1. Pick up the phone. “The quickest, easiest way to make money is to draw up a list of all the people you know and ask them directly for a donation,” says author Stephanie Roth. Call all your friends and ask if they’d be willing to write a check for $25 or $50 to an organization providing disaster relief.

2. Send an e-mail. To make the donation process easier, try sending an e-mail message asking them to make an online donation. Include a personal note and a link to the donation Web page of the charity.

3. Launch your own food, coat, or book drive. Offer to visit the homes of friends and acquaintances on a specific day to collect clothing, canned goods, or other material donations. (Check first with the charity to which you plan to donate; be certain it can use the items you want to collect.)