The Gift of Giving

The holiday season is here, and with it comes a renewed spirit of generosity and a desire to give back. Whether through meaningful gifts, volunteerism, or other creative ways to give, there are countless opportunities to uplift communities and support vital causes. This holiday season, we are sharing ideas to inspire purposeful giving and encouraging nonprofits to provide giving opportunities like these to meet the giving needs of supporters.

1. Gifting with purpose.

Holiday gift-giving can be a meaningful way to support nonprofits while finding unique and thoughtful presents. Consider gifts that delight the recipient and give back to important causes. For example, purchasing handmade goods from Ten Thousand Villages supports artisans around the world, promoting fair trade and sustainable income. Alternatively, purchasing a gift from Gifts for Good offers opportunities to support nonprofit organizations such as World Central Kitchen, which provides food security and hope during difficult times.

2. The gift of sustainability.

Another way to support nonprofits is with a gift that keeps giving by participating in a monthly sustainer giving program. Monthly donation amounts are available for all budgets. This is an ideal present for the person who has everything to have the monthly donation made in their name or as a present to yourself to meet your giving goals.  Either way, you will experience goodwill throughout the year as monthly recurring donations provide steady funding for nonprofits. The impact of a small monthly donation can be significant, as illustrated by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s monthly giving opportunities and North Carolina Public Radio’s sustainer program.

3. Give your time.

The gift of volunteering can be just as powerful for its positive impact on the receiver and the giver. Organizations, like Activate Good in the Triangle area of North Carolina, connect volunteers with virtual and in-person volunteer activities. Organizations like Taproot Foundation offer virtual opportunities to volunteer by sharing your expertise and gaining valuable professional experience through volunteer projects.

4. The gift of appreciation.

The services that nonprofits provide are the cumulative effort and collaboration of many different stakeholders who contribute their time, knowledge, experience, and resources to serve our communities. We can express our appreciation and support our nonprofit friends by posting online reviews, sharing testimonials, and providing referrals. Many funding sources audit the impact the nonprofit is making in assessing the organization. Having positive reviews to share highlights organizational credibility, necessity, and quality to attract new supporters.

5. Sharing is caring.

If you are like many of us, your daily life involves some interaction with social media. But did you know you can scroll and gift? Make sure to follow your favorite nonprofits on social media and interact with their posts. Sharing and commenting help to increase the reach of their posts so that more people can learn about and support their work. Research shows that 55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media take action through activities such as donating or volunteering. Social sharing is an easy, quick, and fun way to show your support and encourage others to act.

We hope these ideas will inspire you to think of holiday gift-giving in the spirit of a quote from Mother Teresa, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” And for nonprofit organizations seeking support this holiday season, we hope this inspires exploring new ways you can ask for support.