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February 2, 2022Giving back helps you almost as much as it helps the recipients, but we understand why some people have hesitation about charitable giving. There are many stories of fraud, misuse of funds and unintentional mismanagement. That’s why it’s important to only donate to reputable organizations. We will get into five reasons to donate below, but first, here is how to find the best local charities to donate to.
Traits of a great charity
Paid staff
Wait, shouldn’t all the staff be volunteers? Actually, no. This is where unintentional mismanagement can come in. While volunteers keep costs down and allow more donations to flow to the cause, large charities must operate as businesses (albeit one that doesn’t exist to turn a profit). That means structure, processes, accounting, reporting, teams and management. There is a reason why people specialize in these areas – having someone without experience running the accounting side of a charity, or doing complicated tax work for example, is not efficient. While volunteers play a huge role – and are very much appreciated – a few key paid positions on the admin side are a trait of a professionally run, efficient charity.
Transparency
The best local charities to donate to are very upfront about what they do, how and where the money comes from and where the money goes. Blogs, news releases, public financials, a list of who is on the board – you should be able to find these easily.
Five Great Reasons to Donate
Once you find the best local charities to donate to, you’ll experience these five giving-back benefits.
1. Help those in need
It goes without saying, without the support of people through donations of time, money and items, many charities would simply cease to exist. When you give, lives are saved, animals are rescued, food is grown – you really do make a difference.
2. Tax deduction
Qualifying charities and non-profits may offer a tax deduction receipt. This depends on the organization and the amount you give, but it is common practice among the best local charities to donate to.
3. Improve your health
Research shows that when you give back, you get a mental boost! By simply finding and supporting the best local charities to donate to, you are raising your own level of happiness, too.
4. You are an inspiration
You don’t have to brag about giving back on Facebook, but when your children or peers see you donating and being charitable, it inspires them to be more charitable, too. Being humble about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t get noticed.
5. Practice gratitude
Finding the best local charities to donate to often aligns with things you hold dear. For example, many people that struggled with hunger in their youth but became financially stable later donate to food charities. Associations like these promote personal gratitude, and gratitude is another important aspect of good mental health and overall wellbeing.
FreshMinistries is one of the best local charities to donate to
FreshMinistries empowers developing communities to become self-sufficient. We do this through a combination of education and economic opportunity. We are one of the best local charities to donate to because we are professional in our processes, open and transparent, and are making a very tangible difference around the world.
We also make it easy to donate. We have a secure online donation form or you can contact us if you need more information before making a donation.