Charity gifts for holidays

[Bennifer]

My dh and I decided last night we are sick of stressing out over what to get his aunts and uncles for Christmas since we don't know them that well. His family has this idea that everyone should buy for everyone, which I believe is ludicrous! Dh agrees. We decided to send a message by giving them all a donation to a charity in their names. What are your favorites???

[tiffany21074]

I would say, what are you guys passionate about? Enviromentalism? Poverty? Do you belong to some type of faith? I am Christian, so we support Compassion International, but there are tons of good quality charities. I would search online for some reputable possibilities...that is, one that doesn't spend all of their money on administration or marketing.

[polyhymnia]

I like to do Heifer or Oxfam, and buy things like "a goat" or "a farming package" or "a knitting basket". The donations are used to help people in developing countries begin to be (more) self sufficient, and you get a little card to send to the person saying you bought that gift in their honor.

[sarasprings]

I believe there is a website where you can donate the money, but the recipient can choose the charity. Someone here may know what it is.

[phathui5]

I'd think it's more of a gift if you're giving to a charity that they care about. MIL is really into animals, so we gave to the SPCA here in her honor a couple of years ago.

[Caneel]

We have done this very thing for several years for the people we couldn't just not buy a present for. (Several business associates and friends) We have used Heiffer International. If you do in ahead to time, they will send you cards for the receipants.

I took the cards and wrote a heartfelt note to each person, explaining our reasoning behind electing to not purchase a material gift. As far as I know, no one was disappointed and most have been very touched by the gesture.

[melissel]

Originally Posted by phathui5

I'd think it's more of a gift if you're giving to a charity that they care about. MIL is really into animals, so we gave to the SPCA here in her honor a couple of years ago.

ITA with this. I would be totally annoyed if someone made a gift in my name to certain charities or causes (I'm pretty specific in my politics).

What about something like Terrapass? Or maybe that would be more expensive than you were thinking...

[Belleweather]

Another vote for Heifer. It's really hard to find someone who would be politically against cows and sheep and bees and teaching people to farm their way out of poverty, you know? Plus, it's tangible in a way that a lot of other gifts aren't... when you donate to United Way or where-ever, it's hard to conceptualize what your donation actually did. I mean, obviously it helped animals or went toward a project in your community, or whatever. But when I donate to Heifer on behalf of my family and friends, I can say "I bought a goat for a poor village in Zaire for you for Christmas! Happy Holidays!"

[fek&fuzz]

Originally Posted by Belleweather

Another vote for Heifer. It's really hard to find someone who would be politically against cows and sheep and bees and teaching people to farm their way out of poverty, you know? Plus, it's tangible in a way that a lot of other gifts aren't... when you donate to United Way or where-ever, it's hard to conceptualize what your donation actually did. I mean, obviously it helped animals or went toward a project in your community, or whatever. But when I donate to Heifer on behalf of my family and friends, I can say "I bought a goat for a poor village in Zaire for you for Christmas! Happy Holidays!"

Vegans might object. I had thought of this gift but remembered my vegan brother.

Rather than asking us what our favorite charities are, think of something that your recipient would appreciate.

I am planning on doing some donations to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of my aunt who passed away today from that terrible disease.

You could do the diabetes association, some charity local to them, a cause they would want you to support in their name.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I vote for heifer too. my friends bought me half a goat, a beehive, and a clutch of rabbits a few years ago. Very cool. We are thinking about buying either a clutch of rabbits ($60 or 6-$10 gifts) or a beehive ($30 or 3-$10 gifts) or a sheep ($120 or 12-$10 gifts). That would take care of most of the gifts we have to buy, and I make the rest.