One of the things I hear most often from donors is some version of this: “I give, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right.”
Here’s what I reply: “There’s no single right way to be generous.” Research backs this up. More than 80% of Americans give in some form, whether through financial contributions, volunteering, or civic involvement, and each person brings their own values, goals, and experiences to the table.
After nearly two decades helping local organizations connect donors with causes they care about, and now in my work here at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, I’ve seen this play out in countless ways. Generosity looks different for everyone! What matters is finding an approach that fits your life.
Here are a few patterns I recognize. Maybe one of them sounds familiar.
Here, there, and everywhere.
You give generously, but to a wide range of causes, often when the need arises. You care deeply, but your giving doesn’t always feel coordinated. If that’s you, a Donor Advised Fund can be a simple way to bring everything together in one place, making it easier to support the organizations you love while also stepping back to think more strategically about where you want to go.
Results matter.
You want to give, but you want to know your gift is actually making a difference. That hesitation is healthy — and common. Your Philanthropy Team at the Foundation can help you evaluate opportunities, understand what’s happening in our community, and connect with organizations delivering real results. For many donors, that added layer of insight is what turns good intentions into confident, consistent giving.
Starting small.
You care about giving but worry your budget limits what’s possible. In reality, many of the most committed donors I know started modestly and built from there. You can join the Impact Collaborative without a large giving budget, and if you’re thinking about the future, a legacy gift through your will or a beneficiary designation can create lasting impact without affecting your finances today.
Already rolling.
You’re deeply engaged — volunteering, serving on boards, exploring ways to align your giving with your broader financial picture. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation can help you go further: gifts of appreciated assets, multi-generational strategies, long-term endowment planning. There’s almost always another way to deepen your impact.
The common thread is this: giving evolves. Your priorities shift, your family changes, your capacity grows. What matters most is having the flexibility and support to adapt as that happens.
That’s what the Foundation is here for. Wherever you are on your charitable journey, our team would love to help you make the most of your generosity, in a way that truly reflects what you care about.
Your Philanthropy Team
Here to help you give with confidence, today and beyond your lifetime.
