You don't have to be extremely wealthy to give back to your community. One study shows those who made between $50,000 and $75,000 a year donated 7.6 percent, while people who made $100,000 or more donated only 4.2 percent.

Giving to your favorite nonprofit organization does not require a lot of planning or even a lot of cash. There are several simple ways that you can make a donation this year.

Donate old clothes and other things you don't need. Many nonprofits run clothing drives and there are most likely also local organizations that run secondhand stores in your area. Collect your gently used clothes, small appliances, dishes, blankets, furniture, and other items, and make a list of each item you are donating. When you drop them off, they will give you a receipt as well as paperwork to determine a range for how much each item is worth. You can estimate the value and write it off as a tax-deductible donation on your taxes.

Purchase things on behalf of a nonprofit while shopping. Some nonprofits benefit from online shopping sites such as Amazon Smile. Or ask your favorite organization for a copy of its wish list and purchase one small item every time you shop for your own goods. Determine if their items come from the hardware store, the grocery store, or an office supply store, and make a commitment to purchasing one item from the list each time you need something from that store. Keep the receipts from these donations, and you can take the tax deduction when you file your taxes.

Donate a little from each check. There may be no easier way to donate cash to your favorite nonprofit than setting aside money from each check. Some charities, like United Way, have the capability of charging your account automatically each payday, or you could make the payment directly. Donating just $10 a week is more than $500 a year, and you won't ever notice that it's not in your account!

Save your change all year for a donation. Almost everyone has a change jar. Some people collect that silver change for special treats, vacations, or even a laundry fund. Saving all of your change throughout the year and donating it to a nonprofit organization at the end of the year means you can make a donation even when you're on a budget. This is an especially good way to teach children about giving.

Get involved with United Way for more ideas on how to give back. We offer advice on making tax-deductible donations to charities and give opportunities to volunteer in your community.