How To Give A Little But Get A Lot

It's that time of year again. But this holiday season feels different, doesn't it? Lots of people are shifting their gift giving practices so that they're giving less or in new ways. And thinking more about those who have little or nothing.

As someone who's delivered a lot of speeches, I can tell you that the thank-you gifts I most appreciate are those that allow me to make a contribution to a charity of my choosing. Last time around, I gave the honorarium to a literacy group, because I've been plagued with "frozen shoulder" this fall. As a writer, it was cruel and unusual to be deprived of the use of my writing hand - which, in my own small way, gave me new appreciation for those who struggle. Including people of all ages who don't know how to read and write.

Here are three creative ways to give a little and get a lot by helping others.

You can purchase the award-winning XO laptop for a child in your world and change the life of children all around the world.

The XO laptop was designed especially for children. It has a rugged plastic exterior, built-in wireless, a unique dual mode display that is readable under direct sunlight and software designed for children to encourage exploration, creativity, and collaboration.

For $399 you can give a laptop to a child in a developing country and receive one for a child in your life (and that child might just be you!). Alternatively, you can make a cash donation for $199, the cost of a laptop, to help One Laptop Per Child's (OLPC) mission to provide laptops to children. A third option is to participate in the Give100 or Give1000 program and make a difference to a whole school or community. Visit Laptop.org for more (XO is available through amazon, too).

The good people at Changing the Present have come up with a way for us to give presents with meaning. Their web site offers a fascinating collection of causes - everything from wheelchairs for landmine victims to ways to help pay for someone's eye surgery, protect one acre of rain forest, or sponsor an hour of cancer research. President Robert Tolmach told me, "Just imagine what we could do with just a fraction of the $250 bilion Americans spend each year on gifts."

And then there is Bring Light - a site that makes it easy for people to donate to a wide range of worthy causes. Its project focus (such as a program established to help people on fixed incomes be able to afford service dogs) helps philanthropists actually see how their dollars are being used. Plus, Bring Light is a social network, so donors with similar interests can create Giving Groups and collaborate on specific projects.

It was co-founded by Melissa Dyrdahl and Drew McManus, both alumni of Adobe Systems. Melissa and Drew are examples of what I call New Radicals - that is, they've found a way to leverage skills acquired in their careers and put them to work on the world's greatest challenges. For more about the New Radicals, please see archived posts.

There are many other examples of site where we can all give this season. Please share your favourite examples of alternative gifting sites and ideas - and the New Radicals who are making it happen! Post comments below, or email me directly at [e-mail].

Comments

[Salb92056]

This year we have cut back on gifts. I have asked my friend and clients to do one of two things. The first is to make a donation to a third-world entrepreneur through Kiva.org. I found out about this organization earlier this year and I've made several "micro-loans" to entrepreneurs around the world. Each loan was only $25 and every entrepreneur is in the process of paying back their loans, a few cents at a time.

The other organization that I love to support is called Adopt-a-Dog/Save-a-Life. It's a volunteer organization that is run by the most amazing woman, Grace Hall. Grace drives around to animal shelters and rescues dogs (and cats) that are at risk of euthanasia. She pays for many of the expenses herself. She's been rescuing animals for 30 years now and last year alone, she saved over 400 animals from being put down. About 18 months ago, we volunteered to be a foster home for a yellow lab that was less than 24 hours away from being euthanized. We already had 2 labs and were not able to keep a third dog, but we wanted to help. To make a long story short, there are now 3 labs in our household and they are all sleeping right beside me as I write this.

[cinemaven]

I give micro loans to Kiva entrepreneurs ( http://www.kiva.org/ ) because you see the business and people you're giving to and micro loans have been revolutionizing opportunities, especially for women. I'm helping 4 businesses at the moment and I look at each loan as charity but when they repay, that money goes to another business. If all of my "donations" repay, I can continue to help small businesses forever using the same few hundred dollars and see the results. If they don't repay, I still know I've done a good thing :)
I've given $25 Kiva loans in the names of my sisters and they've added more once they learned about the initiative.

This christmas, I've given donations in the names of friends to local charities that are having difficult times. Our food bank donations are down as are donations to Planned Parenthood so for my friends who believe in PP, I send the money there and for my friends who don't, I send to the food bank. I've asked everyone who normally buys me something to do the same for me...

Our family also chooses 2 children from our local wish tree. This year's tight but we still took 2 names (we choose boys over the age of 12 since they're last to be chosen) and have bought them something special. Our sons always give up one of the gifts on their list to the cause and it's taught them to be generous and thoughtful :)

[PatA]

You can give a donation to Heifer International and buy a farm animal (large or small) for a family who then gives the offspring of their gift to another family.
Animal gifts that give and give and give. Eggs, wool, milk, meat, etc. Truly one of the best gifts that I give.
I give all of mine in memory of my old dog, Tippy. You can give as little as $10 and help buy a share in one animal. Or give a herd!
A project dear to my heart is a sheep for a Navajo family. The tribe can't exist without sheep. The wool is used to weave the rugs that they sell and the entire animal is used to benefit their livelihood. You'll receive many blessings from this gift! Geese are also very valuable for the Indians.