Why we donate If there is one thing that readers continue to underscore about charitable giving, it is that they donate to organizations supported by their church, family, and friends or to organizations with which they or their children are involved. Belonging to a church or society exerts a big influence on where people give. Consider that readers give half of their philanthropic dollars to their local parishes. Many alumni, in fact, say that their biggest beneficiary is their former Catholic school. There are other motives for giving to charity.
Readers give in the memory of a loved one.
They give to help a child, sibling, parent, or friend in financial need. They give, as one reader says, when they see a problem in need of repair. I may not be able to solve someone's difficulties, but money often helps people fix what's wrong. And as there are various reasons to give, there are also various ways to give. Instead of tithing, an Indiana man says that he brings fresh bread to Mass. Valerie Schultz and her family collect little bottles of shampoo from hotels to distribute to the homeless.