One true, sourced story of generosity each day — from history, the science of giving and giving traditions around the world — and one small thing you can do about it today.
A volunteer survey gave us the phrase, a $5-or-$20 experiment made it famous, and the replications say: real, but smaller than the hype.
Today's act
Spend $5 on someone else today, a coffee, a snack or a small treat, and notice how you feel that evening.
The archive, newest first
A volunteer survey gave us the phrase, a $5-or-$20 experiment made it famous, and the replications say: real, but smaller than the hype.
Each entry is researched and written by The Magnanimous Editors and published at midnight Pacific time. Every number, date, quote and study finding links to its source, listed again at the end of the entry. Stories about real people come from documented accounts; where details are disputed, we say so. Read more about our editorial standards.
Want to go further than one act a day? Our guides cover vetting a charity, what food banks need and 75 kindness ideas, and the kindness generator will hand you a random one.