10 Tips for Donating to Charity

If You’re Giving Items…

Many organizations are gathering used coats and other warm clothing for the winter, making it a great time for you to pare down your closet and help others by donating items you no longer use. If you’re looking for a local organization that can use those goods, use this advanced search on Charity Navigator. For instance, if you plan to get rid of your winter coat, donate it. If you’ve recently bought a new set of kitchenware, donate the old set.

If you’re looking for a way to integrate giving into your life this holiday season, look into the 29 Gifts Challenge, which challenges people to give away something for 29 days. Your gifts can include things such as money, food, old sweaters, smiles, your time, kind words or thoughts. The site then asks you to create something—a story, a song, a video, etc.—that describes your experience with making a commitment to giving. Committing to giving every day of your life for a month will certainly get you in the giving mindset and show you the direct impact of your generosity.