Thanksgiving is past and Christmas is not far away. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday have also passed. It has become a time of year when a lot of organizations are asking me for money. Most of what the merchants are offering are not in my size nor do they add meaningfully to my quality of life. Most organizations define the ask in terms of what they need to further their mission. I usually don’t hear from most of them unless it’s asking for money. On the other hand, I receive updates during the year from some causes I support, informing me of the progress they are making. They regularly report how lives have been changed and what good stewards they have been of the funds entrusted to them. These are the charities I am glad to support.