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The Psychology Behind Why We Donate

Money is a fascinating commodity and while we don't often think of the psychological aspects of the financial decisions we make, they are certainly there. Fundraisers for charitable organizations realize how steeped in psychology the process of giving to others is; they know often before we do the various reasons why we're willing to part with our hard earned money.

All of us give for different reasons and many of us give for different reasons at different times. A powerful incentive for some is a shared experience with those in need. Anyone who has ever been homeless, for example, is more inclined to empathize with the homeless and may be more inclined to contribute to those charitable organizations that work with the homeless. The same principle applies to those of us who have had cancer, or who have had a loved one suffer from the disease.

Some people just want to help others who are less fortunate. We are all richer than others and poorer than others, depending upon our perspective at any given time. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of charitable contributions don't come from wealthy corporations; in fact, 80% of all charitable contributions come from individuals. Both wealthy and those who aren't wealthy contribute to charitable organizations, so the amount of money one has doesn't necessarily have a bearing on how willing they are to part with it for the good of others.

Some of us are just so grateful to have what we do have that we want to share with others. We feel blessed by our station in life and want to help others to have a better life. Sometimes, those of us who have never given before are suddenly moved by a television commercial or a news item that we instantly reach for our wallets.

We're human, too, though. Sometimes we reach out to others for selfish reasons. Giving to others looks good on resumes and college applications. There's nothing wrong with giving for those reasons as long as we truly give in the capacity in which we are claiming to be giving. You may volunteer at a hospital because you want to beef up your resume. As long as you show up when you claim you did and deliver the promised service, they will be as glad to see you coming as someone who is contributing for purely selfless reasons.

Some people give to others because they need to do something and they don't need money the way most people who work at a job do, so instead of getting a job that pays a salary, they volunteer their time to others. They may need to feel useful or fill up empty time. Anyone who has ever had any experience with charitable contributions, whether they contributed time or money, knows how good it feels to give to others and that feeling can be addictive!

Some people volunteer at a charitable organization because they want or need to learn a skill and they don't necessarily want to take a class. Perhaps they need more experience with computers or need to learn to answer a multi-line phone system. Volunteering is an excellent way to learn these skills; it is a win-win situation.

Don't ever feel guilty for giving back to others just because you, too, are realizing a benefit from it. Just like those who contribute money to a charitable organization often realize a tax deduction, those who volunteer time often realize a different kind of benefit. It doesn't mean you're any less giving than someone who is giving for the sole purpose of helping others. As long as you are delivering upon your promise, you can enjoy the extra perks guilt-free.