Many people choose to support their favorite organization by making a charitable bequest after their death. That’s a wonderful way to leave a legacy—however, I think there’s also something so powerful about seeing the impact of your gift while you’re alive. After all, if the goal of giving is to make the world a better place, why not enjoy that better world you helped create?
That being said, here are a few of my favorite reasons to do your giving while you’re living:
It’s a great example for the next generation
A lot of people tell me the reason they’re so involved in giving is because they remembered seeing their parents volunteer and/or give to charity, and it instilled in them a desire to give back as well. I’ve seen this in my own kids—when my husband Mike passed away from cancer in 2020, they expressed a strong desire to give back to cancer research and get involved with our cancer program as volunteers.
Even if you’ve not had a significant healthcare experience, or a tradition of giving in your family growing up, this could be a great time to start a tradition of your own—one that’s passed down for generations to come.
Giving is good for you
Did you know that charitable giving actually has a positive impact on your brain? A recent study revealed that donating money to a good cause releases the same kind of feel-good endorphins associated with pleasurable activities like eating, exercising or getting a hug. It’s also proven to boost your sense of self-worth and create a more optimistic outlook on life. Talk about a win-win, right?
It connects you with like-minded people
One of the best parts of my job is all the incredible people I’ve met who share my desire to make a difference. When you join the Providence family of donors, you’re going to be meeting some really great people, whether it’s at a fundraising event, a lecture or through volunteering.
It’s a bit like being a fan of a particular football team. When you join a whole stadium of fellow supporters cheering together on game day, that collective energy and impact is just enormous. Our donors are the same way.
It allows you to see the impact of your gift
This is a big one. Giving sooner rather than later lets you meet the doctors doing the research, see the programs you’re interested in supporting and witness the power of your gift first-hand. I knew a remarkable woman in her 90s named Elsie Franz Finley who decided that she wanted to see exactly where her money was going and meet the people that were going to be benefitting from it before she died. So we made those introductions, and Elsie was thrilled to see the difference she was making before she passed in 2018.
Anyone can be a philanthropist
The word philanthropy tends to conjure up images of wealthy individuals endowing millions and attending glitzy galas. But here’s the thing—in its purest form, “philanthropy” is defined as a love of mankind—in other words, a philanthropist is one who acts out of love for humanity, regardless of age, income or social status.
That love of humanity is at the center of what we do at the Providence Foundation. And I’m constantly inspired by our donors who give so generously of their money, skills and time—no matter where they are in life.
Reach out if you’d like to learn more. Laurie.Kelley@Providence.org
