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Why charity is important for your business

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If you’re a business owner who is interested in discovering some of the major benefits of donating to charity on a regular basis, Yigang Tang believes to discover why charity is important for your business.

Why Charity is Important for Your Business:

  1. Choosing to donate to charity can drastically increase your employees’ morale

One reason why it’s well worth considering donating to charity is that your employees’ morale and productivity levels should increase as a result of your employees being proud of your company for choosing to donate to charity! As most employees are far more likely to work hard for a business, which they believe is guided by high moral standards and ethics over a business which only cares about profits.

  1. Donating to charity can be an excellent marketing opportunity for your business

While the primary aim of donating to charity should always be to make a difference in the world, there’s absolutely no harm in using your business’ philanthropy in order to market your business to your target audience!

One way to donate to a worthy charity and to publicize your business at the same time is to sponsor an event which raises funds for your chosen charity. As an example, if your business sponsors a charity gala, your business’ name will garner plenty of attention and may even be publicized on major news websites as well as in local newspapers.

  1. Your business may be eligible for tax deductions if your business chooses to donate to charity

Did you know that your business may be eligible for major tax deductions if your business chooses to sponsor charity events or decides to become a major sponsor of a charitable organization? While you may not want to donate to charity, with the sole intention of qualifying for lucrative tax deductions, qualifying for tax deductions is a great bonus, if you choose to donate to charity.

  1. Owning a business puts you in a great position to make a substantial impact on the world

No matter whether you’re the proud owner of a small start-up business or you’re the owner of a well-established business which operates in several countries, you have a unique opportunity to give back to society and to make a positive impact on the world. So it’s well worth choosing to support charities which you’re actually interested in helping.

  1. Donating to charity will give you a fantastic opportunity to support your business’ local community

While many businesses choose to donate money to high profile organizations such as the Red Cross or Unicef, you can also choose to donate money to local charities, which will help transform your local community. So if you have your sights set on donating a significant amount of money to charity, it’s well worth looking close to home, as well as donating to major charitable organizations!

So if you’re a business owner who has been contemplating donating to charity in order to make a difference in the world and to promote your business, it’s well worth beginning to donate money to charity.

Our Non-Profits Really Need Our Help

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America is the richest country in the world. It is also one of the most giving with donations to charities equaling billions of dollars each year. Donations to charities are made in the form of money, goods and services and help millions in need domestically and around the world.

This giving is built into the culture and is one of the things we take the most proud in for being American. The need for this giving has never been greater as many continue to struggle from the recession a decade ago and cannot get a firm footing on their lives even now. So Americans need to continue to give at record levels. Here are some of the types of charities that need lots of help.

Veterans

It is common knowledge that veterans always have a more difficult time than the rest of society. This is partially due to the tremendously difficult military situations that experience when they are enlisted and then having to try and readjust to society while often still having these mental and physical challenges. These heroes risk their lives to insure the safety and security of the rest of us and so it is our responsibility to assist them in any way possible. And there are many ways that need assistance today. From high levels of homelessness to not having the proper food and medical care, there is a range of areas where good Samaritans can assist. There have been those who have started non-profits that focus on specific veteran issues like Meredith Iler, who is charwoman of Houston Texas based Helping a Hero, a non-profit that puts wounded veterans in homes specially equipped to allow them to function independently in spite of their injuries. Non-profits like Helping a Hero show what dedicated Americans can do when they commit to a cause.  There are many charities around that provide great assistance to veterans. So if you have an interest, you can look locally or nationally to find one that excites you.

Homelessness

Homelessness is a huge and nagging problem in the United States and the US government has worked for decades to try and combat it by providing government assistance to the homeless. But if you go to any big or medium sized city in the US you fill find areas where there are homeless people in abundance. Why there is so many is a complicated issue but what is important is that they get assistance so they can live quality lives and get a constant roof over their heads. Many of the homeless are mentally ill and need to be housed in facilities where they can be treated. Many more are addicted to alcohol or drugs and needed treatment at facilities that can help them get back on their feet.

Here again the government offers many of these facilities but it is the non-profits often run by church groups that fill in many of the gaps left by the holes in federal and state funding. Charities like Los Angeles’ Midnight Mission has been feeding and housing homeless people since 1914 and they continue to be a vital resource to the city of LA. In spite of what many believe, a large amount of the people that depend on non-profits for housing are not alcohol or drug addicts, they are families that have been uprooted because of being overwhelmed by negative circumstances.

The amount you give or the service you provide is less important than you doing it because the need is so great. So do your research and find a non-profit that is doing good work, then call them up and ask how you can help. You might save a life.

 

The role of charity in different religions

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They say that charity begins at home and it’s good to keep this motto in mind if you want to raise your kids to have keen social consciences and grow up to be kind, altruistic adults.

While it isn’t necessary to be a member of a certain faith in order to do your bit for your fellow humankind, it’s interesting to know that charity plays a significant part in many of the major religions. Here we take a look at the role of charity in Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

Islam

Muslims give in a variety of different ways. The most well known is ‘zakat’, which is compulsory almsgiving of a set proportion of one’s wealth. It was once given as part of an official, institutionalised system, akin to the modern tax system. Today, however, it is up to individuals to make this donation in a way they see fit, for example by making payments to charitable causes.

In the Islamic tradition, people also give what is known as ‘sadaqah’. This can be defined as any act of voluntary charity made out of compassion, love or friendship. It can be provided to anyone in any way and has no rules or limits. This type of charity does not have to involve donating money; instead believers can give through voluntary work or by encouraging others to do good deeds.

During the holy month of Ramadan, providing for the needy is particularly important for followers of Islam.

Christianity

From the parable of the Good Samaritan to the story of the poor widow who gave the only two copper coins she had, the New Testament is filled with Jesus’ teachings about the importance of showing generosity, compassion and love to others. Christians believe that mercy should be shown to friends and strangers alike and in giving to others they are following God’s word.

In the Bible, almsgiving is presented as an obligatory part of Christian life and followers are encouraged to make sacrifices for others out of love rather than recognition or reward. Today charity giving is an important part of the Christian way of life and is often viewed as an act of prayer, particularly during Lent and Christmas.

Hinduism

According to the Bhagavad Gita, giving without expectation of appreciation or reward benefits both the giver and the receiver. On the contrary, it says that giving reluctantly and with the expectation of some advantage is damaging to both parties. It also teaches that if you give a gift at the wrong time and without considering the feelings of recipient, it harms both you and the recipient.

Hindus are encouraged to detach themselves from wealth in order to achieve true peace and are taught that if charitable donation is motivated by selfishness, it loses its spiritual value. For followers of this religion, carrying out acts of charity or ‘dana’ is a duty. One of the most common ways of giving in the Hindu tradition is known as ‘anna dana’, which involves offering food and water to the the hungry and thirsty. Another major form of charity for Hindus is is ‘abhaya dana’, which involves offering protection to people seeking safety.

Whether you’re Muslim, Christian, Hindu or you follow another religion or no religion at all, you can make the world a better place by showing compassion and kindness to those in need.