7 Tips From Marlo Thomas for Making Charitable Donations 

Actress Marlo Thomas, 80, grew up with charity at the center of her life. Her father, entertainer Danny Thomas, founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., to provide state-of-the-art care for children with life-threatening diseases at no cost to their families. After her father’s death in 1991, Thomas became national outreach director for St. Jude and helped turn it into one of the world’s leading pediatric cancer research centers. Over the years, she’s developed a unique perspective on the psychology of giving and what it takes to cultivate a generous heart. 

1. You don’t have to be a zillionaire to change the world

The biggest misconception people have about charity, Thomas says, is that giving a little bit doesn’t help. “My father used to say that he’d rather have a dollar from every American than a million dollars from a few,” she says. “Every dollar really does help. St. Jude costs $2.8 million a day to run, and the majority of that comes from small gifts.” 

2. Listen to what moves you

Marlo Thomas with children from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Jim Spellman/Getty Images

That’s the most important first step. When Marlo’s father died, she offered to fill in for him at the hospital. In time, she got hooked emotionally. “One day I walked into the medicine room and saw a little boy jump up on a stool and shout, ‘Mommy, I don’t have cancer anymore!’ ” she says. “How do you not get moved by that? I knew then that I wanted to be in a room where every child stands up and says, ‘Mommy, I don’t have cancer anymore!’ ” 

3. Give — even in uncertain times

It’s too early to tell what impact the new tax laws are going to have on giving, Thomas says. “People are being very careful about where they put their dollars, especially people on fixed income,” she says. “When things are volatile, people hang on to what they have to be sure that they will be safe.”