It’s already known that supporting a local non-profit organization makes you feel good. Whether you’re donating your time, money, service, or physical goods, there is a great feeling associated with helping local charities.

A positive feeling isn’t the only reason you might consider supporting a local non-profit, though. There are a variety of benefits to your generosity.

You Get To Help Others In Your Community

Most local non-profit organizations follow missions focused on helping the community. Whether it’s a charity that helps the elderly get healthy meals, protects endangered animals, or teaches at-risk adults relevant skills to earn a reliable income, there are many great causes to support.

Sure, there are national or even international organizations that have worthy missions but supporting local non-profit impacts the needs in your own backyard. That’s not to say you shouldn’t support larger organizations, but you should also consider helping local charities as well.

Increase Awareness

Smaller charities don’t have the budget for giant marketing campaigns to increase awareness of their missions. In some cases, the organization wants to use the money it does have to directly help the mission instead of paying for ads. Some of these larger organizations use up to 20% of your donation to help their marketing efforts.

When you make a donation, volunteer your time, or help fundraise for a smaller charity, you have a chance to tell your friends and family. Even a quick post on social media can raise more awareness of a worthy cause than a huge advertising budget.

Build Your Network

Donating to charity doesn’t always mean emptying your wallet. Many organizations need volunteers to help keep meet their goals. Volunteering could be anything from manning an information booth at a local event to helping manage daily operations.

When you volunteer for an organization, you get to meet other like-minded people. These are folks who care about the mission of the charity. That means you can make new friends, increase your professional network, or learn about other opportunities in your area.

If you’re a business that supports local non-profit organizations, it could even mean getting more customers. People like to do business with companies that care about the same things they do. From having your name in the program to getting face time with potential customers, supporting local charities is a great way to expand your reach.

Save Money On Your Taxes

While supporting a local non-profit for tax purposes isn’t exactly altruistic, it is a nice benefit. As long as you are working with a recognized non-profit, your donation is tax-deductible. You can’t deduct your time, but you can claim the value of any physical goods or money that you hand over.

Work with a professional tax preparer to ensure that you take care of all of the paperwork correctly. While donating a few dollars or a couple of books may not tip the scales come tax time, donating something like a car to a local school could be the difference between owing Uncle Sam or getting back a refund.

Supporting local non-profit organizations is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your time and money. It’s more than just a good feeling, though. Your donation can impact the lives of others, build your network, and even earn you a sizable tax credit. Research local charities in your area and get started today.