Giving to charity and finding ways to help others doesn’t have to break your budget or cause undue financial stress. To help you give back without breaking the bank, we’ve put together five tips along with some advice to avoid becoming a victim of charity fraud.
- Give Your Time. Most charities rely on volunteers to help make phone calls, stock shelves, mail letters, work a counter, or help out wherever possible. Fact is, a study from the University of Maryland found that small nonprofit organizations relied just as much on volunteers as they did on cash donations.
- Donate Gently Used Items. Whether you donate to a well-known institution, women’s shelter, or homeless fundraiser, your items can make a difference. Items that are most often needed include work clothes, toys for young children as well as tweens, household kitchen items, and tools.
- Leverage Your Skills to Help Others. Your professional skills can help others in need. Whatever you do for a living could help others in need as they search for housing, jobs, and stability.
- Spread Awareness with Social Media. According to the Chicago Tribune, helping spread the word about a charity or nonprofit organization can help boost cash donations and volunteer hours. So, pick a cause and help promote it through social media, even if you are simply sharing an organization’s posts and applying your own positive commentary.
- Organize a Fundraiser. You don’t have to be part of a nonprofit organization to host a bake sale, garage sale, or other money-making event and then donate those funds to the charity of your choice. To really help your fundraiser shine, connect with the organization prior to your event and ask for permission to use the charity’s logo and name on signs and marketing materials.
Watch Out for Fraud
According to AARP, there are far too many fake charities pretending to raise money for U.S. veterans, disaster relief, and various children’s charities. Before you donate your time or money to an organization, do some research. If the organization demands cash, gift cards, or wire transfers and does not accept volunteer time, it may be less-than legitimate. Additionally, a real charity will not pressure you to donate money and will thank you for your interest.
Boost Your Financial Wellness
More Financial Wellness Matters blogs on topics ranging from financial self-care to protecting your financial health are coming soon. Twice a month, we’ll dig a bit deeper into the relationship between financial health and overall well-being, shedding light on the behaviors and beliefs that drive money relationships. With simple tips and proven insights, we hope to enhance your financial well-being and help you live a healthier, happier life.