Donations for Holiday Presents

[Riles_and_Gabe]

What are your thoughts on making a donation as someone's Christmas present. I like on worldvision that you can purchase certain items as a donation and was thinking of giving that as presents for some hard to buy for people. I am not sure how they would feel to get that as a present. What do you think?

 

[marie1203]

I think it is an organization the person supports is good. But for that you have to really know the person if you pick something you support it is not much of a gift. People know that we love animals and some rescue organizations we support when people ask me what I want for christmas I usually direct them to a donation. I figure if I can't think of the top of my head of something I want/need then they can use the money. Once we had someone give to an organization of a certain religion which neither my DH and I are part of so that was awkward.

 

[Karenj2]

I think it depends on the person - my older sister would be ok with it, but my younger sister would be annoyed... (So would my hubby.)

I actually asked for the turquoise necklace in the World Vision catalog - I'm hopping that hubby would get that for me, 'cause it helps others while it helps me look good!!

 

[sk!mom]

Agree that it's a good idea if you know of an organization that they support. It's not much of a gift if it's something you support.

 

[akcire]

Agree that it's a good idea if you know of an organization that they support. It's not much of a gift if it's something you support.

Agreed. My christmas gift from and employeer one year was 1/2 a goat to support sustability among people in I think Guatemala. That was very nice for that person to pick, but it was not a charity I would have choosen myself.

Also, since I was a drowning in student loan debt and new to the work force I could have used ANYTHING (like $5 would have been a help). Today I frequently direct people to make a donation to a charity instead of a physical gift, but I direct them to my charities of choice--not theirs.

 

[valee]

I think I'd be okay if a friend contacted me and told me they were considering making charitable donations in my name and asking me to name a couple of organizations I support. By asking for several organizations, they fgcould identify one that they may also support, and it would be a bit of a surprise to see which one they chose.
When I've made donations for others, I've tried to give them a very small token representing the gift along with the information about the actual gift. Something edible works well: I've made a cookie decorated as a house for Habitat for Humanity, and gave a box of animal crackers for the local animal rescue group. And you can stick just about any kind of plastic trinket onto cupcake frosting (just make sure it's clear that it's inedible decoration).
That way, the recipient gets the gift of your thoughtfulness as well as a sugar high.
The last person I did this for assured me that this was one gift that wouldn't be returned or regifted.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I think you guys are making a great point. If I decide to donate to a charity....I should definitely find out which one they would like me to donate to.

 

[Janepod]

I think it's nice when the recipient has told you they don't want or need anything. E.g., my grandmother would always tell us not to buy her anything (she was always trying to get rid of things) so we would donate to her favorite organizations.

 

[timmac]

Just to echo what others have said, definitely has to be a charity they'd want to support.

If I got a notice that as a gift, someone made a donation for me to a charity I knowingly wouldn't support (for whatever reason), I'd actually be kind of offended. It's the "thought that counts", and something like that would show very little thought (towards me). Also, I'd be a bit miffed to have name associated with a donation to an organization I may not otherwise choose to support. Of course, nothing worth making a federal case over, or getting up in arms over, but it wouldn't really feel like much of a gift.

 

[scrapquitler]

I think that if the recipient of the gift specifically tells you that they would prefer you to make a donation in their name, then its a good gift. If you aren't specifically told "I wish you'd make a donation to XYZ foundation" then NO, it's not a good gift. I always think "Sure, you made a tax deductible donation that you wanted to make, that's not really a gift for me".

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I think once that someone made a donation in dh honor for christmas to Heifer International.

Not that there is anything wrong with the organization, but I think we would have preferred World Vision or Samaritans Purse.

We just said thank you etc.

 

[Marionnette]

I think that if the recipient of the gift specifically tells you that they would prefer you to make a donation in their name, then its a good gift. If you aren't specifically told "I wish you'd make a donation to XYZ foundation" then NO, it's not a good gift. I always think "Sure, you made a tax deductible donation that you wanted to make, that's not really a gift for me".

MTE!

I know that it can be surprising to think that anyone would be annoyed over a charitable donation but some people do. If you want to make a donation to a worthy cause, then it should be something close to the recipient's heart...breast cancer awareness for someone who lost a loved one to it, SPCA or rescue organization for an animal lover, etc.

 

[luvmy3]

I agree with everyone else. There is an organization that I refuse to support, and while you can choose to give your money to them, I do not want my name attached to it. If you want to give in someone's name just check to see what charities they support or at the very least make sure there are none they refuse to.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Great idea for NEXT year but not this year. Most likely the other person has already bought for you. In their mind Christmas this year is set. So, even if they love the charity you chose, in their mind they thought they were getting a gift for themself.

Unless you have specifically heard this person say something along the lines of, "I wish we would stop all this gifting to each other and give it to those who really need it," I would NOT do this this year.

After Christmas discuss it.

Some people seem like they would be all about this, especially those who volunteer for specific charities, BUT many folks still love to get a gift for themself.