It is an unfortunate fact that charities are performing a more vital service than ever before. On a national level, millions of families have been plunged further into poverty as a result of the growing cost-of-living crisis; meanwhile, global instability has seen calls for humanitarian aid and assistance increase ever-higher. As such, showing your charity of choice your support in these trying times is crucial.
Charities have a lot of overheads, expenses and responsibilities on top of their simple charitable ambitions; it is necessary for many charities to retain the services of charity law firms in order to properly navigate receiving and distributing funds, while others have infrastructural expenses relating to full-time staff and fundraising costs. As such, every little helps – but what tangible things can you do to support a charity that’s close to your heart?
Donating
While it may seem glib to simply suggest donating to your charity of choice, it is the simple truth that donations are the single most effective way to support a charitable organisation. Funding is of chief importance to enable charities to carry out their work, whether paying for professional staff or directly funding humanitarian relief. Setting up a direct debit to give money on a regular basis can be a huge help in this regard.
Of course, there are ways to donate even if you cannot justify the monetary expense. Some charities are more than happy to receive other kinds of resources instead of money; food banks are a particularly obvious example, being able to receive food donations directly. However, other organisations may benefit from receiving equipment in the form of computers or office peripherals, and you may even be able to donate your time to help them out.
Volunteering
Speaking of donating time; second to financial assistance, the next-most valuable resource you can offer a charitable organisation is your time. Volunteers are the lifeblood of many charities, and offering your time as an additional hand-on-deck is sure to have a positive overall impact on any charity’s operation. Beyond simply being an additional pair of hands, you may have specific skills that target weak points in their operation – and you may even be able to directly assist in their fundraising efforts.
Raising Awareness
Charities always benefit positively from increased exposure; raising awareness is a strong way to support a charity you care about, and can have a knock-on effect on their donation figures if done correctly. Simply sharing your chosen charity’s story on social media can be enough to bring friends and family on board, but there are other ways in which you can raise awareness – such as by personal fundraising efforts in their name, such as competing in a marathon.
Leaving Assets in Your Will
If you have a particularly longstanding relationship with, or personal connection to a charity, you could leave assets from your estate to them in your will. Not only can you make a lasting impact with a significant sum from your estate, but you can also reduce the inheritance tax implications for your estate if you leave more than 10% of it to charity.
