There are many ways to show your support for a cause that you’re passionate about, and one of them is donating money to charitable organizations. While monetary gifts can be quite effective in making an impact, there are also an array of other donation-based gifts available for purchase online that can have a real impact and make a difference in someone’s life.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself and considering the purchase of charity gifts, or are shopping for someone else, these gifts from charitable organizations are thoughtful, useful, and can be found online, making a positive impact with ease.
Understanding the Basics of Giving
One of the most important reasons to give a charity-based gift is that although it costs you money, even small amounts can make a huge difference in the lives of those living in poverty or suffering from other kinds of injustice or hardships.
Though the amount of money donated to charity can fall into just a few brackets, noting that 56% of giving goes to causes of less than $100, it doesn’t mean that each donation needs to be small — rather, many people are grateful for the chance to be able to give as much as they are able and make a much bigger impact with their donations.
Types of Charitable Giving
The most common kind of charitable donation-based gifts are those that are aimed at helping with simple needs — helping to pay for someone’s medical bills, cover the cost of food, or provide them with a shelter.
However, there are other types of charitable gifts that are often overlooked and lead to longer-term solutions. Those types of donations are aimed at supporting a particular cause, such as providing education for youth, equipping those in need with business opportunities, or introducing sustainable practices to developing countries.
Ideas for Shopping for Charity Gifts
When shopping for charity-based gifts, you may want to consider a variety of items or services, including the following:
Gift Cards
Gift cards can be loaded with donations made in the recipient’s name and can be used to purchase items from charitable organizations. Such cards are typically available from organizations such as Heifer International, Kizuna, and the United Way.
In-Kind Donations
In-kind donations are items of tangible value that are given directly to the charity, often in the form of books, toys, clothes, or other items that can help support the charity’s mission. In-kind donations are especially valuable when those items are hard to receive or come by.
Volunteer Services
For those looking to really make their donation count, volunteer services are a great way to combine a donation with a real-world experience. Charitable institutions often need hands-on help in the form of office assistance, event planning, or actual laborer activities.
Giving By Region
Donating money to a charity can also be done by targeting a specific region or country. That way, the donation goes directly to a group of people living in a particular region and is used for their benefit. This type of donation is typically more focused than a more general donation to a particular charity.
Online Charity Gift Shops
Many charities provide online gift shops. This can be a great way to select from donation items that reflect the mission of the charity directly and to send the gift with a personalized message.
My Giving Ideas
Lastly, for those looking for charity gifts on a budget, there are also websites such as My Giving Ideas, which offer free donation-based gift ideas, from charity gift cards to gift subscriptions.
No matter the donation amount or form, charity-based gifts are sure to make somebody’s day and can go a long way in making a difference. And with just a few clicks, those gifts can be bought directly online, meaning that the whole process of giving is not only easy, but also fast and effective.
