Let me just say, without a doubt, I love non-profit organizations.  There are so many worthwhile causes out there that stand for many great things.  From PBS, who brings us every documentary that Ken Burns can think up to organizations that battle for a cure for cancer or to help battered women, each one has a fight that they need an assist with.

Indeed, we have supported many in the past with their work.  Yes, we are among the many that have given to the Salvation Army and causes like Worldvision, who helps feed poor children all over the world.

Each of these organizations need support and to do that, they need to let you know about it from time to time.

Which brings me to the subject of humor in the midst of non-profits.  As a former staff member at a non-profit, we always knew that one week out of the year, our lives were pretty much wrapped up in raising money.  Sharathon week was a fun and exhausting time that tested all of us and showed us some of the highest highs and lowest lows.

All of this came in to focus for me recently when a station that I tune into from time to time came upon their fundraising week.  They came on the air and told me just how important their work is and how they need to hear from me.  We’ve all heard something like it and when it happens, we can hear some of the best and the worst.  The best is in the form of the stories that these organizations tell and the worst can be summed up in an interesting example brought to us by radio consultant Dan O’Day.

I have heard some interesting examples of things just listening to this station as they try to raise money on how hard one of these things is.

In all seriousness, while the time that one of these organizations puts into raising money is less than ideal for those of us that pay attention, we have to remember a few things about these non-profits.  First, they are filled with human beings and as we well know, human beings tend to do funny things and are not perfect.  Second, these organizations are, for the most part, great and do great work, helping people, whether they are a secular organization like PBS or a religious station that looks to inspire people with a positive message.

So in the midst of my reflection, I reminded myself about how difficult those days can be when you are raising money for the place you work for.  Then I remembered that a lot of these places do outstanding work that no one else can do.

Based on all of that, I will tell you this.  Please support the non-profit of your choice.  So much great work is done that it more than makes up for the week of fundraising that some of these places do.  If you doubt that, remember well that non-profits shoulder so much world relief and positive things in this world.  That is the kind of impact that we can all have on the world, regardless of what we believe or who we want to vote for.