![]() The problem is the story narrative that gift catalogues create. Any donation you give can have a positive impact when it goes to a reputable non-profit who is transparent about where your money is going. It’s not that I’m saying donating through gift catalogues doesn’t help people. So despite the convenience, the feel-good process, and the impressive photos and layout, I made the decision to skip the gift catalogue and simply give the old fashioned way-through annual donations and monthly gifts. Like it was no longer about selfless giving, and more about instant consumerist self-gratification in disguise. ![]() It felt so satisfying-heartfelt, good for humanity, even environmentally friendly! It had all the good samaritan feels wrapped up in a big neat bow.īut then as I started working in this field and diving deeper into issues of poverty, something about the nonprofit gift catalogue began to feel…kinda icky. I grabbed my catalogue, browsed through all the succinct descriptions of needed items by some of the world’s poorest people, picked out the ones I thought would make the best gifts for my family AND be the best bang for my holiday gift budget, went to the link and clicked order. Kind of like shopping online for a sweater. I remember the first time I ordered from one of these catalogues. ![]() That one is conveniently labeled item #1254 for easy checkout. Inside we’re told we can choose from holiday gifts like providing 10 homeless people with hot meals for the incredibly low price of $35. I mean, who wouldn’t be into opening THAT on Christmas morning? In big bold letters we learn that inside this catalogue there is the potential for us to literally save children from slavery. The cover usually features a woman with a brightly colored dress carrying a woven basket, or a smiling child holding some kind of adorable baby farm animal. Out of all these holiday fundraising materials though, my personal favorite is the handy nonprofit gift catalogue. Heartfelt letters, email campaigns, impact reports-these are just a few of the ways nonprofits reach out to us during the holidays to help fund their work. If you’ve ever donated to a nonprofit, you’ve probably started receiving those fancy holiday donation asks. ![]()
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