Every year I update my Facebook status with a few suggestions for my favorite charities to consider for my friends’ end-of-the-year giving.  The last couple of years, a few folks have responded by saying they wish they could give, but they are broke as a result of our poor economy.  I totally get this.  It’s been rough for most everyone (the 1% notwithstanding), and it’s hard to imagine giving away a resource that is so scare and so needed by yourself or your family.  However, this is the time when any amount you can give will make the most difference.  Most charities and non-profit organizations are suffering from a year-over-year decline in individual and government donations.  This is exactly the time when your 20, 40, 100, or 500 bucks will go futher and have more impact than ever before.  Most non-profit organizations I know are wizards at managing money.  Although the conventional wisdom usually tries to say otherwise, that non-profits are bad at managing their organizations like businesses, my personal and professional experiences tell me exactly the opposite.  Non-profits leaders manage to squeeze more out of a dollar than anyone I have ever known.  Most run highly efficient and highly effective enterprises on a fraction of the budget that a for-profit could ever imagine.  So, think about the causes you love, the friends who work for non-profits, and the activities your kids enjoy, and spend whatever you can afford to support them today.   (BTW, if you want to join the conversation, friend me at Walden Philanthropy Advisors, Inc. or follow me @WaldenPhil.)