ACG — Mission
We aim to cultivate a strong sense of civic duty and community engagement by encouraging and facilitating acts of charity and philanthropy
We know that charitable giving is not just as simple as getting involved.
Charitable giving can be daunting not only because of limited time and financial resources but also due to information overload
Making a living is tough, especially for college students. When you’re focused on just getting by, it’s understandable that you might not have the time or energy for philanthropy. In fact, our survey found that 90% of participants cited financial constraints as the main barrier to supporting charitable causes. That’s why we’re introducing a quick and free way for you to show support for your favorite charitable organizations, without the added pressure on your wallet or schedule.
In addition to the financial barriers, the sheer volume of information available can make charitable giving overwhelming. With so many causes competing for attention, it can be difficult to pinpoint which one is most deserving of your support. The challenge doesn’t end there—finding an organization that is both effective and trustworthy adds another layer of complexity. While navigating the sea of information can be overwhelming, there is strength in numbers.
Even with these challenges, 82% of people we surveyed wish they could be more charitable than they are
Aggies for Charitable Giving wants to help address these problems by hosting voting contests to give money to charities that Aggies like the most. We chose voting contests because we believe they are a free and simple way to start getting involved. This year we will be donating a total of $7500 and we would like your help in deciding how to give it away.
Voting Contest Process
Nomination: We sent random Aggies a survey about how they felt about many different charities. This ensures that a diverse range of causes are represented, reflecting the values and passions of our community. We also take suggestions for charities you would like to include throughout the year and put them into the following survey.
Voting: We will be running voting contests over 5 weeks from September 5th to October 3rd with the contests opening each Thursday.
To vote, all you need to do is click on the vote button either on the home page or vote page and you will be taken to the voting platform. To maintain the integrity of the contest, all votes are verified. This helps prevent multiple voting from the same person and ensures that the results accurately reflect the community’s preferences.
Results: Once the voting period concludes, all votes are carefully tallied, and the winning charity is promptly announced. The winning organization will receive its award by the following weekend. We also publicly post a receipt of the payment to ensure full transparency and fairness. At the end of September after the conclusion of all voting contests, a random voter will be chosen to receive 100 dollars. You can vote in multiple contests, but will only be counted once for this draw.
Why use a voting contest?
Voting contests provide a fun way for people to support charities without the high barriers of cost and time.
The contest also encourages participants to learn more about different charitable organizations and the causes they support. This increased awareness can lead to more informed decisions and a deeper understanding of the impact these charities have on society.
When many people come together to support a cause, the impact is greater. A voting contest harnesses the power of collective action, allowing a large group of people to make a significant difference by pooling their support behind the most popular organizations.
We hope that by making participation easy and impactful, we can get the ball rolling, making philanthropy more accessible and inspiring continued support and action well beyond the contest itself.
We believe philanthropy and public service are inherently connected, each reinforcing the other in fostering a strong community that can positively shape our world today.
FAQs
How do I vote?
Voting is easy! Just go to our home page or click vote in the navigation bar and you’ll be able to see a Vote button that will take you to our voting platform.
How are the charities selected?
We surveyed students on many charities selected from Forbes’s Top 100 Charities, lists curated by GiveWell, as well as local organizations recommended by Aggies to see what everyone liked. We tried to include a wide range of causes so that everyone could find something they enjoyed supporting.
How are the funds distributed?
Once the voting period concludes, all votes are carefully tallied, and the winning charity is promptly announced. The winning organization will receive its award by the following weekend. We also publicly post a receipt of the payment to ensure full transparency. When making donations, some organizations allow donors to choose how the money will be allocated. If given this option, we will choose to allow the charitable organization choose how to spend the money to avoid going against the intentions of voters.
Can I suggest a charity for future contests?
Of course! Many of the charities we used for this year’s contest were suggestions made by previous students. To make a suggestion please contact us through email ([email protected]) or social media.
What if I don’t like any of the charities?
We understand that not every charity may resonate with everyone. If you don’t feel strongly about any of the options in this contest, we encourage you to still participate by voting for the cause that aligns most closely with your values. Your vote helps guide future selections, and we welcome your feedback on which charities you’d like to see included in the next contest
How can I trust that my vote is counted?
We take the integrity of the voting process very seriously. After the voting period ends, all votes are carefully tallied, and the results are made publicly available. We will also send follow-up emails with detailed insights on the voting results, ensuring that all voters remain anonymous.
Can I vote more than once?
Each person will be able to vote only once per week, but we encourage you to participate in as many voting contests as you would like. This year we are holding 5 contests across 5 weeks.
How do I know I can trust charitable organizations?
It’s understandable to feel hesitant about supporting causes if you aren’t particularly interested or if you have concerns about the trustworthiness of charitable organizations. However, it’s worth considering that there are many ways to contribute to the well-being of your community or causes you care about, beyond traditional donations. For example, you could support local initiatives, volunteer your time, or even help spread awareness about issues you find important. Trustworthy charities do exist, and with careful research, it’s possible to find ones that align with your values and have a proven track record of making a positive impact. A great resource to use is https://www.givewell.org/ which is an independent nonprofit focused on helping people do as much good as possible with their donations.
Have more questions or feedback?
If you have any questions or feedback on how the contests are run, or if there are specific charitable organizations you’d like to see represented next time, feel free to reach out to us via email or social media.