The end of the calendar year is filled with festive celebrations with family and friends, a focus on gratitude, and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people less fortunate. On average, end-of-year giving accounts for 30 to 50 percent of a nonprofit organization’s budget.

Why do we give more at the end of the year? The answers range from the pragmatic to the emotional to the scientific. 

‘Tis the Season of Joy

The spirit of the holidays is infectious. It’s easy to get caught up in all that holiday joy. Studies support that, showing that people derive pleasure from giving and feel better about giving than receiving. Donating can even make us feel better about ourselves, be happier, and see the world as an overall better place. And the holiday season is the perfect time to spread joy!

There is also evidence that when humans exhibit gift-giving behaviors, they secrete “feel good” chemicals in their brains, such as serotonin (a mood-mediating chemical), dopamine (a feel-good chemical), and oxytocin (a compassion and bonding chemical). And doesn’t everyone want to feel good during the holiday season?

We wish friends and family good health as we prepare to welcome a new year. Researchers discovered that those good feelings, sometimes referred to as “helper’s high,” do more than just make us feel good. Helping others creates positive changes in the body's immune function and lowers stress hormones. That can be excellent news for those who feel increased stress during the holidays. 

It’s the Perfect Holiday Gift

Donating to a cause in honor of someone can be a wonderful holiday gift, especially for that person on your list who’s hard to shop for or has everything. Most organizations offer a way to give in honor of someone else, or you can simply create a card to let the person know you’ve donated in their name.

Increased Resources and Reflection

Many donors receive bonuses at the end of the year and have additional resources. As a result, they may choose this time of year to review their finances, reflect, and share their good fortune with others, including the charitable interests they support. 

Desire to Make a Difference

People genuinely care about feeding the hungry, educating children, and saving the environment. Even if their motivations are lower budgets, people give because they want to make a positive difference. Although this is true anytime a person makes a charitable donation, it may be that sharing your bounty during the holiday season provides an added impetus. 

Tax Benefits

As the final day of the calendar year, December 31 presents donors with a definitive tax planning deadline. Donors rarely cite the charitable deduction as the primary motivation for making a charitable gift, but it does provide an essential incentive for donors. 

Additional Benefits of End-Of-Year Giving

Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution

Donating to a charitable organization can’t help you lose those pounds you wanted to shed or improve your commitment to exercise more. However, if you resolve to be more generous and provide hope to people in need, you can claim success.

Set an Example for Children in Your Life

Making charitable gifts is an excellent tool to teach children about the importance of generosity. Talk with them about why you give and explain how contributions help people in need. You can even make a gift together. It only takes a few minutes and offers an excellent opportunity to create a legacy of giving.

Why End-Of-Year Giving Is Important

Imagine how nerve-wracking it would be not knowing if you were going to receive a paycheck or having no idea how much money you’d receive when you finally did get paid. Unfortunately, that’s the situation many nonprofit organizations face.

Year-end contributions can fill a potential gap between the projected budget and the actual budget. Your generosity can help provide charitable organizations with stability to serve those in need.

Maximize your generosity

There is no shortage of pressing needs in the world. Whether your passion is feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, curing the sick, or educating and training people to lift them from poverty, your donations are an act of kindness that helps make the world a better place. 

One way to expand your end-of-year generosity is through cross-border grant making through a global donor-advised fund (DAF). TrustBridge Global Foundation provides an international platform for DAF funds securely held in Swiss bank accounts staged for deployment all around the world at a moment’s notice. Your donations can be made via cash, cash equivalents, securities, or other assets, and held in multiple currencies for the greatest protection of value. A TrustBridge Global DAF strategically positions your contributions for international deployment wherever your giving takes you.

Regardless of your motivation for giving or how you give, open your heart for year-end giving opportunities and have a joyful holiday season!