We all know giving is great. We get to support initiatives and causes we are passionate about, all while helping our community. However, giving goes much deeper than surface-level help. In this blog post, we’ll explore all the ways giving is powerful.
Giving is good for you! Literally.
You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after donating to a cause, or volunteering at an event? That feeling isn’t just about good vibes. There is clear scientific evidence that giving is healthy for you. Here are a few ways the Cleveland Clinic states that giving is good for the body, not just the soul.
As you help someone or give a gift, your brain secretes “feel good” chemicals such as:
- Serotonin (which regulates your mood).
- Dopamine (which gives you a sense of pleasure).
- Oxytocin (which creates a sense of connection with others).
Psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD. also says, “generosity truly is good for your heart.” Giving to others can lower your blood pressure and protect your ticker. This effect is similar to the positive results brought by a healthy diet and exercise.
In addition, the secret to living longer may be giving more of yourself. Studies show that people who volunteer tend to live longer than those who don’t.
So giving goes beyond feeling good, it’s great for your physical health as well!
Giving amplifies impact
When you give to a cause, you may be amplifying your impact by reminding family and friends to give as well. The Charities Aid Foundation says, “Your charitable donations could even bring about a family-wide effort to back a charity or charities that have special significance to you as a group. Family giving creates a bond, helping to bolster relationships through a shared goal and often raises more money than could otherwise be possible through individual donations.”
Even more so, if you have children, they may be moved to donate as well when they are older. This creates a new meaning of generational giving. The Kempe Foundation has experienced such a gift ourselves, through Rona Goodman and her mother and grandmother’s blankets.
When you are giving, think of how you can motivate and inspire others to give as well.
Charitable donations are investments in the future
Community Force says, “When you support nonprofit organizations, you are helping to make progress toward solving critical global problems. This benefits those who receive assistance from nonprofit organizations today and future generations who will inherit a healthier planet and a better world.”
This is especially relevant within the Kempe Foundation. We are dedicated to making a safer world for children everywhere. Your donations don’t just impact the now, they are impacting endless generations of children and families.
Giving creates tangible change
Organizations like the Kempe Foundation rely on donations to perform vital change in our communities. Whether that is supporting experts in the Kempe Center with their work, research, and publications. Or advocating for laws and bills that protect children and families, the Kempe Foundation needs donation dollars to make those initiatives happen.
That’s why transparency is incredibly important to us, we show where your dollars go by releasing an annual report of our activities. Read previous annual reports here.
“Giving does not only precede receiving; it is the reason for it. It is in giving that we receive.”
– Israelmore Ayivor
