The Time to Give: Some Ideas for Online Charity Throughout the Holidays

By OCI

Since the season is upon us I wanted to take a break from our regular subject matter and talk about different ways you can use the Internet for charity for the holidays. Certainly, all charities need our generosity more than ever. Maybe this is the year to stop sending fruitcakes and instead make donations in the names of your friends and loved ones. In this post we’ll take a look at some of the best online giving on the Internet.

1. Kiva.org

This one is one of my personal favorites. Kiva.org is a micro-lending (not “giving”) site, where you can loan as little as $25 to business owners and entrepreneurs from around the world. You simply deposit the money and then you can select who receives your loan. Many business owners on the site are only in need of a couple hundred dollars so every little bit adds up very quickly and can make a huge impact in someone’s life. You then get the money you loaned returned to you once the loan is paid back. You can withdraw it or re-lend it at that point. You can also give Kiva Gift Certificates as a gift this year. The recipient can then choose to withdraw the money into their bank account or they can use the money to loan and participate in Kiva. Visit www.Kiva.org for more information.

2. Chase Cares Facebook Group

Chase Cares is a Facebook Group that was formed by Chase Bank that will allow all of its fans to vote on which charities should receive their $5 million donation. This one is a good use of social marketing. When you become a fan of the Chase Cares group you receive 20 votes for your favorite charities (and of course all your friends are notified that you’re a fan of Chase Cares) then each time you vote for a favorite charity you can promote that to your friends as well. While the best news is that some user-decided charities will be receiving $5 million, Chase is getting some good exposure here and hopefully changing their image for the better in the minds of some people. Visit the Chase Cares Facebook Group.

3. FreeRice

This web site from United Nations World Food Program is a lot of fun and a great idea. The mission is to give rice to hungry people while also educating the world. The best part is that to give, all you have to do is go to the site and answer the trivia questions. 10 grains of rice are donated for each right answer! Go help feed someone right now: www.freerice.com

4. The Hunger Site

This site has been around since 1999 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It’s similar to FreeRice.org in that it doesn’t require a donation, but on this one you don’t even have to answer a question, just click a button! They’ve also grown to also raise money for breast cancer, children’s health, literacy, rain forests and pet rescue. Check out the Hunger Site at: www.thehungersite.com

5. Humane Society

The Humane Society is doing a 2010 campaign and asking you to donate $20.10 a month for the next year. It’s not all that innovative, but I do love dogs and cats so I had to mention it. They’re always getting a pretty raw deal from some bad people out there and it’s a great way to support these animals and the kindhearted humans who help them without having to go and clean out crates. Visit HumaneSociety.org to give today.

Check Before You Give

If you’re not sure where to give, or if you can trust the organization that is asking for your dollars, there is a great resource for you called CharityNavigator.com. It will give you advice on selecting a charity, find one that’s right for you and a wealth of other infromation. Check it out at: www.charitynavigator.org.