How Volunteering Can Help You Decide Where to Donate

Studies show that we feel better when we give than when we receive. I know, I do. But there are a few ways to give. You can decide to give your time, or you can decide to give your money. Either way, it’s an investment that should leave you feeling pretty good about yourself.

The thing about donating money, though, is that you’re never really sure how the organization is using it. Are you just paying someone’s salary, or are you actually helping people in need? The truth is, some non-profits are more worthy than others. And among those who are worthy, you may find a cause that you naturally sympathize with. That narrows down the options a bit. But, if you want to be sure that the organization is using your money for good, get in there and get your hands dirty. Volunteer for the organization and you’ll know exactly how committed they are at helping those in need. You don't find getting scholarships easy, do you? Then why should you so easily turn over your hard earned cash?

Still not buying it? Here are a few more reasons why it’s a good idea to volunteer before you donate:

· Charities are good at pulling at our heart strings, and just about everything sounds good in the first few minutes of the sell. Donate your time to the cause to test your true resolve and passion.

· A mission statement may help you identify who they are and what they do, but working in a day-to-day setting with the group lets you understand how and on what levels they operate, be it grassroots change or rewriting policy.

· While working, you may only glimpse a piece of the organization, but that's often enough to understand their work ethic, commitment, progress and work culture at the organizational level.

· You can also trace the money to see if they are wasteful or intelligently spending you cash to improve the world.

· As you get to know the people and learn what they are actually doing on the ground, you will be able to see where your talents are best applied. Maybe you can help in ways they hadn't thought of, or connect them to other friends in high places and really help the cause.

Volunteering vs. Donating

Back in 2008, when the economy really took a plunge, is when I first started thinking about helping others get through rough times. I was going through a bit of a rough time myself, but I knew so many people had it so much worse than me. Perhaps because of my own misfortune, I understood firsthand that a life can completely change in just a short moment. Someone who is financially stable can lose all their money and become homeless. Someone who is otherwise healthy can have an accident that debilitates them for life. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past three years, it’s that things change. You’ve got to roll with the punches, and help others do the same.

That’s when I knew I had to use whatever resources I had to help others. Unfortunately, money was not a resource I had at the time, so I chose to volunteer. Many people who have the financial resources choose to donate, and that’s great, but I think it’s so much more rewarding to get in there and get your “hands dirty.”

When you donate to any charity, at least a small percentage of your donation is likely going towards someone’s salary. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing (although in some cases it is). In order for a charitable organization to be successful, they are going to need some full-time help. You can’t really expect anyone to volunteer 100 percent of their time, so a salary is necessary.

There are some salaries that are overinflated and some charities that use too much of your donation towards compensation for their employees. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, there are other charities that are barely scraping by so they can maximize the resources devoted to helping others. Finding the right charity to donate to is not a simple process. Charity Navigator can help you with your decision, but you still may need to ask some hard questions. This is another reason why I’d rather volunteer than donate. I don’t think that makes me a bad person, but what’s your take on the situation?