Giving It to God: How to Discern Your Charitable Contributions
“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
It’s January, and you’re writing down your goals for the year. You may be thinking about fitting more fitness into your routine, cultivating your faith, or aiming for a promotion—but have you thought about your philanthropy goals?
Tithing is an important part of our faith. It’s a precept of the Church that we are obliged to assist its needs. The word “tithe” refers to a “tenth,” but the Church doesn’t require us to give a specific amount. 10% of our income is a starting point, and you may want to support the Church along with other causes that are close to your heart.
Tithing Is Love in Action
Giving part of our earnings means acting on our beliefs. It gives us a concrete way to live out our values and move the needle on issues we care about. For most human struggles, there’s a way to help financially.
Want to help protect the unborn? Consider giving to one of the Church’s many pro-life organizations or to a pregnancy resource center that provides material and emotional support and education to new mothers who need it most.
I’ve heard Claire Swinarski (creator of the Catholic Feminist podcast) suggest that you balance your vote with donations to causes that your political party does not support, despite those causes’ needs and alignment with our faith. For example, Republicans could donate to advocate against the death penalty, and Democrats could donate to help the unborn. Her episode with Beth Knobbe, community engagement manager at Catholic Relief Services, also dives into economic justice.
Or, you could take action on a national or global issue by looking for a way to help in your own backyard. Who needs help in your own community? This approach may create a bit of a bubble, though; for some balance, you may also want to look outside of your town or neighborhood. You may be able to stretch your money further in a different country.
It all depends on what kind of an impact you want to have. If helping a large number of people is your goal, you may want to check out GiveWell. There are many other charity navigators to check out as well to see how reputable a charity or nonprofit is before investing in it and its mission.
You can also give in ways that go beyond a specific organization. Are there people who are monetarily poor in your own life you could help uplift? Perhaps you know someone who is fundraising to be a missionary or battling medical bills, for example.
How to Give
Once you decide what your giving goals are, the next question is how you will give. It can be helpful to take a big-picture, eagle-eyed view of your finances first. How much do you make? How much are you currently giving? How much do you want to give? From there, you will have a set number to work with—or an estimate, if your income is more flexible.
Monthly or bi-weekly giving is a convenient way to make giving a regular part of your budget, and it gives your parish a reliable source of income to help keep the lights on. You don’t even have to have cash on hand for the collection plate; many parishes offer online giving. You can set up a direct deposit for a set amount or, if your income varies from month to month, log in and give your desired amount at a regular interval, like the first Friday of each quarter.
You can also reserve part of your giving for different campaigns throughout the year. For example, your church may need a renovation or funding for seminarians. Once March comes around, you may even be able to participate in some Lenten almsgiving by donating your tax return. This money has already been withheld, and you’ve managed to do without it; what if, instead of a splurge, you gave the lump sum to one cause?
Speaking of taxes, giving may be one way to reduce them. If you’re working with a foundation or an accountant, they can help you explore different avenues to achieve your giving goals. For example, some people create a separate account for giving. With this flexibility, you may be able to invest with more risk and more reward. You can also choose to invest only in companies that align with your values through impact investing.
Do you have a side hustle? You could dedicate the profits, or a percentage of them, to a certain cause. Or have you thought of giving through your will? Leaving property or monetary contributions to a nonprofit or charity can be a great way to have a lasting legacy. Foundations can use larger sums to invest and then use, allowing your money to have an even greater impact.
Time and Talent
Maybe you aren’t in a position to give during this season of life. You’re in the Peace Corps, you’re a missionary, or you’re in your first year of teaching and you’re struggling to make ends meet. Or, the cost of child care is barely making it worth it to stay in the workforce, but you need to provide.
In challenging times, we can still give. God blesses us abundantly through many avenues. Perhaps He gave you the gift of a creative talent, and you can share it by enhancing a place’s beauty, like helping to decorate your church for holy days, arranging flowers for Mass, or donating your artwork to a church auction.
Or, maybe it’s the ability to be a friendly face. Is someone you know suffering from our culture’s epidemic of loneliness? Could you call, visit, or write to them? Could you welcome new parishioners to your church or greet people as they come to Mass?
As a Catholic woman in business, can you mentor a young woman in your life? You could connect through your workplace or an outside organization. You never know the impact you might have on someone’s career trajectory.
For more ideas on generosity and tithing, I recommend these videos from Father Mike Schmitz and Ascension Presents.
Savanna Polasek is a nonprofit communications specialist, freelance writer, and creator of Memoir Ink. She is a Catholic convert and lives with her charming husband and daughter in Austin, Texas. In her free time she enjoys exploring Texas, listening to Catholic podcasts, reading, and writing fiction. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.