Charity Gift Cards – A Better Way To Encourage Social Awareness

                                                                                         

According to a recent NPR report, one of the surprising trends that the recession has thrown up is the sale and exchange of gift cards. This holiday season, vendors expect the sale of gift cards to exceed $25 million. For people who are socially conscious, this is good news because as a part of this trend, there is also a corresponding rise in the sale of charity gift cards – a hitherto unknown and little used service.

Charity gift cards are like retail gift cards, with a twist. What happens is that you give an ecard or a real card to a recipient. They can then log on to a website to redeem the card. But they won’t be redeeming it for themselves. Instead, they pick a charitable institution to give the donation to. Neat and socially helpful.

What’s really nice about charity gift cards is that the recipient gains control (and joy) when they pass on the charity to an organization of their choosing. Given the fact that there are so many charitable organizations that are involved in all sorts of admirable activities, the recipient can now help the charity that is closest to their hearts, without being forced to comply with other people’s wishes.

Although the concept of charity gift cards was introduced a few years ago, it has gained popularity only in the last 2-3 years. Currently, there are quite a number of places where you can purchase such cards.

Since charity gift cards became popular, there are many places on the web where you can get these. Of course, this means that there will be at least a few organizations that want to take advantage of this trend. If you want your charity gift cards to serve the purpose you have in mind, you must be extremely cautious when selecting the company.

Some tips can help you select the right company.

Choose a not-for-profit organization. Some companies give away only a paltry percentage of the donated amount to charity. They pocket the rest. This amounts to misuse of your money.

Always opt for a company that is highly transparent in its dealings. Some companies like JustGive and Tisbest have an established reputation. These are 501 (C) 3 companies whose status is stringently monitored by the federal government. These companies and services that partner with them are reliable.

Choose a service that allows recipients full freedom to choose the charity organization they like. Some organizations allow limited options only, which is not a good idea when you want to pass on the charity gift cards to someone else. The recipient may have their own thoughts and preferences about which charities to support. So, greater flexibility is always recommended.

Most companies that sell genuine charity gift cards charge minimal administrative fees to cover their operational costs. Their ultimate aim is to encourage the act of charitable donations. With tools like charity gift cards and charitable gifts, such companies allow you to play a role in creating a new generation of people who value the act of giving charity.

About the author:
charitable gift cards - At InLieuOfAGift.com, Our aim is to make charitable-giving fast, fun, easy and convenient by putting it right where it belongs, at your fingertips.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com