By John Rodenhausen, CFAAC President and CEO

My Greek father-in-law, Dimitri, taught me a lot about the importance of words and their meaning. Through many years of working in nonprofits, I learned that the word philanthropy simply means love of humankind. The word originates from the Greek words, “philos,” meaning love, and “anthropos,” meaning humankind. And at its heart, philanthropy — love of humankind — is what keeps every community thriving.

This love is exemplified in many ways: bringing a meal to a sick friend, contributing to a cause or volunteering time and resources. People give for just as many reasons, whether it’s expressing gratitude or a family connection, a passion for the outdoors or a community that’s helped them. Whatever the reason, giving usually stems from caring.

Still, figuring out where to give can get complicated when so many organizations are asking for support — especially during the holiday season. During this time of year, our inboxes and mailboxes are usually flooded with donation requests from national charities, local causes, schools and even friends’ fundraisers. The season of giving can often feel overwhelming, and it’s not always easy to know where to direct your generosity.

If you’re considering where to give this season, I’d like to share a framework to help guide your choices and ensure your contributions align with what matters most to you. First, I like to encourage people to begin by identifying issues or groups closest to their hearts. Think about your values, where you spend your time, what organizations or causes you are already supporting, and what or who brings you the most joy in your life. As you are brainstorming, you may see patterns emerge.

Once you’ve identified your most meaningful interests, consider organizations working right here in your community. When we give close to home, we’re not just helping a cause, we’re strengthening our entire community. Every gift you give locally, whether large or small, lifts our economy and adds to a long tradition of generosity that supports Anne Arundel community needs, from food insecurity to education to the arts. Next, check a nonprofit’s transparency, financial health and community reputation through GuideStar or by asking friends and family members for their opinions.

Another thing to consider is the depth versus breadth of your gifts. Making a larger gift to one or two causes that resonate with you instead of multiple small donations can be transformative to an organization. Larger gifts also provide an organization with a clearer sense of its available resources, which, in turn, allows for more confident strategic planning. It can make a difference whether the organization hires a much-needed staff member, allows for program expansion or decides on a capital project. Major gifts often inspire others to give because they signal confidence in an organization.

That said, smaller gifts are incredibly important, too. Many small gifts, especially recurring ones, can provide a reliable stream of income that can help support programs between major gifts or larger grants. Many people decide to make small monthly gifts and start this practice during the holidays.

For those who want to make a sustained impact but aren’t sure where to start, community foundations, such as the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC), can help connect you to trusted, effective organizations aligned with your interests. Community foundations have expert philanthropy advisors who know their community. They understand the community’s needs because they are actually part of the community, working with nonprofits, government agencies and community members every day.

Reach out to CFAAC for help in finding ways to give that are meaningful to you. CFAAC can share current data on Anne Arundel County needs and which nonprofits are helping to meet those needs, making it easy for those who want to give back. Just visit our website at cfaac.org and contact us at info@cfaac.org or 410.280.1102.

This article originally appeared in The Capital Gazette on December 16, 2025.