A strong connection and sense of community can help people who may not have family or friends who live close by. It can also assist people in finding purpose and fulfilment through service. Having an active community that provides opportunities for people to give back allows them to have a sense of pride in their area.

It also simply makes where you live… a better place!

Yes and no! Community development initiatives can get support from Government or private sector grants, which is great, but it doesn’t always cover all the costs associated with community programs. For some higher socio-economic communities, funding their community development projects is within their reach. For other communities, this may not be a viable option. These communities do not deserve to go without enriching community development programs simply because they cannot afford to fund them personally.

This is where community development-related charities, nonprofits and social enterprises can help. By supporting one of these organizations via Giveabl, you are giving back to a community and helping them to connect.

One way your donation could help community development is by funding programs that provide adults with literacy and job skills training. This could help break the cycle of poverty and increase economic activity in the community. Another way your donation could help is by funding youth mentorship programs. These programs pair young people with successful adults in the community who can provide guidance and support.

Some ways to research whether or not your donation will help community development include looking into the organization's financial statements, contacting the organization directly, and reading reviews or articles about the organization. Additionally, you can look into whether or not the organization has received any awards for their work in community development.

This is a decision that is totally up to you and your business!

Donating locally means that you are supporting and boosting your own economy. Supporting local will allow you to directly impact those around you and provide opportunities for growth in your community.

Donating to local causes and organizations also allows for the use and development of local resources. An example of this is if you were to support a local youth mentoring program. Those facilitating the program could use some of the funds to locally purchase food, drinks or materials for the session, which in turn supports local businesses and suppliers.

When you support local, it can also help to encourage others within your community to donate. Showing local businesses how you are involved in the community and its benefits to your organizaton is a powerful tool to encourage others to become involved.