Christmas Charity Gifts (and ways to do good)

M0rtinLoois

Perhaps one to consider would be Sense - a charity for Deafblindness -
"Deafblindness is not just a deaf person who cannot see, or a blind person who cannot hear. The two impairments together increase the effects of each." - I cannot imagine a world so closed off to me

Kezl89

A different gift idea is a a donation voucher from an animal rescue.

Many Tears have donation vouchers of £5 and £10, free postage.

The donation goes to help the rescue which last year rehomed over 2500 dogs, and funded cataract surgery for many dogs.

Details are on the Many Tears website under Xmas Merchandise.

Blairweech

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been asked before but does anyone know any websites that do printable donation certificates? I have just donated to The Red Cross for my Gran and they only send an email, with loads of extra stuff about gift aid, regular donations etc on it - doesn't look very good so I can't just print that out.

tog22

MSE-ers would probably be interested in giving to the most cost-effective charities possible. Far and away the best research on this is done by GiveWell, though its reports are filled with detailed scientific cost-effectiveness studies; there are more accessible summaries of the charities they recommend here.

lilmiss1982

Blairweech wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been asked before but does anyone know any websites that do printable donation certificates? I have just donated to The Red Cross for my Gran and they only send an email, with loads of extra stuff about gift aid, regular donations etc on it - doesn't look very good so I can't just print that out.

Yes this site do

http://www.maternityworldwide.org/get-involved/online-shop/

Mandy_Caddy

I operate an exciting way to make a direct impact on someone’s life – by supporting the YMCAs homeless services, while you solve your ‘what-to-buy’ present.


The idea is that you choose a ‘thoughtful gift’ by making a donation to the value of one of our services - for a friend, family member or yourself - but the real ‘gift’ goes to directly help a homeless person.


Choose from our range of services and we'll send you a Gift Card to give to a loved one, and a Certificate with details of the ‘gift’ you have donated.


We want to help homeless people be the best they can be and actively look for ways that we can give those who need it a second chance. That could be a bed for the night for someone who has been sleeping rough on the streets, a meal over Christmas, Room Sponsorship, and many more...


In many cases, a simple solution such as practical training or a much needed rest for someone at breaking point may be all it takes to get a life back on track – and 100% of the money raised goes directly into providing those services.


Why not contact me at Cardiff YMCA Housing Association, or through this thread for a copy of our catalogue.

chris_aaaaa

I used to give via the dove trust, they dealt with gift aid and isolated me from follow up letters.

The dove trust seems to have imploded, are there any alternatives?

Kaz21_2

HI, love this Forum! I love the whole idea around Charity gifts and I've been looking around my City to see how I could support. Our local Birmingham Children's Hospital is doing a couple of things which I'm thinking about getting involved in. They've got a Moments of Magic Campaign where you can buy friends a gift of a donation to spread joy around the hospital. They're also taking part in The Big Give. All info is on their charity website. Will keep a look out for more gifts!

GaryNicol

For the last few years I've given friends and family Lendwithcare.org gift vouchers. These can be used to help fund loans for entrepreneurs in the developing world that are looking to start up new micro-businesses, or expand existing ones.

The initiative is run by CARE International, who are an aid charity that have been helping people move out of poverty for over 70 years. As a lender you get to choose specifically who you want to lend to, so the process of selecting an entrepreneur is much more personal and engaging than giving to a wider cause.

Unlike a traditional donation, the loans are repaid from the additional profits the entrepreneur makes, so the gift voucher recipient gets the money back. They can then choose to either loan the money to other entrepreneurs, donate it to CARE to help with the running costs, or withdraw it and spend it themselves - it's entirely up to them.

They really are the gifts that keep on giving and some of the friends and family I gave gift vouchers to several years ago have re-lent the same £15 voucher four or five times over.

Lollylou

I found this amazing charity that sells Digital certificates for a safe birth and fab Christmas cards. I cant think of anything more appropriate for Christmas than helping Mary & Joseph!! They are called MaternityWorldwide.org give them a google!!

xx