I think we all admire an organization that turns the world upside down by the energy they put toward doing good for others. I am awed by a great lady who runs a grief and loss group through a local church. She and the volunteers for the group go far beyond the call in assisting the families who attend the meetings. Non-profit organizations are filled with dedicated people and could not function nearly as well without this devotion and assistance. The funder selected for today recognizes the importance of those who strive to help others.

Today’s pick: This grant opportunity comes from the Reader’s Digest Foundation. “Every month for ten months, Reader’s Digest (RD) will choose one individual whose story of giving back serves as an inspiration to others.” The Make It Matter initiative is collecting stories about individuals who have inspired others by their ability to give back to the world around them. Reader’s Digest will donate $100,000 to a charity in the name of each person whose story is chosen for publication in the magazine. The deadline to submit entries is January 9, 2009. Articles will appear in a new Make it Matter column starting in April 2009.