Giving to charity is a way to positively impact our own lives as well as the lives of others. As well as increasing happiness and nurturing a sense of achievement, it can strengthen family and personal values, enhance social connections and even improve physical health – not to mention having a positive effect on society as a whole.
Instilling Happiness and a Sense of Purpose
Many studies have shown that giving to charity activates the brain’s pleasure sensors, meaning it can improve mood and overall life satisfaction, promote emotional resilience and combat stress. Contributing to the causes we care about often provides a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in life, too.
Strengthening Values
Donating to the charities and causes that are important to us reinforces our personal beliefs and values, helping us live in alignment with what matters most to us. Furthermore, giving can instil generosity in children, and teaching children about giving (and involving them in the process) fosters gratitude and empathy.
Improving Social Connections
As well as promoting greater compassion and empathy, giving can build a sense of community, connecting donors with other like-minded individuals. It may also boost professional networking opportunities, offering the potential for introductions to people that value purpose-driven, impactful action.
Boosting Physical Health
Volunteer work and charitable giving have been associated with a healthier cardiovascular system and lower blood pressure. There are also the physical benefits that come with volunteering activities, which often involve socialising and moving around. It has been suggested that engaging in philanthropy can even lead to a longer lifespan, possibly because it’s linked to healthy behaviours and reduced stress.
Percent for Good Makes Giving Easy
Percent for Good was founded by Mark Lyttleton, who had worked in the City for 20 years and recognised the importance of giving back to society. He experienced the ease of payroll giving but found he didn’t have the time to research the causes to which he was donating. This led to the founding of Percent for Good, which aims to make regular giving to the causes that matter to them effortless for donors. The organisation’s carefully curated Cause Portfolios each incorporate charities that have a proven, on-the-ground impact to ensure that each and every donation drives positive, meaningful change.
How Percent for Good Works
Percent for Good facilitates payroll giving for corporate partners and employees, as well as giving for individuals. The organisation believes that many people would benefit from a simple process to help them decide the causes to donate to, ideally on a regular basis.