TisBest Science of Giving Series

The TisBest Science of Giving blog series explores some of the latest research and discoveries on why we give, and what happens in our brains when we do.

Science of Giving #1: What We Talk About When We Talk About Altruism. The six-month series kicks off with a blog post that explains the definition of altruism, where altruistic decisions originate in the brain, and how our brains reward us for acting generously. The post also highlights some of the heroic efforts made by Carlos Arrendondo in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 as an example of altruism in action. >>Click to read

Science of Giving #2: Why Elevation Changes Your Behavior.  Research documents an important link between elevation, also known as the “warm glow effect,” and a person’s willingness to help someone else. This link has compelling implications for everything from family relationships to philanthropic behavior, which we explore in this Science of Giving article. >>Click to read

Science of Giving #3: Transforming the Classroom Through Generosity. In this post we uncover a surprising connection between student well-being and generosity, and present resources for parents and teachers to learn more about bringing generosity and altruism into the classroom. >>Click to read

Science of Giving #4: The Secret to Raising a Generous Child. This article explores new scientific discoveries about the role of generosity in promoting childhood health and well being, as well as research-based techniques for encouraging this behavior in children. >>Click to read

Science of Giving #5: How Giving Can Improve Your Health. Learn about the physical health benefits of financial giving and volunteering, such as a longer life span, fewer aches and pains, and better overall physical and mental well-being. >>Click to read

Science of Giving #6: How Giving Can Benefit Your Business. Discover how employee engagement affects the bottom line–and how engaging workers in charitable giving can increase productivity and profits. >>Click to read