Tuesday 30 October 2012

Why I Donate to Charity

By Andrew Scott


It is fulfilling to give back to the society hence charity giving makes you feel good. This practice has been encouraged since childhood, but, unfortunately countable people adhere to it. There are a myriad of charitable organizations all around the globe working tirelessly to create an impact. The feeling that one gets after donating to charity is worth the effort. Donations made to organizations that assist victims caught up in conflicts, poverty and other social related problems, go a long way in changing lives and creating social awareness. Notably, charity donations are not restricted to money only. Usually, people donate food, clothes, blood and computer supplies among other items. Before making a donation to charity, it is advisable to be aware of the details of the organization and its activities so as to ensure that the donation made is worthwhile.

The saying "it is better to give than to receive" is true, but giving and receiving both at the same time is better. There are a lot of advantages gained by donating to the less fortunate. The government has a way of rewarding those who donate in these charitable programs. If you own a business or if you earn more money, the more you give back to the community, the higher tax deductions or write-off you will get. Of course, the amount of deduction will always be dependent on the value of the donation you have given. There is nothing wrong with wanting to write off tax deductions especially if you are doing these so you can give more in form of donations. The higher the donation, the higher the tax deductions will there be as well.

A recent study indicated that charity giving makes you feel good. A team of psychologists and economists at Oregon University discovered that making donations to charity activates the parts of the brain that stimulate pleasure. Once a donation to charity has been made, the giver gets a reward reaction that is extremely intense, which causes a warm feeling of pleasure that has got health benefits. The idea of being part of a team that has contributed in providing basic survival for victims is very fulfilling. For instance, by contributing $ 20, some individuals somewhere can benefit from having safe drinking water. Being part of a team that initiates building hospitals, learning institutions, improving basic amenities and distributing supplies of medicine among many others is amazing. All those that donate can testify that charity giving makes you feel good.

The worst ever fear which paralyses people when they think to donate to charity is that they already don't have enough for themselves. This perhaps is the single most reason why people look away from charity. Yes, it's a strong cause - nobody has enough. Starting from the poorest to the rich, everybody toils everyday for innumerable hours for acquiring more. In such a condition, 'giving' looks so meaningless. But, if we look at our expenses honestly, can we say that with an unfaltering tongue? We all are guilty of some amount of whimsical spending. If we can save some of that money and donate to charity we can make a difference. We have to make a habit of it because, when not sure, we are driven by our habits.

Monetary donations are also one way of giving back to the community. There are a lot of non-profit organizations that are dedicated in helping poor families and assisting in providing education to kids who live in poor areas. Some employers also have a partnership with these non-profit organizations, allowing the employees to donate part of their salary to these organizations. You may want to check with your local HR if they offer this kind of service. If not, you can check with your local community and see how you will be able to help. The thought that you are able to help someone achieve a better life is very rewarding.




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