A word on generosity from a 20[redacted] and 30[redacted] something at Uplift.
‘Tis the season for targeted ads and overwhelmed delivery trucks. Behind every scroll, there are billions of dollars sunk into ensuring you believe you are just one click away from having it all together.
Sunna and Emily mused on this over video call recently -- Sunna from her college dorm and Emily from the floor of an airport. They nodded knowingly through the screen. How many times have we been told we are not good with money… Too frivolous. Too restrictive. Too young. Too old.
We are often met with suspicion and reproach about our spending habits. We are told that our cup of coffee or monthly manicure is to blame for our money troubles, that our individual lifestyles are responsible for systemic inequalities.
Uplift has taught us something different. We believe in a straightforward process that gets cash in the hands of women in crisis. Why? Because we trust women. And we trust ourselves.
Uplift is about women making their own financial decisions. Spending has always been stigmatized for women. But what would it look like if we approached our investments with confidence?
If you are looking to give back this holiday season, we invite you to consider how collective experiences serve as an opportunity for collective impact. By understanding the monetary value that we place on communal experiences, we can make deliberate financial choices to maximize our impact.
After a long week of finals, most college students look forward to the weekend as a chance to escape campus and unwind with friends. For students looking to leave an impact with Uplift, weekends are a great opportunity for communal forms of giving.
Choose a less costly restaurant and Venmo Uplift your leftover budget
Set up a percent of sales give back night at your favorite spot
Skip the bars and hosting at home and put the Uplift Venmo in the group chat
See a local artist instead of the area concert and donate the extra $100
For college students without disposable income, gift-giving is another way to make a difference. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or a birthday, you can invite a loved one to donate in place of gift-giving. Not only will you make a financial impact, but it also serves as a form of outreach to spread the word about Uplift’s work. One intentional weekend in December could be your friend group’s next core memory AND make a massive difference in the life of a woman in crisis.
Sunna and Emily are still thinking about generosity. This time, Zooming from their childhood bedrooms. What does it mean to give when you don’t feel you have enough? Does any of it matter when so much is broken? They’re not sure. But they come back to 161. That is the number of women Uplift supported last year. The need continues, and so do we.
We may not have it all together, but together, maybe we have it all.
https://www.upliftingwomen.org/donate
A note about our guest writers: Emily and Sunna are two of Uplift’s outrageously talented volunteer board members who are equally outrageously passionate about Uplift’s mission.
