75 random acts of kindness ideas, from free to five dollars
Seventy-five small, specific kindnesses sorted by budget and setting, plus what research says about why they land harder than you expect.
6 guides · Updated October 2026
Everyday generosity
Generosity isn't only checks and causes. It's the tip, the favor, the hour you show up and the habits you hand down.
How to start volunteering — and make it stick
The latest numbers on who volunteers in America, where to find a good fit, and how to choose between in-person, virtual and skills-based roles.
Tipping as generosity: how much to tip in 2026, and why it matters
Typical tip ranges, the wage rules behind them, and a calm way to handle checkout screens — tipping as an everyday act of generosity.
Generosity at work: small habits that make a team better
Workplace generosity is more than a charity drive. It's credit-sharing, mentoring, and covering for each other, and research suggests it helps teams.
How to teach kids generosity, age by age
What the research says about kids and giving, plus spend-save-give jars, age-by-age activities and family traditions that stick.
The science of giving: what research says about generosity and happiness
The studies behind "giving makes you happy," what held up when researchers re-ran them, and how to use the findings without overselling them.
Small, often, on purpose
Research on prosocial behavior keeps finding that the size of a kind act matters less than people expect, while the act itself matters more. That's good news: you can practice generosity on an ordinary Tuesday. The science of giving guide explains the studies; the rest of this section is about practice.
- Pick three ideas from the random acts of kindness list and do one this week.
- Find a recurring volunteer shift using the volunteering guide.
- Revisit how you tip with the tipping guide.
- Bring generosity into your team with generosity at work.
- Start a give jar with your kids using teaching kids generosity.
Explore the other sections
Giving smart
Statistics, charity vetting, taxes, donor-advised funds and getting more good from every dollar.
7 guides →Food & community
Food banks, food drives, sharing surplus safely and showing up for neighbors with a meal.
4 guides →Magnanimity
What it means to be magnanimous, from Aristotle to the Olympic track, and how to win and lose with grace.
3 guides →