Good things come in no packages.

The festive season can be a tough time for the most marginalised in local communities and local generosity and care can make a real difference. While we encourage giving at any time of year, giving through your local community foundation at this time of year is smart and fulfilling, in several ways:

• It’s a tangible way to express your personal values, and/or those of the gift recipient.
• It’s a way of connecting with real community needs and aspirations and a way of knowing that your gift will make a real difference.
• It fosters a sense of community, since local giving for local needs is a powerful driver for community connectedness.
• It can inspire others to join in and make a collective impact.
• It provides a teachable moment, since generosity is a concept our children can learn, nurturing the importance of empathy, kindness and giving, all important skills for life.
• It promotes mindfulness and gratitude in giving, rather than a transactional obligation.
• It can create a family legacy, since gifts can be invested and have long-lasting community impact.
• It has practical benefits in tax relief; enabling you to make the most of New Zealand’s tax rebates, so you can give even more to the causes you care about.
• It fosters a sense of fulfillment and happiness, since science shows that giving in a mindful way can boost your mood and overall well-being, sometimes referred to as the “warm glow” of giving.
• It leads to more sustainable giving, helping to shift acts of generosity towards being more meaningful, and socially responsible actions for people and planet.

Ultimately, giving through your local community foundation is a way to make this holiday season more meaningful and impactful, centering connectedness, kindness and community at the heart of your giving. Gifts, big and small, are all welcome. Contact your local community foundation today to find out how you can make your giving smarter, more meaningful and more fulfilling this silly season.