Get creative with your charitable giving

Back in the day, donating to charity meant cutting a cheque. These days, there are countless other creative ways to give back.

That’s not to say charitable organizations don’t gratefully accept those cheques, of course. And Canadians are generous, giving a total of $10.6 billion in financial donations in 2010, according to Statistics Canada. The average annual amount per donor that year was $446.

Alternative forms of giving abound, however. Here are a few to consider that don't necessarily involve opening your wallet:

Volunteer
You don’t need a nickel to your name to give your time. More than 13 million Canadians lend a hand annually. If you’re uncertain whether you’d rather sort non-perishables at your local food bank or drive people with cancer to medical appointments, check out resources that help people find a charity that matches their skills and interests, such as Getinvolved.ca or your local volunteer centre.

Volunteer virtually
Lending a hand doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your house. More and more nonprofits are being supported by people who help out online, whether it’s copywriting, translating, or doing graphic design. Help From Home is a volunteer-driven association that promotes participation in easy, no-commitment, microvolunteering opportunities where a spare 10 seconds to 30 minutes is all that is needed to help out a worthy causes. The group’s slogan sums it up: Change the world in just your pajamas. Getinvolved.ca posts virtual-volunteering opportunities on its site too.

Give blood
You’ve heard the motto: “It’s in you to give.” From one unit of blood, red-blood cells can be extracted to save trauma victims or to use in surgical patients. Many cancer patients and people undergoing transplants need platelets, which clot the blood when cuts or open wounds happen. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, is used in patients with clotting problems. It’s common for women who have complications in pregnancy or child birth to need transfusions too; so do children with severe anemia. This moneyless gift can save a life or several.

You can locate a clinic near you, find out when a mobile clinic is being set up in your area, and book appointments online through Canadian Blood Services.

Raise puppies for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind
Assistance dogs go through a ton of training, and it all starts at about seven weeks of age, when they are placed with foster families called “puppy walkers” who raise the dogs for 12 to 18 months. The walkers socialize the puppies, usually golden or Labrador retrievers, to different everyday environments and teach the dogs basic obedience. From there, the dogs go on to formal training with the organization.

Get rid of your old car
CharityCar.ca accepts the donation of old vehicles on behalf of numerous charitable groups across Canada. The organization will pick up any used truck, car, or van for free, while you get to choose which charity you want to donate to. And donors get a tax receipt, too. Approximately 98 per cent of a vehicle can be recycled; CharityCar.ca works with Green Vehicle Disposal to ensure that old cars are disposed of in an environmentally-responsible way.

Send a text
The Mobile Giving Foundation uses wireless technology to support charities. Several charitable groups are set up to receive donations this way; go to the MGFsite, type in a keyword to the charity’s associated code, and your one-time donation (which can be as low as $5), is added to your wireless bill or deducted from your prepaid balance.

Use life insurance for charitable giving
You can bequeth part or all of your life insurance proceeds to a cherished cause, meaning you don’t have to fork out any cash now. There are potential tax implications, so it’s best to consult a financial professional who’s well-versed in insurance policies and estate taxes.