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As entrepreneurs, we have the ability to impact the lives of others in a positive way. I’m not saying a fancy car and materialistic possessions are a bad thing — everyone desires them and they serve as a form of motivation.

But in the grand scheme of things, they are just things. While they will always provide gratification to some degree, I encourage you to also seek out ways to experience non-materialistic gratification, starting with these examples.

1. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter.

I have a very soft spot in my heart for the homeless and that stems from watching my dad always go out of his way to put a bite to eat in their hands. There is one statistic that is really mind blowing though, and that is the fact that experience homelessness each year in the U.S.

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That means more than 2 percent of the children in the U.S. are in a situation that they have no control over and could use a positive and influential figure in their life. Volunteering for a couple hours a week and making an effort to interact can bring a smile to a young child that, at the current time, doesn’t have a whole lot to smile about.

2. Donate your time at a nursing home.

There are more than , and sadly some of them don’t have immediate family. This means they don’t have much interaction with the outside world — they interact with their caregivers on a daily basis, but that’s about it.

Give up a couple hours of your time and serve lunch or dinner to the residents — or make the rounds and visit a few patients. You will meet war veterans, former business owners and all kinds of different personalities. I guarantee you will make new friends, hear some amazing stories and make a lot of people happy.

3. Sponsor the birthday of a child in need.

I’m a firm believer that no child should be forgotten on his or her birthday and during the holiday season. While is a great organization to get toys into the hands of deserving children during the holiday season, the best option for birthdays is to contact local organizations.

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A few phone calls to after-school programs and youth groups will typically turn up some options. Something as simple as a $100 donation can help supply a cake, ice cream, balloons, decorations and a gift to a child that would otherwise not celebrate his or her birthday.

4. Donate to a charitable organization.

Think for a moment — what is one cause that you are extremely passionate about? We all have at least one. Personally, I like to support organizations that fight cancer. My dad was taken from us way too early because of the disease. Baseball was such a huge part of our family, so are naturally one my favorite causes to support.

Every single dollar that these organizations receive adds up, so even if you can only donate a few dollars, do it. The feeling you get inside is the same, whether you are donating $20 or $20,000. A portion of revenue from will be donated to cancer research charities.

5. Become a big brother or big sister.

is the largest volunteer-based youth mentoring organization, and you can impact the future of a child by volunteering just a few hours a month. Kids are the future and the odds are stacked against many of them.

By serving as a positive influence, you could take a previously troubled child and point them in the right direction. No car, watch or materialistic object will give you the same gratification as watching a child that you influenced go on to do great things in life. If you don’t have the time to volunteer, you can donate, with options starting as low as $25.

What are some other sources of non-materialistic gratification? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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