Donors

HARTFORD, CT -- Jim P.'Meara, Chair of the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Board of Directors, blogs about helping local children and hard-working families through volunteering for the United Way inspires him. Jim serves as Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO at Webster Bank. And he encourages others to do the same, "Just as United Way helped me find my best way to make a difference, it will do the same for you."

@CNNMoney -- Plenty of factors can motivate charitable giving: Moral obligation, religious tithing, a desire to improve the world or leave a legacy. But another factor -- the tax benefits for giving -- could soon change if lawmakers push through tax reform. Few people donate simply because of the tax breaks and are unlikely to stop giving altogether if they don't get any. But analyses from the Congressional Budget Office and others have found that tax incentives typically increase how much you choose to donate -- whether in life or at death.