A great gift idea, especially this year: A *givft" card whose proceeds go 100% to charity.

My niece, who lives in GA, gave up a very lucrative and successful career with the Atlanta
Constitution to devote herself to developing this concept and creating this company, all on
her own.

Here's an article that just appeared in Market Watch:


PRESS RELEASE
Philanthropy Gift Cards, With a Twist - Sold at H-E-B

Last update: 11:53 a.m. EST Nov. 13, 2008
ATLANTA, Nov 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Givft.org announced that its charity donation gift cards known as a Givfts (pronounced 'gift' and means 'the gift of giving') will be available at H-E-B starting the week of Nov. 17. According to the 2008 National Retail Federation survey, more than half of all consumers say they plan to buy gift cards this holiday season. Shoppers like gift cards mainly because they are easy to buy and they give the recipient a choice.

Seizing on the popularity of gift cards, Givft.org has merged the gift card concept with another valued tradition, charitable donations made in honor of another. Givft donation cards are similar to merchant gift cards, but rather than buying things at a store, the recipient goes on-line to select a charity beneficiary. A Givft serves a dual purpose, it is a gift to a friend and a gift to society.

"Many people realize that giving somebody another tie or scarf that they don't necessarily want or need is not as gratifying as giving them the opportunity support a cause they care about," said Alana Berlin, creator of Givft donation cards. "As a gift that gives back, Givft donation cards provide a positive experience for both the giver and the recipient."
Givft cards will be available at H-E-B next week and will cost a $25 tax deductible donation plus a $2.95 (non tax deductible) activation fee. One hundred percent of the Givft donation goes to the charity. H-E-B will provide the purchaser with a receipt that can be used for tax deduction purposes. The Givft card recipient later visits www.givft.org to choose a charity. Givft.org offers a screened list of charities that reflect a range of causes that are conveniently divided into a variety of categories such as Children, Environment and Hunger Relief, among others.

Founded in 2005, Givft.org is a social enterprise with a charitable mission and intent to be self-sustaining. With the use of our patent pending donation gift cards, Givft.org aspires to harness the power of retail and corporate gift markets to generate resources for social good. The goals are to raise philanthropic awareness, enable consumers to reduce wasteful gift spending and generate donations for the many non-profit organizations working to better our world. For more information, please visit www.givft.org or contact us.
SOURCE Givft.org

http://www.givft.org
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I'm very proud of her. Just thought I would post this for people who are thinking of a more socially significant way of
gift giving, this year.

Thanks, y'all!

:hi:

idea; I'd like to use that this year! Thanks for posting.

AND NOT FORGET IT ONCE THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER. People don't have to just eat one time a year. They need nourishment every day and there's lots of hunger and starvation around. :(

:hi:

have high hopes that this new option will increase charitable donations this year.
Most of these organizations have had a big drop in donations since the economy is so bad - but the need is bigger than ever!


:thumbsup:

single-mindedly. I admire her devotion!

This certainly seems like the year for this idea to take off, when people are inspired and
filled with hope but facing economic problems personally and globally. How much better
to give, say, $25 to an international charity than to buy a plastic penguin that picks up
toothpicks in his beak?

:D

networkforgood.org has also been doing it for years, avail. online. But I'm thrilled to see this concept being expanded to grocery stores! Right now, it's just HEB. Hopefully, other chains will join in, like Giant, Eddies, and Safeway in the mid-Atlantic, and Whole Foods.

You have an amazing niece; you and your family must be bursting with pride. :applause:

a very determined, idealistic, un-self-centered person in her own right.

Not so sure about combining the two. Reminds me of the Human Fund on Seinfeld:

The idea:
GEORGE: Hey, check this out. I gotta give out Christmas presents to everyone down at Kruger, so I'm pulling a Whatley. (Give a Christmas card to Jerry)

JERRY: (Reading it) "A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." - What is that?

GEORGE: (With pride) Made it up.

JERRY: (Continuing reading) "The Human Fund. Money for people."

GEORGE: What do you think?

JERRY: It has a certain understated stupidity.

The giving:
(Setting: Kruger Office Building)
(George is in the hallway, dispensing his made-up gifts)

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! (Co-worker gives a gift to George) Oh, Sandy! Here is a little something for you.. (hands her a card)

SANDY: (After reading the cheap gift, she's suddenly unimpressed) ..Oh.. thanks. (Walks off)

(George passes an open doorway)

GEORGE: Phil, I loved those cigars! Incoming! (Flicks his card tward Phil)

PHIL: Ow!

(George meets up with Kruger)

GEORGE: Aw, Mr. Kruger, Sir. Merry Christmas! (Hands him a card)

KRUGER: Not if you could see our books.. what's this?

GEORGE: The Human Fund.

KRUGER: Whatever. (Walks off)

GEORGE: Exactly. (Sees an off-camera co-worker) Erica!

(Scene ends)

having discovered that I inadvertently donated to the marriage discrimination campaign in California by patronizing CineMark (whose CEO donated 9,999 to the marriage discrimination campaign), the idea of giving my money to someone with the express intention that they will be able to pick the charitable organization that receives it is a tad scary. (On a quick review, there are at least two organizations on that I list I avoid donating to on principle.)

It might be a nice addition to the business to have a restricted givft card - one which the givft giver was permitted to exclude certain charities from the list of potential donees to whom the value of particular card could be given. That would still allow me to give a givft card which the recipient could direct - without the associated risk that it will go to the United Way (which I boycott because of their coercive tactics - if you work for a recipient organization you are "expected" to give, and if you work for a targeted employer significant pressure is exerted on employees who decline to give so that the employer reaches its 100% goal - the pressure is so intense I have had to insist that donations not be made in my name just to reach the goal) or the Salvation Army (which has refused donations from GLBT individuals or organizations when it could identify them).

(edited to tweak the subject line)

an affirmative list (the value of this card can be donated to any of the charities on a list I designate) or an exclusion from the general list (the value of this card can be donated to anyone on the general list except the ones I "cross off").

It is nice that the recipient gets to choose the charity - but I also want to be able make sure my money isn't working against my interests.