Planning holiday donations with your family

The holidays are just around the corner. And for many families, it’s the perfect time to give back.

 

We’re always so quick to give money without thinking—a few dollars here and there for a local dance team, the homeless shelter by the office, a school trip . . . the list goes on! With so many “spontaneous” donations, it’s hard to see just how our money is making a difference.

 

If you want to make a real contribution to your community this holiday season, start by getting informed by doing some thinking and planning. Talk about it with your kids so they can see how charitable giving can help spread holiday cheer.

 

How can we give back this year?

Choose the type(s) of donations to make depending on your family’s capacity.

 

An act of kindness should be at the top of your family’s gift-giving list. For kids, this can mean lending a helping hand, visiting a senior home or sharing toys or food with someone.

 

A monetary donation means collecting money for a good cause, and donors are often required to commit some time. Donations can be made to organizations like food drives and Opération enfant soleil.

 

If you and your family don’t have time but have the money, you can talk with your family about setting aside a percentage of savings for donations.

 

Where to donate and why?

Think about the impact you want to make and choose a cause that’s in line with your family’s values.

 

It will give you an an opportunity to talk with your family about social issues like poverty, children’s rights, animal rights or environmental conservation. Write them down and prioritize them according to your family’s main values. Then, ask yourself how far you want your donation to go (locally or Canada-wide).

 

Now, your list of causes should be a lot shorter, and it should be easier for you to select the charitable organization(s) you want to donate to this year.

 

If you need help with choosing an organization, the Government of Canada maintains a list of charitable organizations: https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/srch/pub/dsplyBscSrch?request_locale=en.