Charitable Involvement

Charitable Involvement is a behavioral measure that includes activities such as participating in community service, donating money to charity, and helping friends with personal problems. All three of these activities are associated with positive college outcomes.

In particular, donating money to charity is positively associated with growth in most religious and spiritual qualities and with virtually all of the other outcomes of college: better college grades, leadership development, intellectual self-confidence, psychological well-being, commitment to promoting racial understanding, growth in appreciation of other races and cultures, and satisfaction with college.

Charitable Involvement is enhanced by membership in fraternities/sororities and other student organizations, leadership training, and living on campus.