Article

Help Maximize Your Charitable Gifts

Charitable giving involves donating money, time, or possessions without expecting any personal benefit. The time spent formulating your charitable giving strategy can help you maximize the effect you have on the causes and organizations that are closest to your heart. Here are points to think about as you consider giving to non-profits.

November 17, 2024

Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Any endeavor worth undertaking, especially one that may affect others, deserves our careful consideration before we begin.

When contemplating charitable giving, think about the following points:

Choose Your Causes

Worthy causes abound and regularly solicit our time and money.
Choose a few organizations that focus on areas that are meaningful to you, and then research what kind of help is needed.

Budget Your Gifts

When planning your annual budget, include charitable gifts.
Distributing your donations throughout the year may lessen the impact on your finances and increase your total giving.

Plan Your Volunteer Activities

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience, especially when you’re able to see the fruits of your labor.
Carefully determine the time you have available to ensure your best efforts for the cause.
Avoid taking on too much.

Review Your Plans.

Review Your Plans

Just as you review your annual financial budget, review your annual time and value budget.
Revise your volunteer commitments to include only those where the rewards have been the greatest for both you and your cause.
Think quality rather than quantity.

Through our gifts of time and money, we may create better communities and a better world.

The time spent formulating your charitable giving strategy can help you maximize the effect you have on the causes and organizations that are closest to your heart.

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