Donate your time. Most organizations are usually looking for volunteers to help keep their operations moving. Hospitals and nursing homes often need volunteers for a variety of tasks, including delivering water to patients/residents, visiting, and running recreational activities. Sports organizations need coaches, program volunteers, office assistance, and special events help. Non-profit health and charitable organizations may need people to help with short-term events like fundraising galas or races, longer term programs like support groups, or with responding to certain emails or finding prize donors or sponsors. Most organizations are flexible in accepting both one-time or casual volunteers, as well as regular (monthly, weekly, or more often!) ones depending on both your needs and theirs.

Donate funds. If you don’t have time but have a bit of extra cash, making a donation can greatly help causes in your community. Searching online can help you both find a cause you believe in, but also ensure that you feel good donating your money.Websites like GuideStar in the US or Charity Intelligence Canada can help inform your decision with how an organization uses and distributes their money. Some financial data can also be found on charity pages through the Internal Revenue Service or Canada Revenue Agency. Of course, you can also directly request a detailed financial statement and/or audit from the organization you wish to learn more about by contacting their office.

Make an in-kind or other type of donation. In-kind donations are donations of items needed by organizations, such as socks, blankets, and clothing to homeless shelters, food to food banks, or equipment to sports organizations for low income children. If you have items at home you are ready to get rid of but are still in good condition, consider donating them to people who may need them! As well, many businesses are able to make in-kind donations of their products to help others, whether directly through products like food, or in providing items as prizes for auctions. Be creative!