Guest columnist Hannah Franzolino is director of development for the National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland (NCJW/CLE). A Cleveland native, she has spent much of her career in the Jewish nonprofit sector, including roles at Hillel International, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Cleveland State University and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. Hannah lives in Solon with her husband, son and their dog.
Some people hesitate to support causes they care about, believing that a small donation doesn’t make a difference.
As the director of development for the
National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland (NCJW/CLE)
, I can assure you that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Every gift matters and collectively, those contributions drive meaningful, lasting change. Philanthropists come in all forms and meaningful support looks different for everyone.
Here are three things I wish more people knew about supporting causes they care about:
Philanthropy is more than money
The most meaningful giving often goes beyond dollars. It includes time, leadership and sharing valuable skills or resources.
A great example is NCJW/CLE’s Share What You Wear (SWYW) project, which serves hundreds of children each year by providing personally shopped, size- and gender-specific clothing and toiletry bags to those in need or crisis.
Volunteers carefully select and assemble these bags, which are distributed through school and agency social workers.
The program not only meets basic needs, but also restores dignity and confidence to the children it supports.
Every contribution matters
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to giving. Whether you’re a young adult just starting out in your career, a busy parent with limited time or retired and considering a legacy gift, philanthropy can take many forms.
And they are all meaningful.
Monthly giving, volunteering, in-kind donations and one-time gifts all play a vital role in sustaining the work of a nonprofit. What matters most is the intention behind the support.
Every act of generosity helps move the mission forward and sends a powerful message.
Your support fuels local, hands-on impact
When you support causes in your own community, you’re helping to create real, tangible change close to home.
Whether it’s supporting children’s literacy (like NCJW/Cleveland’s Building Bridges with books projects do), food security, the arts or neighborhood revitalization, local nonprofits depend on community members to fuel their missions.
Even modest support can help build stronger, more vibrant communities for everyone — especially at a time when government support is being reduced.
So next time you hesitate because you think your gift is too small, remember this: Every act of giving is a vital step toward positive change.
When you support what matters to you, you become part of something bigger — a community of philanthropists whose collective impact can transform lives and strengthen our shared future.
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