The term charity has several related definitions. First, it is an act of helpfulness or generosity toward those in need in society. Second, it can be an institution that gives relief to these same people. Third, it is a public act by various entities, including individuals and corporations, involving providing help to people who need it.

Community involvement, which includes volunteer work, is work done by individuals to help people in communities without expecting pay or other remuneration. For the most part, an individual does the work out of the desire to see other people prosper and be able to take care of themselves. There is no expectation, such as social recognition or other form of reward.

Importantly, the terms community involvement and community service differ. With community involvement, the individual volunteering expects no reward. In contrast, a person doing community service does so with a specific purpose related to the work they will be doing. For instance, one may do community service to gain knowledge in a specific field, while another may be looking to improve their resume by gaining work experience. In addition, there are those ordered to perform community service by the courts.

With these points in mind, it is important to understand how one benefits from charity and community involvement, despite individuals not expecting any benefits. Charity and community involvement benefit individuals and businesses in various ways.

For an individual charity creates social connections, evokes gratitude, and creates a ripple effect. Charity brings a person closer to those they are supporting and such recipients also draw closer to the giver, creating social bonds. Also, charity can evoke gratitude for both the giver and recipient. Moreover, when one gives it creates a ripple effect, prompting others to give as well for society’s greater good.

An individual also experiences health benefits through charity. Studies have found that giving to society positively impacts the brain. Due to gratitude and other feelings of well-being, a person can prevent or alleviate mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Other research concludes that by reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and hypertension, engaging in charity can help increase a person’s life expectancy.

For businesses and corporations, charity has tax benefits, provides publicity, and creates customer support. When a business gives to charity, it can claim tax deductions on charitable donations of up to 50 percent of its gross income.

Similar to charity, community involvement impacts individuals in positive ways. Studies claim that people who volunteer are physically and mentally healthy. They also tend to live long, since volunteering evokes gratification and feelings of well-being. Additionally, a person gets a sense of purpose knowing they have touched another person’s life.

Community engagement also extends a person’s network of friends and other like-minded people. This way, a person understands their community better and the circumstances of those living in it. Additionally, by engaging with other volunteers and community members, an individual gains people skills such as kindness, patience, and resilience. They also gain communication skills interacting with other volunteers and community members, helping them to understand the issues at hand.

For businesses, community involvement impacts overall success and customer perceptions. Research has found that thriving businesses often attribute their success in large part due to community involvement. Additionally, community involvement has led to what is known as corporate social responsibility (CSR). Today, CSR is not just a means to give back to society as a generous gesture, but rather a requirement for some businesses to remain competitive.

Other studies report that consumers expect businesses and corporations to support social and environmental causes. In addition, most customers are likely to buy goods and services from organizations that involve themselves in community work, since it shows that such businesses and corporations care for people and are not just focused on the bottom line.