Why do people donate?
Feelings drive donations. Because empathy leads to selflessness and thus charitable giving, emotions play an important role in the donation process.
There are also a range of additional reasons as to why people donate, such as their belief in specific causes, their perception of significant issues such as health and environment, and how they relate to the situation at hand; have they had similar experiences before?
Donating not only benefits the charity, but it can also benefit you by providing tax rebates of up to 250 percent (if donating to IPC certified charities).
Regardless of the reason, donations are an important part of the charitable process.
Why is donating important?
It is essential to give back to the community. You will be able to provide equal opportunities and a higher quality of life to the marginalised by donating to Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs).
Not only that, but when you donate, you may feel a sense of fulfilment, knowing that you have indirectly improved someone’s life. You can also pass on this giving spirit to others; seeing others give inspires them to give as well.
Some may think that donating is not required as the government allocates funds to NPOs. Contrary to popular belief, the government does not fully fund charitable organisations. They may provide funding for selected charity programs or dollar for dollar matching whereby individual donations are matched by them as additional contributions to the charity.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on NPOs.
Their operations were impacted in a variety of ways, including the delivery of services and programs, volunteer recruitment, and the organisation of fund-raising activities and events. There were fewer volunteer opportunities because of the need to limit close contact to reduce the risk of COVID-19 community transmission.
While donations increased in the social and health sectors, donations decreased significantly in other charity causes. Some charities experienced a dropped in donations and had their fundraisers postponed or cancelled.
As a result, it is critical that we continue to give if we are able in these difficult times, as even a dollar helps.
Who should you donate to?
Animals Welfare
Animals, like humans, have biological needs and are susceptible to pain, stress, and discomfort. Many are intelligent and experience complex emotions such as joy, happiness, depression, and distress. According to studies, they have strong family bonds and genuine compassion for one another. They can’t, however, speak for themselves. As a result, it is easier for people to treat them as commodities and ignore their suffering. It is up to us as people to give them a voice, speak up for them and help put an end to their abuse.
Organisations like the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) liberate such animals, and a one-time donation of $10 to such organisations will provide the animals with the care and maintenance they require. This will allow these animals to have better care while they look forward to a forever home. While we are aware of the plight of animals who need care and rescue, there are also animal causes that benefit people.
People with impairments benefit greatly from the assistance of assistance dogs. They aren’t pets and hence require extensive training. K9Assistance works with assistance dogs and your support will help ensure people with different disabilities will benefit from the help provided by these specially trained dogs and lead an improved quality of life.
Arts and Heritage
The prolonged pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health, but we are still able to find some semblance of solace through arts and entertainment.
It provides that much-needed catharsis: how many of us have listened to sorrowful tunes during difficult times?
Furthermore, the arts provide a creative outlet for expressing our ideas, emotions and experiences.
Pangdemonium is a local theatre company creating stories that Singaporeans can identify with and relate to while also grabbing the attention of worldwide audiences.
The Arts are not the only time capsule of Singapore’s local traditions and culture. Our deeply embedded heritage in the form of buildings such as shophouses are also a marker of identity for Singapore.
Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), a pioneer in the preservation efforts of our local historical cultures, believes that understanding and cherishing the social memories of past and present generations will strengthen Singaporeans’ sense of belonging and build a more inclusive community.
With a $10 contribution, more heritage-related news and events can be produced and shared on SHS’ social media channels. A $100 contribution will allow SHS to undertake community-based research projects, giving them deep insights into issues on the ground.
SHS will be able to channel their concerns about Singapore’s urban planning with your help through donations, allowing them to weave the past with our future.
Find out more about how the arts and heritage contribute to our society by clicking here.
Children, Families and Education
Younger children face more difficulties in processing events and emotions. They feel helpless in the face of difficulties, affecting their ability to understand their surroundings or when they are abused.
Furthermore, COVID-19 has left them with psychological ramifications that make them feel even more powerless.
Social service agencies then step in to offer a variety of services to children and families in such situations. The mission of social service organisations such as Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association (CARE Singapore) and Boys’ Town is to help at-risk youths overcome their situations and provide them with opportunities to socialise and learn life skills and coping strategies.
Other organisations, such as Canossaville Children and Community Services and the Autism Association Singapore, assist children with disabilities, equipping their families with the necessary resources and understanding in caring for their children.
Children with disabilities should have equal opportunities and the same quality of life similar to other normal children. Hence, these organisations rely on donations for their public awareness activities and enable these children to continue receiving critical early intervention and support.
Financially challenged families require assistance even for maters such as providing school meal allowances for their children. The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund provides financial assistance to impoverished children in order to help them stay healthy. With your assistance, the Pocket Money Fund will be able to reach out to more children in similar situations. A $25 donation will provide 10 days of support to a primary school student. A $100 donation will support a secondary school student for a month.
Another charity that helps children and families in need is AMKFSC. They provide a wide range of programmes such as Children, Youth and Family Services to strengthen bonds within the family and build resilience through counselling and engagements.
Sports and Disabilities
Sports bring us together as we cheer on our star athletes who represent us proudly on the international stage. We often cheer on our national athletes during high-profile games like the Olympics, but we forget how much support is required to raise a national champion. These athletes require significant financial assistance for their sports equipment and training.
Athletes like Kiria Tikanah were helped by organisations like Fencing Singapore, whose work involves maintaining and upgrading training facilities as well as sponsoring fencers for overseas competitions.
Donations to these organisations will provide athletes opportunities to compete in international events, which is an important part of their training, all while flying the Singapore flag high and proudly.
There are also paralympians who have conquered setbacks and competed in sporting events, unleashing their full potential. The Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) is dedicated to empowering and supporting para athletes despite the lack of direct government funding. By leveraging the power of sports, they hope to positively influence community perceptions of people with disabilities and promote a more diverse and inclusive society.
The Environment and Social Service
We are clearly experiencing the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures and sea levels, which could bring floods and natural disasters to our countries.
As a result, we must act now to protect Mother Earth before it is too late.
It is everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment, especially now that the pandemic is causing its own set of environmental problems with disposable masks.
Despite the founder’s 22 years of hard work, Waterways Watch Society, an organisation that advocates for the cleanliness of our waterways, lost nearly $150,000 in revenue during the COVID-19 period.
A $10 donation will help provide trash bags for volunteers during clean up sessions, whereas a $50 donation will help maintain their community garden for two weeks.
By assisting such organisations, we will be able to help greatly improve our environment indirectly.
The Elderly
The elderly require companionship, particularly during COVID-19, when they were a high-risk age group and were unable to leave their homes freely. Some of them experienced extreme loneliness and deterioration in their mental health.
Ling Kwang Home, a nursing home, not only provides medical care for the elderly but also addresses their psychological needs.
Assistance is also provided to the elderly with mobility issues or disabilities through the use of wheelchairs. A $200 donation will provide a wheelchair for the elderly, giving them the ease of mobility.
Music can help uplift the moods of the elderly. Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay’s Esplanade on the Go music truck pays regular visits to various nursing homes, bringing performances to them for free. It revitalises the elderly, allowing them to dance to the music performed by various artists and have a fun time through the pandemic.
Donations to these organisations will provide them with funding and manpower to bring these uplifting experiences to elderly residents.
Women & Girls
The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) has 60 member organisations that represent over 500,000 women in Singapore. SCWO serves to unite members in working towards the goals of ‘Equal Space, Equal Voice and Equal Worth’, helping bridge the gender gap for women in Singapore.
They also work to end family violence and domestic abuse; for every $50 donated, you can sponsor a session of a therapeutic programme that will assist a survivor in healing from the trauma of abuse.
Teen pregnancy has long been regarded as a contentious issue, with pregnant teenagers frequently facing discrimination. This, however, causes more harm than good because they require support rather than being shunned. Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support Ltd is an organisation that aims to create an inclusive society in which every pregnant teenager in need of assistance does not feel isolated or marginalised.
They offer services to help teenagers cope in the face of adversity, such as providing necessities to the mother and child or offering befriending services for one-on-one support.
Donations to organisations that support women and girls can help to create a more compassionate, understanding, and equal community.
Have you been inspired to make a positive difference?
Together, let’s become a City of Good by contributing our time, talent and treasure to communities in need or to social causes close to our hearts.
Donate to organisations on Giving.sg today!
