Hey Craig Newmark!

Since I spent so much time over at Martin’s blog crafting this response (to a comment that it’s hard to find a good cause to give money to), I thought I should post it here at my poor neglected blog.

“As for finding a good cause being hard and time-consuming, it pains me incredibly to hear such a thing! I work at a fundraising nonprofit in the Seattle area with a mere 6% overhead budget that is, among other things, actively trying to END homelessness. (yeah, I was doubtful too before I started!) We work with and help fund hundreds of partner agencies doing complimentary things in the health and human services area.

I wish I could tell you about all the amazing people, causes, and positive action I encounter every day.

If homelessness isn’t your thing, there are amazing groups of groups working together to fund the Arts, to help with environmental issues, to address world poverty, to support local independent charities, animal rights, gay rights, health and medicine, you name it. Groups like this keep each other honest, help each other keep overhead low, help each other make a difference by working together. Here are some examples:

Seattle/Washington:
http://www.uwkc.org Human Services
http://www.charity.org Global Impact
http://www.esw.org Environment
http://www.wfalliance.org Women’s Issues
http://www.artsfund.org Arts
http://www.pridefoundation.com Social Justice/LGBT
http://www.neighbortonation.org Faith-based

Bay Area:
http://www.uwba.org Human Services
http://www.charity.org Global Impact
http://www.earthshareca.org Environment
http://www.taprootfoundation.org Volunteering

Canada:
http://www.uwlm.ca Human Services
http://www.cnf.ca Environment
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/volbc/volbc/index.html Volunteering

(there are more - name your cause)

Each of these federations has on their websites a list of partner nonprofit agencies they work with, each of whom also have websites with information about what they do, why, how, and how you can help. You can donate to a federation, who will decide where your money will be most effective. You can donate to a nonprofit directly. You can volunteer. You can learn how to adjust your consuming and buying habits to better impact the planet and your community, you can start working for change by working for a cause. (Working for a nonprofit is SO good for your mental health, if only because your coworkers RULE.) You can simply educate yourself. You can ask for help - people at these agencies aren’t trying to hustle you, they’re trying to educate and improve. The only difficult part is deciding what you care about and then deciding to make a difference. Even if it’s only about improving how you treat your fellow man on a day to day basis!

Like Craig, like Martin, like the guy in the desk next to me.”

So yes, I’ve found some incredibly satisfying (and difficult) work, albeit just for the public sector campaign season. I’ll be working at this fantastic nonprofit through January, perhaps a little longer, on a contract basis. Then we shall see after my February Cathedral Band concert if they’d like to renew my contract, or if we can work something out where I work every year for 6 months in just the busiest fundraising season, or if I can find a place in Brand Management or Community Services (I love this job, but fundraising isn’t something I ever considered myself that great at.)

I spend my days booking speakers and tours for my organization and also for all the City of Seattle fund drive events, and things are mighty busy!! But you know me, I love a challenge, and it’s an absolute delight to be surrounded by brilliant people who are all trying to do good.

This is what I wanted, to use my energies for positive things. 8+ hours a day is a lot… I want that time and energy to be used right. Retail was NOT IT. Working for some huge corporation’s shareholders and the hope of a house or some cash is NOT IT. Hustling - not interested.

I’m very thankful to be able to do this and have an income. It really fills the void left by not being able to share music on the regular. Maybe now I can help other artists and people with learning disabilities and at-risk kids do better than I did.