If your finances are strained or you’re living paycheck to paycheck, giving money to causes you care about might feel out of reach.
Here’s encouraging news: you can still support charities and nonprofit groups that matter to you.
Even with limited funds, there are practical ways to help others. Below are six methods.
6 Ways to Support Charities Without Spending Cash
These ideas let you contribute and make an impact without opening your wallet.
1. Help People Land Jobs
While many people picture volunteering at a food pantry or shelter, have you considered volunteering at a job assistance center?
Numerous community service organizations welcome volunteers to work directly with job seekers, assisting with resumes and job applications.
Many of these centers collaborate with food banks and shelters; your local social services office can point you toward opportunities.
2. Teach Basic Computer Skills
If you’re reading this on a computer, tablet or phone, you probably possess more digital know-how than many others.
A lot of people could use help with basic tech — seniors wanting to keep in touch with loved ones, economically disadvantaged job hunters, or people with disabilities learning adaptive software.
Even simple tasks like turning on a device, signing in, opening a browser and using email can be transformative for some individuals.
Contact a nearby senior center or social services agency to learn where you can contribute your tech skills.
3. Give Away Unused Clothes, Toys and More
Chances are you own items you no longer use. Maybe you have clothes you don’t wear because your style changed, your size shifted, or you moved to a different climate.
Do your children have toys they haven’t touched in months or years? Is your garage full of sporting gear that rarely gets used?
Sort through your closets and pass on these items to people who will use them. Bring gently used goods to a local thrift store, post them in neighborhood Buy Nothing groups, or search for domestic violence shelters and children’s services that need donations.
4. Put Old Electronics to Good Use
If old cell phones, computers or other gadgets are gathering dust, consider donating them to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence or Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Several charities refurbish and redistribute electronics to those in need. If a device can’t be repaired, some organizations recycle components and sell parts to fund their programs.
5. Host a Charity Garage Sale
If you have a surplus of unwanted items, organize a garage sale to raise funds for a nonprofit you support. Coordinate with the organization in advance so they know your plan and can offer backing — they may even help get the word out.
Invite family, friends or neighbors to donate lightly used items or assist on the day of the sale. Make sure to advertise that all proceeds will benefit your chosen charity.
6. Shop With a Cause
You can make the money you already spend work for charities by using websites and apps that funnel a portion of your purchase to nonprofit groups.
You may be familiar with AmazonSmile, which lets you pick an organization to support while you shop. Here are additional ways to shop for charity.
Check Out Organizations Before You Give
If you do have money to donate (or plan to raise funds to contribute), make sure you research any nonprofit you’re thinking of supporting.
Guide Star and Charity Navigator are helpful resources for researching U.S. nonprofits. Both provide access to organizations’ tax filings, spending practices and how efficiently they use donations. This guide explains how to evaluate a charity before contributing.
Items You Shouldn’t Donate
Old cans of lima beans and crushed pineapple often cause more hassle for food banks than they help. Likewise, most charities and thrift shops won’t accept worn-out T-shirts or holey socks.
Ask the organization what they need most — often it’s unexpected items like toilet paper or feminine hygiene products.
Many charities actually prefer cash because they can buy supplies in bulk at lower prices, so the $5 you give can stretch further when purchased by the organization than when spent on individual items by donors.
Remember Tax Benefits
Whether you give goods or money, get a receipt so you can claim a deduction on your taxes. Many nonprofits provide receipts automatically, but if they don’t, request one — it may reduce your tax bill next April.
If you drive while volunteering for a charity, such as delivering meals to seniors, you might be able to deduct mileage. Check with your tax advisor to see if you qualify for these deductions.
Kristen Pope is a contributor to Savinly.
