Teacher Gifts With Meaning

Here is a reposting from part of my page on Giving Gifts.  Thought it was good timing with the end of the school year approaching. 

KIVA
I have wanted to give a microloan as a gift for years and have yet to do it.  This is the year!  I like this gift for two reasons.  One, the recipient gets to shop for the loan they want to give.  Secondly, when the loan is paid back, your recipient gets to loan the money again, and again.

Note:  In another post on this blog there are several negative articles regarding microfinancing, but I am standing behind it's value when done ethically and with integrity.


 12 Small Things
To purchase physical gifts from fair trade/socially responsible vendors check out this site.  It was suggested by a friend of mine who is hired by foreign governments to increase the business of fair trade items to benefit their local communities. 

Global Goods Partner 

My friend, mentioned above, was also hired by this company to do trainings with women in some of the countries this site supports.

Trade As One
I liked this site because it gives you background on the communities benefiting from your purchase. It not only has a selection of nice gifts, but also alternatives to items you buy for yourself probably not fair trade, like soccer balls.

Nest 

A beautiful site and is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses.

Global Exchange Fair Trade
You can google "fair trade gifts" and get numerous suggested.  This was one that looked particularly good.

Giving Calculators

It is personal decision how much each of us feels we can "give."  To help provide some guidelines, I am re-posting two giving calculators.   I challenge you, this week, to look at these two calculators as a starting point for your family's philanthropy plan.  It's perfect timing since you should have all of your income tax papers by January 31st.

Take the Pledge - this website uses a tiered income approach and suggests how much you should give to help end world poverty

Give It Back - this website calculates your savings from the current tax-cuts and encourages you to donate it back to charity.

Deciding to Give, How much, and Where

Like most things in life, deciding how much to give and where is not a straight forward answer.

Your Money Deciding How Much to Give? Check with a Higher Authority 
from New York Times

This was the best article I could find on the subject and I like how it talks about the difference between income and wealth.


The Life You Can Save
This website is also listed in the article above.  I like how it uses the tiered approach to deciding how much you should give.  It only addresses income, not wealth, and it is focused on world poverty, but still a thoughtful guideline overall


Five Points to Consider for Annual Giving 
from New York Times
Same author as the first article.  I like how this article suggests a trifecta approach to diving your money between local, national, and international causes and how it emphasizes the importance of doing your homework.


Guide Star and Charity Navigator
Just like test scores aren't the only variable in determining a good school, financials aren't the only way to determine a good non-profit.  However, it is a variable to do your homework on.  I like to see their income vs. expenses, assets, and even how much the executive director makes.

Look for Vetting Sources

Locally, you can be confident any organization receiving a grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation has been well vetted, although certainly not a complete list of worthy non-profits.
Nationally and internationally you can look at grant recipients from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and sponsored projects of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Other vetted international organizations are listed on the Giving Charity As Gifts blog entry like
Tis Best and Global Giving.




Social Networks Giving to Social Causes, but at a Price
from New York Times
This article discusses the pros and cons of social network and giving websites such as Network For Good and Causes on Facebook.  They take a cut of the donation and are they a necessary middleman? However, they provide marketing the non profit would not be able to provide or would have to pay themselves and they connect people with common interests. 

Giving To Friends' Causes

I like to give to causes my friends are giving their time to.  Even if it's not a big donation nor my priority, I like to show support for the time and energy my friends are putting into making an impact in the community.

What is the Impact?

Is there a way to gage if the organization is making an impact? This is trickier to determine, but a good question to ask yourself.  Look for MEASURABLE  outcomes.

Tips on Giving
Finally, please see my prior blog post for more articles on Tips on Giving.



I'd like to get more input from local experts on this subject so look for updated posts in the future.  Additionally, I think deciding to volunteer your time somewhere is another question entirely so I'd also like to save that for another time.

Giving Charity as a Present

One of my resolutions is to give more charitable gifts as presents this year either in form of a donation or purchasing fair trade items.  Here are some good resources for accomplishing this.


Gift Cards for Charity 
from Washington Post
I like the idea of a charitable gift card because the recipient gets to shop for where the donation actually goes.  The article mentions two good sites that they feel offer well vetted options:

Global Giving
Tis Best


Nicholas Kristoff's Suggestions 
from New York Times
Any suggestions from this well known international aid journalist are bound to be worthy


Causecast
This site tells you what you can get for what dollar amount.  For instance, $14.00 buys you school supplies for a former child slave in Ghana or $25.00 for immunizations for a child in Haiti.  Also, includes lots of options in the U.S.


Change.org
I like how this charity gift giving guide is organized by the recipient's area of interest.



KIVA
I have wanted to give a microloan as a gift for years and have yet to do it.  This is the year!  I like this gift for two reasons.  One, the recipient gets to shop for the loan they want to give.  Secondly, when the loan is paid back, your recipient gets to loan the money again, and again.

Note:  In another post on this blog there are several negative articles regarding microfinancing, but I am standing behind it's value when done ethically and with integrity.


 12 Small Things
To purchase physical gifts from fair trade/socially responsible vendors check out this site.  It was suggested by a friend of mine who is hired by foreign governments to increase the business of fair trade items to benefit their local communities. 


Trade As One
I liked this site because it gives you background on the communities benefiting from your purchase. It not only has a selection of nice gifts, but also alternatives to items you buy for yourself probably not fair trade, like soccer balls.

Global Exchange Fair Trade
You can google "fair trade gifts" and get numerous suggested.  This was one that looked particular good.

Local and Misc.

Local Dentist Does Goodwill in Afghanistan
from The Independent
Inspiring story about a local dentist who set up practice in Afghanistan


Palmer Jackson Elected to Santa Barbara Foundation Board
from Noozhawk
Three new trustees announced, including Palmer.  Also, another mentioned of their new website and the recent announcement of their new grant recipients at sbfoundation.org


Volunteers Help Direct Relief International
from Noozhawk
I am only including this article because I participated in this event.  It was rewarding taking the time from what felt like constant consumerism for my own family to help those less fortunate.  I suggest you put a reminder in your calendar for next Dec to find out when they will be dong it.  Of course you can help throughout the year, but this was just very timely.


Website Challenges Rich to Give Back Tax Cut
from MSNBC
Read this article and check out www.giveitbackforjobs.org to see if you should be giving back your tax break.


How Aid Can Hinder Southern Sudan 
from Huffington Post
I naturally think, "the more aid the better" in terms of solving world poverty so it's interesting to me to realize this isn't always true and why.



Top Ten 2010 Victories from Change.org
from Change.org
Change.org is the leading site for social change, providing daily news and information about important social issues and empowering people to take action.


Obama Creates Council to Promote Social Change
from Chronicles of Philanthropy
New council to advise Obama on social change includes former executive director of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Jon Bon Jovi.

Tips on Giving

Most of these articles were published in December 2010 with holiday giving in mind, but the information in them can be used all year long.

The Best Gifts that Give to Charity
This article from smartmoney.com helps you look for gifts with a charitable tie-in while trying to dodge those that only say they do good.  This advice also applies to your own charitable giving.

Why Its Best to Give Close to Home

smartmoney.com on why you might get more mileage from your contribution by giving to smaller, local organizations, rather than to the big, brand-name charities.

How to Maximize Charitable Giving
Covers how to maximize your giving even if you aren't Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.  From smartmoney.com

How to Avoid Mistakes When Giving Money to Charity
Wall Street Journal  on the top 10 mistakes people make when giving to charity


Buying Gifts That Give Back 
Article from CNN with some good links to buying gifts with a cause.  I personally prefer gifts from a fair trade source rather than traditional gifts that are donating to causes.  Has links to both.