Surprising Life Benefits of Donating

When it comes to living an altruistic lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to show you care for others. Whether you choose to volunteer your time, get involved in the community or even commit time to strengthening your relationships, living an altruistic life provides many ways to impact others around you.

One way you can emphasize altruism within your life is by committing to donate to nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations and charities around the world make an impact on their communities and causes through the generous donations they receive. Donating to an organization or cause you care about has some surprising benefits. Check them out below!

Studies across the board have consistently shown donating financial gifts can actually increase your pleasure and joy in life. One research study conducted by the National Institute of Health gave participants $100 each. When participants chose to donate a portion of their money, they experienced heightened and activated pleasure centers in the brain than those who did not. This means more often than not, donating money actually makes you feel better.

Giving to local community organizations also provides important safety nets, which guarantee assistance for those in need around you. Many community organizations receive most of their funding from smaller, private donations. These groups can have the most significant impact on building up your community members and fostering a better environment for the future.

Speaking of benefits, donating to a cause has actually been shown to improve your physical health, as well. People who volunteer and give consistently score better in measurements of overall health than those who do not. Additionally, knowing you make an impact can also improve your self-esteem and self-worth, helping to lower depression rates.

With depression often comes stress, which can also be reduced through the simple act of giving. Researchers at John Hopkins University and the University of Tennessee found charitable givers often experience lower rates of stress and reduced blood pressure levels compared to their counterparts who do not give. By improving your happiness and health through giving and serving others, you can also reduce your stress levels.

If you struggle to maintain a budget, giving can help you learn important money management skills. By setting up a recurring donation every month, you can feel even more motivated to attend to your finances and ensure you don’t fall behind. By paying attention to giving, you also pay attention to your bank account, and help learn better money management.

Finally, one of the most popular reasons to give: getting a tax deduction. If you give to an IRS-approved charity, you can write off any donations you make on your tax return. While it might not be the most important reason to give, it certainly doesn’t hurt to save a little extra money in the long run—and help others at the same time.