Start the Giving Process
According to the ASU Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management, 85 percent of Arizonans who donate do so because they are asked. Others give to organizations they already volunteer for. People also are more likely to give to an organization they have read or heard about. 
Nationally, the top reason people say they don’t donate is because they can’t afford it; the second reason is because they weren’t personally asked to do so.
People who are very wealthy don’t usually have to think about how to start the giving process; charity and nonprofit representatives approach them, Kimball says. Giving can be a lot of fun, but it’s often a big responsibility.
“They have to be somewhat selective,” Kimball says. “A lot of times people don’t realize that being a good philanthropist requires a lot of research and soul searching… otherwise, you end up giving $10 to everyone, and that’s one way to go, but if you want to have a real impact, you have to be very thoughtful.”
The first question potential donors of any level should ask themselves is, “What matters to me?” Lewis suggests.
What changes would improve society most in the ways you care about? Donating to a symphony? Homeless shelters? Environmental groups? Then, find out which organizations handle those issues, and call them or research them to find out what their missions are and how they spend their money.
Lewis recommends checking guidestar.com to learn more about different organizations and how much of each donation goes toward overhead versus the actual recipients or causes.
And if you’re strapped for cash but still want to be a giver, don’t count yourself out. Even giving a quarter can help, Lewis says: “I don’t think philanthropy is a privilege of the few. I think it’s something everyone can do.”

That Magic Number     
Deciding how much to give can be tricky. Guidelines for an appropriate amount depend on the individual, almost like tipping at a restaurant, DeVine says. (He recommends charitynavigator.org as a good resource to decide how much to give.)
There are limits for tax deductions based on adjusted gross income, so DeVine sometimes has to make certain that clients are within that range. Clients usually have a good idea of what they want to give before they see him and, thus, don’t need much guidance. However, some go a little too far.
“I have experienced people in the past that I felt may have been too generous, given their personal financial needs and situation,” he says. “I don’t know if you can be too poor to donate. Someone without money to donate might be in a position to donate their time to their favorite charity through local volunteer work.”  
DeVine says his clients who do give usually are eager to help, particularly after a tragedy such as a tsunami or hurricane. They like to feel they are “doing something” to help, he says.
David Carroll, a certified financial planner and managing director of Phoenix Wealth Advisors, an independent, integrated wealth advisory firm, agrees that the amount one should give is highly personal.
The amount also should be based on expectation of future income. If the client has an excess income that may not be permanent, they’ll probably give a smaller donation. “If they feel the excess income is a permanent state, then contributions will increase as a percentage,” Carroll says. “If it is a permanent and increasing state of income over expenses, that is another level again.” 
And despite the fluffy feel-good side of giving, Carroll says it’s important to calculate how a donation could affect your everyday lifestyle.
“There is a conflict going on with folks and their money,” he says, “somewhat of a Maslow’s hierarchy. Their first priority, generally, will be to ensure their lifestyle, next will be family and third will be social capital or charitable gifting. Every dollar that someone gives to charity is a dollar that they can’t use in their retirement or give to their children and grandchildren.” 
People tend to under-contribute, and charities tend to under-ask, Carroll adds. Once people have clarity about how much they actually need to feel secure in their everyday lives, they know how much excess wealth they actually have. 
“This then gives them the confidence to be able to give the appropriate portion of the excess in some form to charities,” he says. “More and more people are wanting to be involved, not just writing a check, but seeing the outcomes.”