The Science of Giving Back — And 18 Ways to Do It Right Here in Dunwoody

That’s exactly what happened at the University of British Columbia, where Harvard Business School professor Elizabeth Dunn ran one of the most fascinating happiness experiments ever conducted.

Here’s how it worked. Some people opened their envelopes and found five dollars. Others found twenty. Then came the instruction — and this is where it gets interesting.

Half the people were told, “Spend this money on yourself by five o’clock today.” Go get a coffee. Buy yourself something nice. Treat yourself.

The other half were told, “Spend this money on someone else by five o’clock today.” Buy a friend lunch. Drop it in a tip jar. Pick up a gift for someone.

Now, before I tell you what happened, think about what you’d predict. Most of us would guess that the people who got twenty dollars were happier than the people who got five, right? And that spending on yourself — getting exactly what you want — would feel pretty good?

That’s exactly what Dunn predicted most people would say. And she was right. When she surveyed a separate group and asked them to guess who’d be happier, almost everyone said the same thing: more money, spent on me. That’s the recipe for a good day.

But that’s not what the data showed. Not even close.

When Dunn’s team called everyone back that evening and measured their happiness, two things jumped out.

First — and this surprised a lot of people — the amount of money didn’t matter. Five dollars or twenty, it made no statistical difference in how happy people felt.

Second — and this is the big one — the people who spent money on someone else were measurably happier than the people who spent it on themselves. Every time.

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, that’s one study on a college campus. Maybe Canadian college students are just unusually generous.”

So Dunn went bigger. She surveyed working adults across the United States and asked them how they spent their income — what percentage went to bills, personal spending, gifts for others, and charitable donations. Then she measured their happiness.

The results? How much money people made mattered far less than how they spent it. The proportion someone gave away — to friends, family, or causes they believed in — was a stronger predictor of their happiness than their total income.

But she still wasn’t done. Dunn and her colleagues took this research global — to Uganda, Canada, South Africa, and beyond. Rich countries and poor countries. Individualistic cultures and collectivist ones. And the finding held everywhere.

Whether someone was buying malaria nets for strangers in a Ugandan village or picking up coffee for a coworker in Vancouver, spending on others produced a happiness boost that spending on yourself simply didn’t.

“Trying to buy happiness for yourself is a losing strategy. But investing in other people? That works almost every time.”
— Professor Elizabeth Dunn, Harvard Business School

So here’s my question for all of you today. Think about the last time you did something — even something small — purely for someone else. How did that feel? And what if we all did just a little more of that this week?

Because the science is clear. The fastest path to feeling good… is doing good.

Source: Dunn, E.W., Aknin, L.B., & Norton, M.I. “Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness.” Science, 2008.
Read the study at Harvard Business School →

The good news is you don’t have to look far. Dunwoody and the surrounding community are full of organizations doing incredible work — and they could use your help. Here are 18 ways to give back right where you live.

Créer Dunwoody

Create Dunwoody believes in the transformative power of artistic expression and cultural exchange to enrich the lives of our community members, stimulate local businesses, and attract visitors. Their mission is to foster a vibrant and thriving arts and culture scene as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth in our city. They envision a future where Dunwoody is recognized as a thriving hub of arts, culture, and creative innovation that drives sustainable economic development and enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Together, we can cultivate an economically vibrant city where diverse arts and culture flourish and inspire. Learn how you can support and get involved at createdunwoody.org.

Rotary Club of Dunwoody

This one is near and dear to my heart. While you've probably seen the Rotary signs along roads all over the country, you might not realize that service is at the core of everything they do. The Rotary Club of Dunwoody is one of the most successful clubs in Georgia, and they're always looking for helping hands. Their programs include raising funds to fight Alzheimer's, providing backpacks and school supplies to students, delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in need, putting books in the hands of elementary school kids, making sandwiches for those experiencing food insecurity, welcoming service members at the USO at the airport, supporting Special Olympics programs, collecting medical supplies for FODAC, and so much more. Interested? Visit dunwoodyrotary.org or join them for a meeting every Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. at Maggiano's in front of the mall. They'd love to have you. RSVP at dunwoodyrotary@outlook.com.

Dunwoody Police Foundation

The Dunwoody Police Foundation exists to support the men and women of the Dunwoody Police Department and their families. Through funding for specialized training, equipment, wellness programs, and family assistance, the Foundation provides resources beyond the city budget to strengthen and sustain those who serve. Your generosity directly impacts officer safety, well being, and ability to safeguard our community. When Dunwoody's finest have what they need to serve with excellence, our entire community becomes stronger, safer, and more connected. Every act of service helps strengthen our community. Whether you're lending a hand at events, sharing your skills, or helping spread awareness, your involvement directly supports the officers who protect Dunwoody every day. Learn how you can get involved at dunwoodypolicefoundation.org.

Community Assistance Center

A good friend of Discover Dunwoody, Frances Horton, serves as Executive Director of the Community Assistance Center. Frances and her team have been a cornerstone of human services in the northern Perimeter area since 1987, helping prevent hunger and homelessness throughout Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. CAC provides assistance with utilities, food, and clothing while actively engaging clients to work toward greater self-sufficiency. Their food pantry alone makes a tremendous difference for families facing difficult times. Learn how you can help at ourcac.org/volunteer.

Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta

What happens when children who rely on school meals face the weekend without access to food? Backpack Buddies answers that question with action. What started in 2017 with volunteers packing food for just 10 students at one local elementary school has grown into something remarkable. After incorporating as a 501(c)(3) in 2022, they reached an incredible milestone in April 2025, serving their one millionth meal. Today, with support from hundreds of volunteers across 34 churches, synagogues, senior centers, and community organizations, Backpack Buddies feeds 2,625 children every weekend across 52 schools. As they continue growing, so does their need for donors, volunteers, and community partners. Learn more at backpackbuddiesatl.org.

The Sandwich Project

When the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted countless lives in 2020, The Sandwich Project was born out of a simple desire to help neighbors struggling with food insecurity. Even as the urgency of the pandemic has eased, housing costs, inflation, and systemic inequities continue to force many families into impossible choices between food and other basic needs. Through a dedicated network of volunteers, The Sandwich Project creates and delivers fresh, homemade sandwiches to individuals in need. Since its founding, the organization has donated more than two million sandwiches and thousands of pounds of nutritious food to nonprofit partners across metro Atlanta and Athens. Their mission is simple: fight food insecurity, foster a spirit of service among neighbors, and ensure that every person has access to nourishing food. Learn more at thesandwichproject.org.

Malachi's Storehouse

For over 30 years, Malachi's Storehouse has faithfully served seniors, children, parents, singles, and homeless individuals with dignity and respect, no matter what life experience brought them through the doors. Started in 1991, Malachi's has grown organically by following a mission of nourishing both body and spirit while honoring the dignity of every human being around the giving and receiving of food. As a partner agency of the Atlanta Community Food Bank since the mid 1990s, they now receive about three pallets of food every Tuesday, where a team of volunteers unloads and stores it for distribution. Join them on their journey of radical hospitality at malachis.org.

Anchor Place

This community-supported ministry at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church on New Peachtree launched just last year with a beautiful mission: giving family caregivers a much-needed break. Anchor Place provides a welcoming space for loved ones living with dementia or memory loss, allowing caregivers time to run errands, go to the gym, or simply recharge. The organization offers social, emotional, and spiritual support for older adults with cognitive impairments while addressing the epidemic of loneliness through innovative programming. Discover how you can support their work at anchorplace.org.

The Nichols Center

Though located in Douglasville, The Nichols Center is doing vital work that touches lives across our region. One in five Americans will experience some form of mental health crisis this year, and this organization is dedicated to helping those struggling, particularly around suicide prevention. We had the privilege of interviewing founder and CEO Tara Nichols on our YouTube series, Dunwoody Dialogues. Watch the interview here, then visit nicholscenter.org to explore ways you can support their mission.

Clubhouse Atlanta

Founded in 2018, Clubhouse Atlanta provides a restorative environment for people who have had their lives disrupted by mental illness and need the support of a community that believes recovery is not only possible, but probable. After years of involvement with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and personal experience caring for family members struggling with mental illness, founders Susie Kyle and Bill McClung discovered Clubhouse International, an evidence-based model of psychosocial rehabilitation endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and SAMHSA. They established the first standards-based Clubhouse in Georgia, opening their doors in October 2020.Today, Clubhouse Atlanta serves over 60 members with a dedicated staff committed to providing an inviting space where members are wanted, needed, and respected. Learn more at clubhouseatlanta.org.

Centre de la nature de Dunwoody

The Dunwoody Nature Center is based in one of Dunwoody's beloved parks. While the city maintains the park itself, the Nature Center does so much more and could always use your help. Volunteer opportunities include trail clearing, invasive plant removal, mulching, and other park projects. Regular group sessions occur the second Saturday of each month, and corporate and youth volunteer days are also available. Learn more at DunwoodyNature.org.

Trees Atlanta

Want to make a lasting impact on our environment? Trees Atlanta might be your calling. Living in an urban forest offers incredible benefits beyond the obvious beauty. Trees improve air quality, conserve energy through natural cooling, reduce stormwater runoff, mitigate noise pollution, and provide habitat for wildlife. Research consistently shows the connection between green spaces and our physical and mental well being. Urban nature calms us while encouraging curiosity and mental sharpness. Plus, trees enhance our neighborhoods and increase property values. From seedlings, a forest can grow. Learn how you can help cultivate Atlanta's tree canopy at treesatlanta.org.

FODAC

With a strong network of volunteers and partners, FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) provides refurbished equipment and services for adults and children with disabilities to improve their overall quality of life. Their model has remained consistent over the years: providing free or low cost wheelchairs and other home medical equipment, vehicle and home adaptations, and more. To meet needs more efficiently across Georgia, FODAC opened a second location in Savannah in the summer of 2024. Their staff works together like a family to make every day a little easier and more affordable for people in need. Learn more at fodac.org.

Georgia Chapter, Alzheimer's Association

In Georgia, more than 183,000 people are living with Alzheimer's disease. At least 374,000 caregivers dedicate 755 million hours of unpaid care each year. From Atlanta to Augusta to Savannah and every town in between, the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is here to help. The chapter team and committed volunteers serve the entire state, offering support to anyone facing Alzheimer's or other dementia, advocating for the needs and rights of those affected, and advancing critical research toward treatment, prevention, and ultimately a cure. If you're a caregiver or someone living with dementia, check out their support groups and education programs. If you want to join the fight to end Alzheimer's, explore their events, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy initiatives at alz.org/georgia.

The FSHD Society

The FSHD Society is the world's largest advocacy and research organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. One great way to get involved is by joining the annual Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD. Learn more and register at give.fshdsociety.org.

Tapestri

Tapestri is a nonprofit dedicated to ending violence and oppression in immigrant and refugee communities using culturally competent and linguistically appropriate methods. As advocates for immigrants and refugees affected by human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and exploitation, Tapestri uses education, community organizing, direct services, and advocacy to improve lives. The name Tapestri symbolizes the different threads of society coming together to form a safe cover to protect its many colored communities. Founded in 1996 by advocates from diverse ethnic communities addressing the unmet needs of battered refugee and immigrant women in metro Atlanta, the organization became an independent nonprofit in 2002. Today, Tapestri provides comprehensive case management to foreign national victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and unaccompanied minors across the state of Georgia. Their vision: every person has the right to live without fear. Learn more at tapestri.org.

DeKalb County Animal Services

Just minutes from Dunwoody in Chamblee, this shelter — managed by LifeLine Animal Project — is Georgia’s largest animal welfare organization. Volunteers can walk dogs, socialize with cats, foster animals in need, or simply show up and share some love with pets waiting for their forever homes. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to spend an afternoon.

dekalbanimalservices.com

3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341 · volunteer@dekalbanimalservices.com

However you choose to give back in 2026, know that your time and generosity make a real difference right here in our community.