Giving Back After Age 50
If
you're over 50, and believe that success in life has eluded you, you're not
alone. But success for you may not include starting a new business or working to
make more money for your retirement. In fact, for some people, what gives them
joy and fulfillment in life is
giving
their money away!
Recently such prominent billionaires as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have given billions of dollars to charitable trusts in their names. And other prominent philanthropists have been giving away their fortunes for centuries. Many hospitals and universities around the country owe much of their infrastructure to large sums of money donated to them over the years by caring individuals.
If you'd like to give a charitable contribution, but you're not sure where to start, or who to give the money to, you might try www.charitynavigator.org. They are an independent charity evaluator that lists over 5300 American charities and non-profits, and you should be able to find one that suits your interests and finances.
If you're not in a position to give large sums of money to charity, you can still help out by volunteering your time to help others less fortunate then yourself. There are few things more rewarding than volunteering your time and seeing the look on people's faces when you help them out of a difficult situation - or inspire them to better themselves and achieve more in their own lives.
Here are a few great reasons to become a volunteer:
- Help others
- Make a difference
- Find purpose
- Feel involved
- Contribute to a cause that you care about
- Develop new skills
- Meet new people, make new friends
- Explore new areas of interest
- Expand your horizons
- Use your job skills in a productive way
- Connect with your community
- Get out of the house
- Strengthen your resume
Once you've decided that you want to get involved, your next decision is finding
a volunteering opportunity that fits your personality. This isn't always as easy
as it sounds, and many people struggle to find a worthy cause that's a good fit
for them.
You can start by researching the causes or issues that are important to you.
Look for a group that works with issues about which you feel strongly. You might
already be giving money to one of these organizations, and that might be a good
place to begin your volunteer experience.
Giving After 50 - Further Reading
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