9 Positive Effects of Giving to Charity

12/9/2016 (Permalink)

You might be surprised to learn that, ultimately, it might be you who reaps some of the best rewards of your donation. Here are nine positive effects of giving to charity.

1. Experience More Pleasure
In research conducted by the National Institutes of Health², participants who chose to donate a portion of $100 they were provided enjoyed activated pleasure centers in the brain. Although this experiment was controlled and scientific, it did show that donating money simply makes you feel better, which is something we can all benefit from.

2. Help Others in Need
We don't live in a perfect world, and there's never going to be a perfect time to give—but there are always people out there in need of help.

3. Get a Tax Deduction
If you give to an IRS-approved charity, you can write off donations on your tax return. Donating your cash is a great way to reduce the amount of money you send off to Uncle Sam, and for a good cause, to boot.

4. Bring More Meaning to Your Life
When you donate money to charity, you create opportunities to meet new people who believe in the same causes that inspire you. That, and making a real impact on those causes, can infuse your everyday life with more meaning. 

5. Promote Generosity in Your Children
When your kids see you donating money, they're much more likely to adopt a giving mindset as they grow up. 

6. Motivate Friends and Family
When you let your friends and family know of your charitable donations, they may find themselves more motivated to undertake their own efforts to give.

7. Realize that Every Little Bit Helps
You don't need $10,000 to make a difference in someone's life. In developing countries, even just a few US dollars could result in a week's worth of meals for a starving child, much-needed medical attention, and even improved schooling. 

8. Improve Personal Money Management
If you set a scheduled $100 donation each month for a particular charity, that can motivate you to be more attentive to your own finances in an effort to ensure you don't default or fall behind in your monthly donations. Anything that gets you to pay closer attention to your bank account is a good thing—especially when it helps those in need.

9. Give, If You Can't Volunteer
This might not necessarily be a positive effect of charitable giving, but if you're too busy to volunteer or otherwise donate your time, giving money is the perfect workaround. Never think that you can't improve someone's life or the world itself if your personal or professional schedule won't allow the time. Writing out a check is a simple way to show you're willing to help others in any way you can.

Do you know of any other positive effects of donating money to charity?