Customer Reviews

Give a Little: How Your Small Donations Can Transform Our World

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At first glance, Give a Little, is a book that has a theme of the transformative social effects of cumulative small charitable donations but it also has implications for national policy. I was struck by several aspects.

First, the quality level is high ( it reminded me most of a narrowly focused Malcolm Gladwell book). Give a Little was refashioned from a more academic study with plenty of statistical data into a very readable book for a popular audience. The sense of depth carries through.

Secondly, though I'm certain that the author, Wendy Smith, who spent twenty years in the public/NGO sector wasn't thinking in these terms, the principles behind the humanitarian programs she examines also have the potential to revolutionize foreign aid and economic development policies, breathe life into the "civilian side" of counterinsurgency, focus humanitarian aid, enhance public diplomacy and speed postwar/postcatastrophe reconstruction.

Smith's chapters delve into a variety of the most successful , and at times least well known, programs that have two things in common: first, they are directed at permanently improving the "human capital" or "social capital" of the recipients rather than sustaining a subsistence existence. Secondly, the programs all manage an enormous ROI for every donation due to generating powerful, downstream, "ripple effect" benefits. Cents given today translate into tens or hundreds of dollars of positive outcomes gained and negative costs avoided tomorrow

There are many worthy organizations profiled ( ex. Ounce of Prevention, Bridges to Prosperity etc.) and Smith offers the readers anecdotes that are deeply positive and uplifting narratives of individuals, families and communities transformed by the power of small donations designed to empower the people of the "bottom billion".

A valuable book.

When it comes to philanthropy, I am as cynical as you can get. I did not support the victims of the Tsunami or Katrina. Why? I was sure most of my contribution would be diluted by overhead and/or misuse of funds. Yet, I'm not a piker. Historically, I have given generously. I support my alma mater, any friend or relative who hits me up, and charities that support causes/research for subjects that have personally effected me. Do I really do my duediligence? No. Do I really believe my donations make a difference? Not sure. Why do I give then? Because no one can say I don't. Like I said I'm a cynic.

GIVE A LITTLE by Wendy Smith is a game-changer for me. Not only does Ms. Smith debunk the myth that the Bill Gates' of the world are the major donors -- they're not. Every day American families provide almost two-thirds of all donations to charity and those donations are less than $250.00. While there are so many 'good causes' out there, Ms. Smith makes a convincing case that our first dollars should go to ending poverty. Several years ago in Sports Illustrated, Rick Reilly wrote that ten dollars bought a mosquito net and prevented a child from malaria in Africa. Ms. Smith takes this several steps further and shows that saving one child creates a ripple effect that impacts postively not only the child and his or her family, but an entire community. Done often enough the effect can be exponential. In her book, she clearly outlines the causes of poverty and shows how we -- every day ma and pa citizens -- can transform the world thru small donations to dozens of organizations that provide goods as mundane as mosquito nets, water pumps, water filters whose impact ripple.

I challenge you to read GIVE A LITTLE and not come away with a new mindset about your charitable giving. And... not be inspired to give small donations to many of the worthy organizations profiled in her book.

A MUST READ highly recommended by a former cynic.

So many times I wished I had a reliable source for knowing how to make the most of my donations. I have sent $10.00 here and there to charities that sent me things in the mail that I knew were reputable (thinking, "this is not much - how can this really help...") but with this book it clearly maps out how my "little" can go a long way in making a difference for the better. Smith's book offers the average "Joe" (and Josephine!) an understanding of how much impact small gifts (especially when small gifts are all we can afford right now) can have on other people's lives. I loved the way she mixed in personal analogies with facts and gave lots of resources. I LOVED IT!

Like so many of us, I often wish I could "change the world" but feel overwhelmed by the prospect. How could little old me make a difference? Might as well keep my fingers crossed that some big corporation, or filthy rich celebrity, will take care of it. In "Give A Little", Wendy Smith inspires us with stories of "everyday" people changing the lives of others, one small step at a time. How could a $5 donation really shift anything? Ms. Smith gives detailed and engaging proof that you, yes little old you, can be the catalyst for big change!

give a little is truly inspirational- this quick, easy read allows one person to truly change the world with as little as $5. i'm giving this book as a holiday gift to everyone on my list. have purchased 7 already and can't wait to get more. am even putting a copy in our dental office so everyone can get a quick a quick pick me up! imagine changing the orld while waiting to have your dental work done- that's how easy this is.

Give A Little: How Your Small donations can transform our world is an insightful and interesting look into the world of donations and the difference they can make in this world. The premise behind the book is awesome as it opened my eyes up to how even the smallest of donations can make a difference to villages and people around the world.

Think about the concept of donating $5.00. To most of us what is a $5.00 donation. To a family that lives in an area that does not have access to clean filtered water twelve donations of $5.00 will by them a water pump that delivers what most of us take for granted, clean drinking water. How does clean water impact a family? For a young infant it may make the difference between life and death. For the family it may keep the parents alive. Clean water will eliminate the potential of many illnesses. The children can grow up and lead healthy lives. The parents are able to parent their children-hopefully these children do not become orphans from some other disaster. I am sure if all of us saw the photo of a dehydrated child we would give $5.00 so they could get a water pump or netting to keep them safe from malaria.

The book discusses different charitable organizations and how little donations add up to make a difference. The difference goes beyond what you are purchasing. One small donation can impact families and generations to come. The premise of the book is great as it opened up my eyes as to the larger impact of small donations.

Author Smith has over 20 years experience working with different agencies. She definitely knows her facts. However part way through the book she lost me a little by getting too bogged down in facts and almost coming across as preachy. While facts and numbers may work for the accountants I would have sooner heard about how lives were changed by the donations.

Before reading this book I was aware of different organizations such as Heifer International that will buy a family a cow. What I was not aware of was the impact and long term benefits of such a gift. Smith has done a great job in creating awareness of how little donations really do make a difference to the world. A healthier world benefits all of us.

This little book is a treasure! Full of compelling, but depressing, descriptions of the major human problems facing our world, it then offers common sense solutions that are within the reach of us ordinary people. Reading about the overwhelming issues of hunger, health, education and economic development that affect so many is disturbing and depressing. But each time Ms. Smith offers up a "way out" that brings the issue down to manageable size--and with that a sense of optimism returns. This book has potential to change the way you think about the world. Inspiring!

Ms. Smith's book on the wonders and possibilities of small donations is, as one other reviewer noted, inspiring and informative. She offers insight into the power of small donations and the resultant affects w/respect to hunger, health, education, tools, and giving/lending. She also provides relevant first person accounts of folks who give and why, and also the perspective of those who have received. Importantly she touches on the power of "micro-loans" (and the true power of microloans is much bigger than we could imagine). She wraps up with a list of resources and websites. I predict many lives will be improved by Ms. Smith's book. Well done! Highly recommended.

Great book to make us count our blessings and see how much good we - the little people - can do. Wonderful stories of how real people can make a difference to problems that seem unending and without solutions. Extremely readable, very interesting.

Get yourself a copy of this right away! Get copies for all your friends while you're at it. This excellently written book will help you see past your everyday problems and think about things that really matter. Chapter by chapter, Ms. Smith illustrates clearly and concisely what each of us can do to make the world a better place. Her guidance and suggestions don't require huge corporate participation or bureaucratic fund raising efforts, but rather consist of concrete and coherent steps anyone can take to embellish the lives of countless others. Kudu's to a promising new author. This reader would wager the world can look forward to many future contributions to the planet and it's peoples from the talented Ms. Smith.