Alternative giving

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alternative giving is a form of gift giving in which the giver makes a donation to a charitable organization in the recipient’s name, rather than giving an item. The idea of giving something to one person by paying another was invented by Benjamin Franklin as a "trick [...] for doing a deal of good with a little money", which came to be known as "Pay it forward"^[1].

This form of giving is often used as an alternative to consumerism and to mitigate the impact of gift giving holidays on the environment.^[2] Charities that promote this type of donating will normally provide a card or certificate describing the donation, often with an example of how the donation will be used (such as one day’s worth of food for a hungry person) or a symbolic denomination, called "ownership" or "adoption" (of an animal or a tree for example). Some charities promote alternative giving at weddings in place of wedding favors normally providing several cards to be left on tables at the reception letting guests know a donation has been made rather than individual cards for each guest.^[3]

Sometimes several charitable organizations gather in an "alternative gift fair", "holiday fair" or "Christmas bazaar" to attract donors by providing them a wider selection of choices.^[4].

An organization that specializes in alternative gifts is Alternative Gifts International. Another name sometimes used for alternative gifts is virtual gifts, but this term is ambiguous.

[edit] Pop culture

The concept was spoofed in the Seinfeld episode "The Strike". George Costanza, angry to have received a donation to charity instead of an actual gift, made up his own non-existent charity and handed out fake donations to save money on gifts.

[edit] References

1. ^ Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Webb, April 22d, 1784
2. ^ Simplify the Holidays by the Center for a New American Dream
3. ^ Marder, Dianna. "Better to Give and Receive", Lexington Herald-Leader, 2002-01-03. 
4. ^ List of alternative gift fairs at AlternativeGiving.org

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