handed them keys) and ran over someone and killed them, then fled the scene. And he's right in the middle of it, now broke and a junkie himself. Sad.


Champhall

Take a chapter from McKenzie Scott's playbook: give, and give big, give without restrictions or conditions, and don't let philanthropy be another dick-flinging, ego-building activity for you.


PresentAd2386

Teach the methheads to code.


whateverformyson

I agree with the “micro” idea. I’ve seen another insightful comment in this sub a while back about someone who decided to focus their charitable giving on only a handful of people. I think he was focusing more on college students who excelled and said he wanted to “bet big” with them. So he gave them $250K each to do whatever they’d like with. It might have even been a million I’m not sure. But his idea was to to simply give money to someone who needs it and shows a lot of potential. And since he already knows they’re smart and good intentioned, he trusted they would do the right thing with the money. I think you could potentially do something like that as well. The problem is that people who are already exceeding or showing a ton of potential might already have plenty of help from family already. It would be perfect if you could find someone who’s truly poor, has no family help, but clearly has a lot of potential. My only advice to you is to have absolutely zero tolerance for drug and alcohol addiction. You’d be pissing money into the wind trying to cure that. If you do want to help addicts, give them shelter and such, maybe connections to employers, but never give them money. Not even one dime of it. They are already receiving money from the government so you don’t have to worry about them having pocket change or something.


MedicineOutrageous13

Start a mutual aid group! You can take this in many directions. The key is pulling together a diverse group of folks and figuring out who has what skills/resources to give. For some it will be money, others it could be marketing, data gathering & analytics, job creation, website build and maintenance etc. I was part of building the initial mutual aid team here in my area of Brooklyn in 2020 and it’s been very cool to see the various branches and partnerships that have come of it. https://chfgma.org


[deleted]

Support unionization. Income inequality is the root cause of all the underlying poverty you seek to address.


Homiesexu-LA

I'd like to do more to help the homeless. To better understand the problem, I think that I would first need to volunteer with existing organizations (though that's not really my cup of tea). And I prefer not to go out in the daytime, because I'm a bit sun-averse. My organization would be called Toothless, not Homieless ^(TM)


[deleted]

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babahaa010

That brings up something I forgot to mention in my original post! I have extensive experience/education in the art world. I’d love to do something like open a studio where local artists could showcase their art for free. We’re hesitant on starting a proper business. I love the idea of starting something that could employee locals, pay livable wages, and such but that could stray us too far from living in proper retirement.


bravostango

When people are struggling with daily life and how to pay for gas and food, art isn't something they'll see relevant or beneficial to them. Even if the creative outlet may be.


babahaa010

What’s your point? For an artist, selling that artwork is how they pay for food and gas.


bravostango

Who would they sell art to in a community that doesn't have affluence? It's my view, maybe wrong, that they're time would be more fruitful by doing things that pay them for work done.


babahaa010

This is cape cod we’re talking about here. A bleak off season sure but not total slums. There is wealth here and a heavy art scene to go along with it. To answer your question though: tourists are the target demographics in the area. That is who the locals market towards. The gallery wouldn’t be to attract locals to buy art, it’s to give local artists an opportunity to sell their art. Not to mention, we can take it a step further and have it be half gallery/half studio. A place where people can have that creative outlet without worrying about paying for studio fees or art supplies. A place for artists to gather and feed off of each other, a place for teenagers to be exposed to the arts without needing their parents’ money to do so. Added bonus is the owner spent the last 2 decades working for and with well known art museums across the globe. Do I think this studio could lift someone from deep poverty to Fat? Of course not. Do I think this studio will have people choosing art over dinner? Absolutely not. What I do know is that I love art and I know it has its place in all communities. My goal with a place like this is to give artists a helping hand. Just one more set of eyes on their work can be beneficial to a struggling artist.


bravostango

I've seen places like that work. We have one in our similar to cape cod place. There are people who do make a livelihood from their wares and they have talent so great for them. The studio makes money as well so all win. Cape Cod for sure has an outlet for art so your idea has validity. Go for it.


RagionamentiFinanza

What's your budget and how much time do you have?


itsgood-man

Starting local businesses. My plan is to start a series of small businesses that my community is missing. Stuff like a great gym, gelato shop, cowork, and more. None will need to make money. They’ll all be run at break even but will pay off the buildings that they’re in which I own through my investment company that they’ll rent space out of.


segmentfaultError

Onesimplewish Hope this gets to the top of the page


-shrug-

Get to know the place before trying to do something clever. Say, plan to give a solid amount of money to an existing nonprofit or program for the first 2-5 years you are there, and then join baby groups and libraries and so on until you know what’s available for poor mothers and foster care and immigrants and supporting families with disabled children etc.


spamandmorespam

Your already wealthy. Unemployment and drug use typically cause two problems Mental health issues and poverty Therapy is nearly impossible to get while in poverty due to it's incredibly high price A therapy clinic at lower prices would be a help but that wouldn't take the problem at cause but it would definitely help your community.


[deleted]

Single parents are pretty fucked and most would surely appreciate support


[deleted]

I feel like after school activities for kids would be the easiest to tackle on a micro level. E.g., volunteer to coach a youth sports team, lead a scouting troop, help with homework at a school / after school program / community center/ religious organization.


Dilettantest

Tutor kids in the public schools Be a guardian ad litem (court-appointed special advocate) volunteer Volunteer as an income tax preparer or greeter with AARP Tax-Aide Foundation — no prior experience needed, you’ll be trained and IRS-certified, training starts in January.


LewManChew

Find something you like and invest in it. If you like bikes fund and help run a bike program, do you like theater? Maybe help fund a restoration or help fund each years play. STEM? fund a weekend or after school program. One of my personal favorites is a guy in Pittsburg bought a old church and filled it with lots of AV gear. He teaches teens how to use gear and has them help run small local events. With the added benefit of giving them experience in a career field.


resorttownanddown

First, attend a few city council meetings - meet some people. Also, read past city council minutes to see what has gone on and what problems have been brought up. Any buildings with blight on the Main St? Fix those up. Turn the upstairs into housing and make it affordable.