Without a doubt, there are more people and organizations who need your Tzedakah dollars – and even your Tzedakah time – than all your available resources. You want to do good, but how do you choose?

 We’re not about to tell you where to give, but we’d like to help you figure out how to make those decisions.

This instructive article on ElleVest not only suggests that you make a strategic giving plan, but has some good suggestions as to how to do so.  The article’s first suggestion is to spend time identifying your values and concerns; there is even a checklist to help you to identify these.

There are some specifically Jewish guidelines as well.

You may have heard of Maimonides’ 8 levels of Tzedakah, which ranks giving by the dignity it accords those in need, The Jewish Virtual Library has a good summary, if you’re not familiar with them. In a nutshell, Maimonides ranks the lowest level as giving less than is needed, begrudgingly, after being asked by the person in need, and the highest level being enabling and empowering those in need to become self-sufficient.

 While this is a helpful guideline in deciding what type of giving to do, it doesn’t provide a complete answer. How do you decide who the recipients should be? What proportion, for example, should be for Jewish versus non-Jewish causes? For those in your immediate world (family, community, country) versus those who are distant from you? Social development? Hunger? Equity? A look at some more traditional sources gives a hint: family first, hunger first, Jewish institutions, but not to the exclusion of non-Jews. Give according to need and give generously. A much-cited recommendation is 10% of your earnings or income.

 Once you understand your priorities and have a good idea how you’d like to distribute your Tzedakah, it ‘s important to make sure that your donation is doing what you want it to do. Charity Intelligence Canada is a helpful place to find out whether the organizations you’re considering use their money well and wisely.

Having our Tzedakah box in your home is one way to easily set aside money to give, however you decide to distribute it. You might make a habit of emptying your pockets on Shabbat, or at the end of the day. When the jar is full – or maybe once a month, or a season, or a year, gather the money up, and do some good with it!