How to buy a charity Christmas gift
How to buy a charity Christmas gift
Fancy adopting a penguin in the Antarctic, or maybe an endangered tiger in the Himalayan foothills? Or perhaps you prefer helping humans.
If so, you could sponsor a struggling family in Somalia by buying them chickens or a goat. But are these charitable schemes value for money or just a marketing gimmick?
The WWF conservation group sells 'adoption' kits for animals, including tigers, penguins, orang-utans and elephants. Prices start from 3 a month and include a toy animal worth up to 10 plus updates three times a year with adoption packs. (buy battery for gifts: acer laptop battery)
Tobin Aldrich, director of fund-raising for WWF, says: 'You are not actually adopting the animal but getting directly involved in its conservation. There is an element of suspending disbelief.
'In an ideal world, charities wouldn't have to spend any money on marketing, but about 75p in every 1 donated goes straight towards helping the species.'
The charity says that although you may not own the animal, you will help to keep it alive with initiatives that crack down on poachers and educate locals.
For those who prefer to help children, the charity ActionAid raises money to end poverty through a range of initiatives. (buy this battery for gifts: lenovo laptop battery)
From 15 a month, donors are given the chance to sponsor a child. Photographs are provided, the child writes twice a year and information is provided on how sponsorship cash is spent.
Spokeswoman Leslie Sinoway says: 'You are not actually giving to one individual the money is put into a pot for the local community. If you gave one person the money it might be bad for everyone and cause disharmony.
'By enabling children in the community to write letters, it brings donations to life with an emotional connection. No one is exploited it provides an excellent way to raise awareness of what is happening and can engage people for life.'
Cash is given to local charities to handle to avoid accusations of outside interference.
For every 1 donated, 70p goes directly on the community while 30p is taken for administration and publicity in Britain. However, ActionAid estimates that every 1 of marketing cash generates at least 4 in donations. (buy this battery for gifts; toshiba laptop batteryies)
Anna Gulver, 38, and husband Michael, 42, from Newbury, Berkshire, put Oxfam gifts on their wedding list in 2007.
Among the gifts they received for people in deprived areas of Africa were two 20 alpacas, four goats at 24 each, two 30 toilets and 30 for school dinners for 500 children.
Anna, mother of 15-month-old Charlotte, says: 'I was surprised at how popular the idea was. People don't believe they are physically buying a goat but they do expect a goat will be provided as part of the deal and this will do some good.
'By making it a tangible donation, I suspect people were willing to give more. It certainly captured the imagination of our wedding guests.'
Diana Mackie, for the Institute of Fundraising, says: 'Obviously adoption or sponsorships engage people and it can make the charity donation seem more tangible.
'But some people may have expectations that they have purchased something when it is not the case. Charities need to be clear and truthful about where the money goes they rely on our trust to survive.' Countdown To Christmas 2010 - Here's Your Chance To Finish Shopping Boys Gifts – The Top 5 Christmas Gifts For Boys Athens - The Top Tourist Attractions Qingdao Beer Festival Is Facing Embarrassment After The Carnival? Tourists Were Detained Drunk Think You Will Spend Less When You Retire? Think Again The Ultimate First Time Guide To Buying Property In London Travel Insurance is Essential for Cruise Travels Retire With A Stable Nest Egg Favorite travel spot Chicago Bears Tickets : The Bears Are The Ninth Richest Franchise In The Nfl Christmas Limited Offering 2010. Have A Great Christmas Without Spending a Fortune Vietnam takes top in list of must-visit destinations