Memberships

Helping KMB can enlarge your world and transform you into a more important part of the community. Whether you give out of a sense of connectedness, or for political or spiritual reasons, taking positive action to solve problems can be personally fulfilling.

Giving to others can improve your physical health, self-esteem, and mental health. One day you'll retire, so think about the findings of a 2010 Cornell University study, which found those baby boomers who volunteered on environmental projects gained huge benefits. "Environmental stewardship is strongly linked to greater physical activity, better self-rated health and fewer symptoms of depression over a period of 20 years," the study found. Environmental volunteers are also half as likely as non-volunteers to feel depressed later in life, while other forms of volunteering cut depression by about 10 percent.

17 percent of donors nationwide said "making the world a better place" motivated them, according to Philanthropy Matters, a publication of the Center on Philanthropy. Americans gave almost $300 billion to domestic charities in 2010, according to the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Society repays you with a nice deduction from your taxes for most charitable donations, but you need to have proof. "The IRS requires a receipt for each tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more," according to the United Way. "Depending on the amount or type of your gift, you may need to provide additional documents with your tax form, such as Form 8283 for each non-cash donation exceeding $500."

Many corporations will match your charitable contributions, sometimes dollar-for-dollar, and help you make them with automatic payroll deductions. This will not only maximize the impact of your giving but also influence your company's charitable activities by directing dollars to the charity of your choice.