During the holiday season, most of us tend to get caught up in finding the perfect gifts for our friends and family. While showering our loved ones with presents is great, this is a perfect time of year to start thinking of how you can help local and national organizations near you.
What is your budget?
Is this your first year giving to a charity, or are you a seasoned veteran? No matter what you can make sure a charity you believe in receives a donation this year. First, you need to determine what you can afford to give. Make sure you’re leaving a donation that works for your budget, you want to make sure you’re still able to pay for all of your day-to-day expenses.
You also want to make sure what you’re leaving in the donation works for the charity. If it’s a smaller donation, maybe look to a smaller, more local organization, it might go further at a smaller organization. No matter how much you plan on donating this year, remember that any dollar amount makes a difference to an organization.
What are you passionate about?
Maybe you want to help support the arts, health and medicine, or STEM programs for schools in your state, you can find a charity that shares your passion. However, you should do your research. Find an organization whose mission statement and goals that fit with your own.
Do you have an estate plan?
Remember, that with a proper estate plan you can set up specific donations to organizations – whether that is a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your net worth. You can make sure you are leaving funds to organizations you are passionate about, in addition to your yearly donations.