No one can argue that giving to charity is a personal thing. It could be that you want to support a cause that is close to your heart because of an experience you had or that you simply believe that it’s the right thing to do. There are many motivations for giving that we see in our work at the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, but the bottom line is that most of us want to give back.

According to the Blackbaud Institute, a cloud software company focused on socially conscious fundraising, overall giving in 2021 grew 9% from 2020. Blackbaud’s Charitable Giving Report states that overall giving typically falls back to normal levels after crises such as the pandemic. The report, however, affirms that hasn’t been the case: Giving not only has recovered but is growing more than it has in a decade. The report notes that overall charitable giving grew by 19% and online giving grew 42% since 2019.

Considering this, responding to a crisis isn’t the only reason people give back; it simply can feel good!

Recent studies show that charitable giving has many mental and physical health benefits as a bonus to donating and volunteering. According to a University of Oregon study, when people give to charitable organizations, it activates the “feel good” chemicals in the brain – serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. In another study reported by the Cleveland Clinic, researchers found that people who help others in their community or through organizations had lower stress levels, less depression and increased self-esteem. There are even studies that show that giving and volunteering can lower blood pressure.

Motivations for giving are varied. Perhaps you have been the recipient of philanthropy or had a life-changing experience with an organization and feel an overwhelming gratitude to it, so much that you want to share your good fortune. Or maybe you have been blessed with so much in your life – talent, finances – that you feel an obligation to pay it forward. CFAAC philanthropic advisers can help you identify ways to help others so that you can fulfill your wish to give back.

It can be tough to witness social inequality in your community and world. Maybe you’re heartsick over what you’ve seen and feel the need to work for change or improve conditions. You may tend to support nonprofits that research and drive change, nonprofits that focus on the cause rather than the symptoms. CFAAC’s Field of Interest Funds such as Environment Anne Arundel and Women and Girls Fund can give you the opportunity to target your contribution to one or more areas of interest that you care most about. These funds that cover education, youth, arts and culture, health or the environment, are broad in scope, yet targeted so as to meet the needs of the community.

Sometimes religion or family traditions of giving can make a strong impact on why you give. Even though there may be generational differences in the organizations supported, the foundation for giving back is ingrained in tradition, whether family or faith based. Think about how you grew up and your values. What has changed? What has remained steadfast? CFAAC can work with you and your professional advisers to help make your charitable decisions become even more personal to you.

What makes you give? By focusing on what motivates you to volunteer or donate, you could make your giving even more meaningful to you and the organizations you want to support. For example, maybe you like to be involved in your community, and care a lot about improving the welfare and livelihoods of those within it. You may want to be closely connected to the organizations you support either by volunteering or just observing the impact made with your donations. To understand your local area better, consider working with community-based organizations such as CFAAC, who have expertise on Anne Arundel County’s specific needs.

No matter what motivates you, CFAAC’s philanthropic advisers are here to help you navigate your giving. Our consultations are always completely confidential and without any obligation. For more information, contact us at 410-280-1102.

This story was originally printed in the June 12, 2022 edition of the CAPITAL GAZETTE.