Are you a charitable person? Most people have a soft spot for those in need and are willing to give a little here and there. Usually, it is in the checkout line when the cashier asks for a few bucks for the food bank or another cause the store supports. You may walk by a Salvation Army kettle or veteran poppy donation box and throw your change in. It is quick and easy, and then you go about your day.
Wouldn’t it be nice if your giving was more thought out? We should all take the time to figure out what we want to support. When you are truly behind a cause, it has a bigger impact on the charity and you.
Here are five ways you can donate money to charity meaningfully:
Donate money as a family
Anyone can anonymously donate money to a worthy cause. However, it is usually forgotten soon afterwards. Instead, why not get the whole family involved on your charitable act?
Deciding on charities to support as a family brings everyone together and focuses on the caring of others. You will build closer ties with your kids and spouse and create a charity tradition. This is a way to hear the opinions of others and find out where their heart leads them, so have a family meeting and dig deep into what your brood wants to financially support.
Donate money to your passion
We all have something we truly enjoy in life, bringing us happiness. Why not support someone else who shares that passion?
Find nonprofit organizations that work for the causes you deeply love. If your best memories as a youth were spent at summer camp, you could help fund the building and restoration of a local retreat. You could buy some instruments for a community band that needs them because you love to play the piano and want to see others be moved through music.
Do you care passionately about the environment? Donate to cleaning up the ocean and beaches because these charities share your desire for a greener world. The point is your donations will be more meaningful and personal when it is given to something you truly care for.
Donate to endowment funds
Giving a one-time gift to charity is noble and compassionate. It helps immediate needs and is very important to all charities. What if you wanted your donation to go further? There is a way for your financial gift to keep giving with an endowment fund.
Endowment funds allow people to donate to a foundation or nonprofit and invest their principal in donating to charities. The initial investment stays intact to generate investment income that can be regularly drawn from. It is truly a lifetime gift.
Endowment funds are often managed by organizations, so you can donate to the United Church of Canada and they will handle the funds according to your instructions. However, you can also start your own through a foundation and decide who the money supports. This long-term contribution to charities makes you an immortal giver and has a large impact on the causes you support.
Donate money to nonprofits
You may be very charitable and give to a large number of nonprofits. While that is a wonderful gift, you can make a bigger impact if you narrow you’re giving to only a few causes. This focuses your money and makes it go further for specific needs, and you can build long-term relationships with these charities.
When you donate money to nonprofits, it is also easier to measure your impact. When you concentrate your financial efforts on a few causes, you have the time to get more involved and see what your gifts are doing. It is a way to be more invested in what they do and support, and you become a large part of their success.
Donate money on someone’s behalf
You may know someone passionate about the welfare of others. They have given their time and talent, which inspires you. What not support their cause by making a financial donation in their name? This shows your commitment to their passion and their charity too.
You can also give in honour or the memory of a loved one. This makes a transformative impact on a nonprofit organization. It carries on the legacy of a person’s meaningful giving and connects you with that special someone and their charity. You are also honouring their family by continuing the good work they started.
Giving to charity is a way of promoting happiness, spreading joy, and supporting those in need. Use these five ways to support a charity that is important to you. Take the time to find meaningful ways of giving because it will invest your heart in the process. It is rare to impact your life and those who need help.
