Donating to charity is a selfless act. You offer something of your own–money, clothes, food, time–without expecting anything in payment or return. As such, we rarely consider the benefits giving has for us as the givers. However, research on altruism has revealed some surprising insights: the very act of giving makes the giver happy. Not only that, but giving improves health, decreases stress, and strengthens interpersonal connections. Turns out, giving isn’t so selfless after all.
In a 2007 study, researchers recorded participants’ neural activity as they decided how to split $100 between themselves and a local food bank. The results showed that donating the original sum activated the ventral striatum, a region of the brain associated with representing the value of rewarding stimuli. The brain registers charitable donation not as a sacrifice, but as a reward.
Donating doesn’t just make us feel better, it actually makes us healthier. A 1999 study led by Doug Oman of the University of California, Berkeley, found that “elderly people who volunteered for two or more organizations were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than were non-volunteers, even after controlling for their age, exercise habits, general health, and negative health habits like smoking.” Research suggests that giving help decreases stress, which causes numerous health problems, and thereby improving health and longevity.
A single charitable act also has a ripple effect that can create a pay-it-forward culture that strengthens friendships and connections within a community. The simple explanation is that when you give, others are more likely to give back. This charitable exchange makes you feel closer and view others more positively, fostering an emotionally healthy environment. The act of giving also releases oxytocin in the brain, which creates feelings of warmth and closeness to those around you. Oxytocin makes people feel more generous and empathetic, qualities that are essential to any community.
The reasons to donate to an organization or volunteer your time are endless and varied, and it’s important to make decisions that are right for you. But next time you’re thinking about donating–to a friend, a fundraiser, or a local organization–it’s not just about them. Giving is its own reward.