5 Ways to be Charitable on a Budget by Nathaniel Sillin - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

5 Ways to be Charitable on a Budget

By Nathaniel Sillin , Community Writer
January 22, 2016 at 11:54am. Views: 42

If you've ever wondered if you can be charitable with only a few extra dollars in your wallet or a little bit of free time, the answer is yes. You just have to get a little creative. In the Chronicle of Philanthropy's latest analysis of charitable giving, it appears people who earned less were giving more. Based on state-by-state tax data, the nonprofit industry trade publication reported that between 2006 to 2012, Americans earning more than $200,000 gave a smaller percentage of their income to charity while those earning less than $100,000 actually gave more during the same period. Wherever you stand on the income scale, stretching charitable dollars or time should begin with a little planning. Here are five steps to consider. 1. Check your finances first. Helping others is a worthwhile lifetime habit. However, before you start writing checks or handing out cash to various individuals or groups, check your budget to determine whether you actually have extra money to spare for charitable donations in any form. If you itemize, check the IRS rules (www.irs.gov) on charitable giving or consult with a qualified tax professional to see if there are charitable giving options that fit your circumstances. 2. Screen charities you're considering. It's never been easier to evaluate a potential charity or nonprofit organization. Leading online databases like CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org and Guidestar.org provide extensive data on thousands of national, state and local charities and nonprofit organizations. The Better Business Bureau also operates Give.org, a national charity database that accredits and notes complaints. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Charity Scams website offers breaking news on illegal fundraising activities and best practices for evaluating charities and nonprofits year-round. What else can you do? Play reporter. Even if an organization checks out through these reputable sources, do an online search of news media just to make sure no unsavory developments have occurred that might discourage your donation. 3. Research what's needed. If the charity in question accepts physical items or volunteer work, see if you're interested in providing help that way. Check with the charity either online or by phone to determine what they will and will not accept – donating the wrong items simply wastes staff and volunteer time. If you would like to volunteer, ask about opportunities and make sure that volunteer assignment fits you before you commit. Remember, charities really count on their volunteers and your enthusiasm for an assignment can help them keep their turnover to a minimum. Some organizations may also have travel-based service missions that can provide charitable travel opportunities that allow you to help while seeing the world. 4. Ask if your employer will match your donation. Even if your cash donation is modest, some employers can make your contribution go farther if they have a matching gifts program. Check with your human resources department or benefits manager. Also, many nonprofits, universities and charitable organizations keep their own online databases of employer matching gift programs. 5. Go micro. If you can only find a few dollars to give, don't let that discourage you. Organize like-minded friends and family members to pool funds, attend events or volunteer time for a cause, or consider a particular nonprofit's organized crowdfunding (https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/crowdfunding-nonprofits) efforts that will allow you to make an impact with only a few dollars. Still short on cash and want to help? Pick up the phone or email the charity and ask if they accept small items or in-kind services. Some ideas might include gift cards (including ones with unused balances), office supplies, stamps, catering for events or board meetings or help with writing, fundraising or technology. Bottom line: Making a difference in the world doesn't always require big bucks, but big know-how helps. Check your finances first, research charities you're interested in and investigate how small donations of time, money and physical items can make an impact.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 728

Pacific High School students and staff celebrated a prestigious statewide honor on Sept. 17 as Justice Corey G. Lee, Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, personally presented the school with the 2026 California Civic Learning Award of Distinction. (l-r) San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Hon. R. Glenn Yabuno, San Bernardino County Superior Court Presiding Judge Rodney A. Cortez, Pacific High School teacher CJ Eastwood, Pacific High School Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo, California Court of Appeals Associate Justice Corey G. Lee and San Bernardino Superior Court Executive Officer Anabel Z. Romero celebrated the school’s receipt of the 2026 California Civic Learning Award of Distinction during a special presentation ceremony.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 798

National Science Foundation-supported program provides hands-on geological research and career preparation near one of California's most significant fault systems. The mountains surrounding San Bernardino offer some of Southern California's most dramatic scenery, but beneath that landscape lies a geological system that has shaped the region for millions of years.

Photo Courtesy of: Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino and St. Bernardine Medical Center

By Amanda Spence, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:40pm. Views: 1320

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Oct. 27, 2026 – Dignity Health’s - Community Hospital of San Bernardino (CHSB) and St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC), members of CommonSpirit Health, announced today they earned 8 recognitions from Healthgrades, a national leading resource for patients seeking information about hospitals and physicians. The 2027 honors recognize their collective commitment to delivering clinical excellence and compassionate care to patients.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 176

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 194

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 208

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 214

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 14, 2026 at 11:03am. Views: 1691

Festive University of Redlands Homecoming celebration, with alumni, students, and families gathered on campus wearing maroon Bulldogs apparel. A bulldog mascot greets attendees while cheerleaders and a marching band perform near decorated tents and balloons, with university buildings and mountains in the background.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:19pm. Views: 3157

The City of Redlands will host Plane-or-Treat at Redlands Municipal Airport on October 25, featuring trick-or-treating, entertainment and family activities. An AI-generated illustration

Photo Courtesy of: California Historical Society Collection, USC Libraries Special Collections.

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:22pm. Views: 1349

As Redlands continues to grow, its surviving citrus groves offer a living connection to the industry that shaped the city's neighborhoods, economy and identity. Orange trees heavy with fruit line a grove in Redlands around 1900, with snow-covered Mount San Bernardino visible in the distance. The photograph documents the citrus industry that played a central role in the city's early development.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI-generated illustration of a downtown Redlands streetscape

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 577

The City of Redlands is accepting applications for a volunteer position on its Traffic and Parking Commission. November 5 Deadline Approaching.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - Illustrative image, not an actual enforcement operation.

By William Cortez, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 567

New state-funded traffic safety program will target impaired driving, speeding, distracted motorists and dangerous behavior near pedestrians and bicyclists. A $94,300 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will support DUI checkpoints, distracted driving enforcement, pedestrian safety initiatives and officer training through September 2027.

--> -->