You choose how you spend your money. And making a conscious effort to patronize businesses that funnel dollars back into the community is not only smart, but empowering. Here’s a list of companies that channeled dollars back into the local community, and in some cases, helped with relief efforts globally.

1.     Nike: Nike donated more than 78 million to the following causes: children and youth, conflict resolution, human rights, international relief and development and recreation. Nike gave 5.3 percent of its income to charitable causes in 2009.

2.     Target:  Target and the Target Foundation give more than $3 million each week to the communities with whom they do business. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income to support education, social services, the arts and volunteerism.

3.     Johnson and Johnson: In 2009, Johnson & Johnson partnered with hundreds of local, regional and global organizations in 650 philanthropic programs around the world, contributing $588.1 million in cash and products. The company gave 4.79 percent of its income to charitable causes.

4.      Bank of America: Bank of America has donated $200 million annually to charitable giving. In 2009, the company set a 10-year goal to give $2 billion. Bank of America gave 3.17 percent of their income to charity.

5.     Ford: Ford donated $49 million to the following causes: community and economic development, education and other charitable causes. The company gave 1.8 percent of its income to charity.

6.     Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo contributed $202 million to 18,000 nonprofits nationwide. The amount given averages $553,425 a day to nonprofits supporting education, community development, human services, the arts and the environment. In 2009, the company donated 1.6 percent of profits to charities.

7.     JCPenney: JCPenney has given $80 million over the past decade to organizations that benefit young people, such as the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). In 2009, the company gave 1.37 percent of its income to charitable giving.

8.     ConocoPhillips: The company gave approximately $60 million to the following causes: educational, youth, health, social service, civic, arts, environment and safety initiatives. Employees of the company donated time to the aforementioned causes as well. The company donated 1.24 percent of its income in 2009.

9.     ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation gave $196 million in cash, goods and services worldwide. The United States received $107 million, while $89 million was given to communities in other countries globally. Employees and retirees of ExxonMobil donated $39 million through matching gift, disaster relief and employee-giving programs. The company, together with its employees and retirees, gave a total of $235 million to communities around the world. The company gave 1.2 percent of its income to causes around the world.

10. Coca-Cola Company: Coca-Cola donated more than $75 million to the following causes: children and youth, diversity, education, environment and conservation as well as HIV/AIDS. In 2009, the company gave 1.1 percent of its income to charitable causes.