Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. George James, Featured on CNBC: Helping Others During the Covid-19 Crisis Can Help Your Own Emotional, Financial Well-Being
July 16, 2020 | As Covid-19 cases continue to rise and businesses struggle to adapt to their new normal, many Americans are stepping up to help people in their communities. From personal gestures to financial contributions, experts say giving back in many ways — big and small — can have a significant impact on your own well-being, emotionally and financially.
“It gives people a sense of purpose, feeling that even though in these difficult times, there’s something I can do about it, that I have some sense of, some feeling of control, even when everything else feels out of control,” says Dr. George James, a licensed marriage and family therapist and chief innovation officer at the Council for Relationships, a nonprofit behavioral health organization in Philadelphia.
Alleviating stress and anxiety
“If we can distract ourselves, we move away from the constant thought, the worry, the overthinking, and one of the best ways to distract yourself is to help somebody else,” said Dr. James, a member of the CNBC Financial Wellness Council.
Sewing masks, creating personal protective equipment, feeding frontline workers, coordinating rides to appointments for cancer patients and raising money for charities, shuttered businesses, as well as families and individuals in need are just some of the ways people have found to uplift their communities.
“People’s needs aren’t two dimensional for just getting or needing money. People need food, supplies, help around the house. Hardships are very complex and change over time,” said Nicholas Emerson Mazzone, founder of Supportful.com, a digital platform that connects people who want to give with people in need of help — whether it’s errands and tasks, getting groceries and supplies, financing medical treatment or paying for other bills.
“It’s heartbreaking reading these stories and trying to detach yourself from it,” he said. “It’s also inspiring to see the rallying of support from different parts of the country with people showing they care from afar.”
Improving your financial well-being
In addition to the emotional benefits, giving to others can also help your financial well-being, experts say. “What giving can teach you is that ultimately finance is a lot more than just about money. Money is simply a tool to help you achieve your goals, and the way you use your money should align with your values, including supporting the causes and issues that you care about,” said author and certified financial planner Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz.
Before you give, do your research to make sure you understand how the money, time or resources you are donating will be used. The Federal Trade Commission warns that fake charities and fundraisers use the same tactics to reach donors as legitimate charities, whether face-to-face, by email, phone or social media. It’s especially important to do your research before giving out any personal information or making a donation. Go to Charity Navigator and GuideStar to get information about a charity’s mission, track record and financial stability.
Consider the tax breaks on your charitable contributions, too. Donating money to a charity could result in additional tax savings in light of new provisions under federal coronavirus relief provisions. The CARES Act provides a new “above the line” charitable contribution deduction of up to $300 if you claim the standard deduction in 2020. If you itemize deductions, limits on charitable contributions are raised from from 60% up to 100% of 2020 adjusted gross income.
And if you have the financial resources to make a large donation, you don’t have to decide on where to give the money right away. Opening a donor advised fund — a charitable investment account — at a brokerage firm or large foundation lets you make gifts of cash or stock to charitable organizations over time.
“With a donor advised fund, you can qualify for a current-year tax deduction and then recommend grants to charities in the future. You have time to decide — and there’s opportunity to invest the donation to potentially grow in value to make even a larger gift,” said Schwab-Pomerantz, who is also board chair of Schwab Charitable. However, she said, contributions to a donor advised fund aren’t part of the CARES Act expanded charitable deduction limits.
At Schwab Charitable the minimum to open a donor advised fund is $5,000, a hefty sum for most Americans at this time. However, you can then give grants of as little as $50 to many charitable organizations over several years.
No matter how you choose to give, any type of donation will likely be treasured.
Daniel Bonnet runs a food distribution center in New Rochelle, New York, where volunteers have served food and meals to as many as 18,000 people a week since early March. The city was the initial epicenter of the coronavirus in the state, yet he said many of the same volunteers have come back week after week. “Members of our community are so grateful and thankful. For the staff and volunteers that are doing that every day … getting that feedback and a positive sense of motivation really fuels them,” he said.
Emerson Mazzone agreed. People helping people drives many givers. “There’s so much uncertainty and hopelessness that the ability to help in a way you know you’re making an impact is really big,” he said. “It’s a really big deal. People have more time to take stock in their lives now and make more deliberate decisions about how you’re giving back.”
By Sharon Epperson and Erica Posse
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George James, Jr., PsyD, LMFT is a Senior Staff Therapist at our University City and Blue Bell Offices. He currently sees clients via online therapy. To set up an appointment, you can reach him at gjames@councilforrelationships.org or 215-382-6680 ext. 4128.