You might think that philanthropy requires a million dollars to make a difference in the world. However, anyone can become a philanthropist and make a difference. In this article, we’ll talk about ways to become a philanthropist without donating money, and hope that you’ll find inspiration in these ideas.
Why Be A Philanthropist?
Being a philanthropist has many benefits, whether volunteering at a local food bank or helping out for an hour a week. According to science, charitable acts can also have positive effects.
According to a study by the International Journal Of Medicine, being altruistic can improve our physical and mental health. Another study revealed that helping others triggers the activation of specific brain parts related to physical touch and food cravings.
Thinking Like A Philanthropist
When you start thinking about philanthropy, you’ll realize it’s more than just giving money. It requires getting to the root cause of the issue to create lasting change. Good philanthropists are known for their ability to think critically about an issue. For instance, Scott Harrison solved the water crisis in developing countries through his charity.
Through his charity, Scott was able to provide people with sustainable water plans and educate them about hygiene and sanitation practices. He was able to help improve the quality of life in the communities he visited. Because of his initiative, women in Sub-Saharan Africa could spend more time studying and working.
Being A Philanthropist Without Spending Money
- Volunteer
One of the best ways to become a philanthropist is by volunteering. This can be as simple as volunteering at a local food bank or helping with a local basketball team. Thousands of volunteer opportunities are available on VolunteerMatch, and you can easily find them through your location.
- Acts of Kindness
Doing random acts of kindness can be very simple and help brighten a person’s day. Some of these ideas include putting spare change in a person’s parking meter, helping out at a local restaurant, or buying a coffee for someone.
- Donating Belongings
Thrift shops and local non-profit organizations can accept your gently used items, which can help low-income families. Some programs provide cell phone minutes to soldiers.
- Donating Credit Card Points
Almost every credit card has a reward program that allows people to earn points. If you’ve accumulated many of these points, you can donate them to a good cause by giving them to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This organization helps children with critical illnesses receive the wish of a lifetime.
- Donating Blood
Making an essential contribution to the blood supply can be as simple as donating blood. It can help save a life. To learn more about the eligibility requirements for blood donations, visit the Red Cross.
- Crowdfunding
It’s possible to make a big difference in someone’s life without spending a lot of money, but if your goal is much larger than that, then crowdfunding can be a great way to help.
You can quickly start a fundraising campaign on a website such as GoFundMe, and the platform has a 0% fee. This means that the money that you raise can be used to help others.