giving

You don't have to be a billionaire -- nor a jolly, white-bearded figure out of folklore -- to make the holiday season remarkably sweeter for a stranger. Or a lot of strangers. Over the past few years, ordinary people across the country have been taking up the calling of Larry Stewart, the original Secret Santa.

You researched what college to attend. You research term papers every semester. You even look up that cute History 101 classmate on Facebook before making your move. So why wouldn't you research a charity before donating your hard-earned money this holiday season? Doing your homework before writing...

It seems pretty simple, If you get a $500 iPad for Christmas, the value is $500, but according to an infographic put together by WePay the value we place on gifts is actually much less, only $409, than if we had purchased the item on our own. The lower value isn't limited to technology, it's also...

Karma Kitchen, the restaurant that invites you to eat for free but asks that you give from your heart afterward, is spreading its pay-it-forward goodness. Karma Kitchen opens July 11 at Klay Oven Indian Restaurant in Chicago, hoping to build on its success in Berkeley, Calif., and Washington...

Charitable giving is ingrained in our culture. Americans as a percentage of gross domestic product give more than any other country. And as a result of this charitable inclination, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports the United States has raised more than $895 million in response to the recent...

You don't have to fumble for change or apologize for not carrying cash the next time you pass by that friendly Salvation Army guy outside your favorite store. Just use plastic. That iconic red kettle, which relies on kind cash and holiday spirit, is getting a makeover in 30 cities to ring in...

If you're over the commercialism of Christmas and want to get into the spirit of charitable giving, charities are eager for the help. With the recession, many nonprofits have seen charitable giving drop, so your donation this year will mean more than ever. But just because you're feeling generous...

Over the past seven weeks, a string of colleges have received anonymous donations ranging from $1 million to at least $10 million.Schools receiving gifts include: University of North Carolina at Asheville, Montclair State, Purdue, Binghamton University, and Michigan State. The count may continue to...

With more and more individuals in need of assistance from charitable organizations and a pronounced drop in donations for charities of all kinds, it is important to find a way to make the most of your charitable giving. Smart Money Magazine compiled a list of 7 ways to stretch your charitable gifts...

'Tis the season for giving! At least, the calendar says it is... but all the latest report indicate that charitable giving is on the decline now as the economic downturn forces us to tighten our purse strings more than in years past. To try to combat that trend, Kraft Foods is teaming up with...