Different Ways to Give to Charities You Love

One popular goal for many people this year is to donate more to charity. If you’re on a tight budget however, you may feel like that goal is out of reach. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can give through out 2013.

Here are some ways you can make a difference this year and beyond.

Small Gifts Throughout the Year

Sometimes we feel bad that we can’t give what we want to worthy causes because of our limited budget. If giving a large donation would wreak havoc on your budget, perhaps you can spend the same amount, but over the course of the year. There are many charitable organizations that offer small subscription plans.

While you may not think your contribution is much, most organizations could use that money for many projects throughout the year.

• Camp Sunshine: Camp Sunshine offers children with life threatening illnesses and their families a retreat from the strain and toll that these diseases can cause. Services given at the camp include medical, counseling, accommodation  and meals. The camp also offers families recreational activities.
• Feeding America: With a network of over 200 food banks around the country, this hunger-relief charity maximizes your donations. For every dollar you give, it will go towards getting $8 worth of food to someone in need.

Helping Out With Your Skills

Of course while money is certainly appreciated when it comes to giving, it is not the only thing you can do to help your charity. If you have some skills or even just some time available to share, you can do much good in your community. Not all organizations advertise that they need help (they may lack the resources to get the word out), so feel free to contact a local office to see if there is a need that you can fill.

For example, if you have some basic web design skills, perhaps you can donate your time to update the charity’s website. Or perhaps you can help with administration work that would free up time for the full time members to take care of the day to day operations.

Thoughts on Giving

Besides helping others, you may also get some tax benefits with your charitable donations. How many of you are planning on giving more to charity this year? How do you prefer to give? What organizations are dear to your heart and why?