It is that time of year — and I do not mean the never-ending sales that will go on until December 31, or the taking over of broadcast, satellite, and cable communications with hours and hours of football. 

The “holidays” are the busiest and most critical time of the year for nonprofits. Whether strictly secular or religious in nature, the end of the calendar year is the life blood of charitable organizations looking to balance their books by the end of the next fiscal year.

There are two main reasons why December is so important. First, even those who have no religious background, or count themselves as “nones,” or lapsed, seem to get into the “spirit” of Christmas, maybe due to the cumulative effect of 478 Hallmark holiday movies played on a continual loop. 

There is another, less than noble reason, that the end of December is important to works of charity: It represents the last few days remaining to make charitable donations deductible for this year’s income tax form.   

My first experience in the “nonprofit” world was not getting hired enough as a freelance television writer. I had to pivot, and found a niche for what skills I have in working in the official nonprofit sector. It has been a blessing in more ways than I can count. It is not always easy, and even though the term “nonprofit” conjures images of selfless heroes working soup kitchens and distributing toys to children, the fact is that the structure of the system resembles for-profit entities in many ways.

Instead of salesmen, we have donor relations people. And like their for-profit counterparts, the donor relations folks have “goals” and marks to hit. Even a nonprofit has plenty of the same economic realities as any Fortune 500 company. There are payrolls to meet — those working in the nonprofit world still have rent to pay, mortgages to service, and children to feed. The utility companies may give a small break to nonprofits, but if the bills are not paid, the water and power stop flowing. When you add building maintenance, food costs for feeding hungry people, insurance, and all the other expenses that go along with a business, it is a marvel any nonprofits manage at all.

So, when the holidays come around, and people are feeling the urge to give, the nonprofit world pounces. That is why you may be getting more envelopes in your mailbox than you expected or even asked for, or getting a phone call or three from a nonprofit you may have contributed to in the past.

My request is that you have patience. As someone who detests getting unsolicited calls from people trying to sell me aluminum siding, solar panels, or a new credit card, I feel your pain. But reserve a little charity for the charity that may be calling. They are selling something too — it may not be goods and or services, but it is services for good.

I have worked in nonprofits that were religious in their genesis and nature, and for one that has discarded it. Some people give because a charity is religious and others will give only if they are sure it is not. A persisting urban legend is that religious charities demand to see baptismal certificates, and will toss out anyone who cannot provide the proper paperwork. But this does not happen. It reminds me of something a nun I know once said. She operates a social service agency in Los Angeles, and she said she doesn’t help people because they are Catholic, she helps them because she is Catholic. 

So whether it is a food or toy drive at your parish, a Catholic Charities campaign, or flyer from any of the numerous organizations in Los Angeles that feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless, remember that the mail you did not ask for, the unsolicited phone call, is (mostly) coming from a good place. 

And if you feel grumpy with all the over-commercialization of Christmas, and the seemingly endless problem of homelessness, keep in mind that if any of us deserved mercy, none of us would need it.