Charity starts on my birthday

Today's my 33rd birthday, and with the start of a new cycle in life I'm starting new things. This year's new thing is using my birthday as a day to encourage philanthropy and giving as opposed to encouraging people to do anything for me.

Giving, unfortunately, is something that many of us don't do at any other time of year besides the holidays and even then, only to those closest to us. But there's a world full good causes that need your support. And remember, that support doesn't have to come in the form of a huge monetary gift. Enough $5 or $10 donations add up to something big for most charities and are always appreciated. If you don't even have that much to give, volunteer your time to a cause that means a lot to you. It's worth it.

While you think digest that, check out this piece I did a couple years back, when I moderated a panel discussion on philanthropy in the African-American community at New York's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

And finally an appeal and a challenge. I'd like you to consider three nonprofits that are important to me: Catalyst Ohio, the magazine I edit, is a nonprofit focused on urban public education and embarking on a new campaign in 2010. The National Association of Black Journalists has been instrumental in developing me as a professional and has done the same for thousands of others since the 1970s. Lastly, my alma mater, Coppin State University, is a worthy cause as well.

I encourage you to click one of the links above and make a $33 tax-deductible donation (get it...my age), and to share those links with your networks. And if not those, be sure to consider whatever nonprofit cause is important to you. Make a difference.

Expand your earning potential with board service

I spent the end of last week in Baltimore at a board meeting for the National Association of Black Journalists (which is why I didn't post here much). As a matter of career advancement, there are few ways outside your 9-5 gig to build your professional repertoire than serving on the board of a professional organization, so if you're looking to climb the ladder or build your skills, consider taking this route.

I joined NABJ's board in August as Region IV (Midwest) director. That puts me in charge of an 11-state area that includes some of the country's largest cities: Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Minneapolis. My job is to make sure our professional and student chapters have the support they need and to raise money for the organization, which means my professional network has expanded tremendously in the last few months. And since I had to win an election to get on the board and through campaigning, I shook countless hands and exchanged cards with people I may never have talked to otherwise.

Since joining the board, one of the most important benefits has been access: Last week alone I met privately with four of the top editors at the Washington Post and three top editors at the Baltimore Sun; I've also had an audience with the Chairman of the New York Times Co. and conversations with the dean of the Medill School of Journalism. That's all within the first three months of a two-year term. The benefits go the other way, as well: by being on the board, I'm also able to serve others. I was able to invite students, recent graduates and the vice president of institutional advancement of my alma mater, Coppin State University, to have lunch with and network with our board. My meetings at the Sun and Post were "advocacy meetings" where I got to address the issue of workplace diversity with top executives who can make hiring and promotion decisions.

Lastly, there's almost no way to serve on a board like this and not expand your skills. I'm learning about event planning, fund raising and Roberts Rules of Order, which is the standard operating procedure for boards of directors and government bodies (including the US Congress). In short, the universe of jobs I'm qualified to do and my connections to potential opportunities are way up. You should consider getting on the board of a professional organization or nonprofit if you want t make the same happen for yourself.

photo: Keith Reed & the NABJ Board in Washington, DC (credit: Benet Wilson)

What do you wish you knew about money 10 years ago

Finally back from all that traveling: one week, four cities, three states. Yeesh.

The last leg of my trip inspired this post. I spoke to students at my alma mater, Coppin State University, about 10 things they need to know in life and about budgeting and money. What was interesting was that of all the questions I got on that trip, the thing students were most curious about was when I told them I don't like getting a big tax return at the end of the year. They didn't understand (like I didn't at that age), that getting a tax return only meant the government was giving them back money that they shouldn't have paid in the first place.

That got me thinking: what are some other things that you wish you'd known about money, say, 10 years ago, that you didn't know now? Leave your answers in the comments.