Want to be a hero in your customers’, employees’ and clients’ eyes? Here’s a great way to shine as a good “corporate” citizen. This holiday season, especially during this tough economy, you can give something completely unique and charitable at the same time. It’s called a Good Card – and it’s new.
Here’s how it works:
You can purchase Good Cards as gifts in any dollar amount (up to $250). The cards allow your gift recipients to give that amount to the charity of their choice – any charity from a list of more than 1.2 million!
Whether you send your cards via e-mail or regular mail, you can customize them with your own company brand and messaging. Not only that, Good Cards qualify as a tax-deduction, so you can use them for business and personal gifts and benefit in this tax year.
Why am I sharing this info with you? As some of you may know, I have spent a good part of my marketing career in the nonprofit sector. It is a passion. So, when nonprofit colleague and friend, Katya Andresen, VP of Marketing at Network for Good, sent a LinkedIn announcement about this new fundraising marketing program, I thought it was brilliant and wanted to spread the word.
As bad as some people have it in this economy, there are always those who are worse off than you or I. People coping with severe illness, homeless people, people down on their luck. There are environmental causes that need help to fight global warming and animal rights groups trying to save animals from extinction.
There are educational nonprofits teaching youth with special needs, and arts organizations giving inner city kids a chance to sing, play an instrument, or dance. There are health-related nonprofits rehabilitating people with chemical dependencies, and shelters that house women escaping domestic violence.
There are thousands of others causes and missions that need your help. What better way to share the holiday spirit with your customers, clients and employees.
OK, what kind of marketer would I be without a call to action? Learn more now or email the Good Card team at Network for Good. They would be happy to send you some card samples.
So, what do you think? Is this a good idea? Would you consider this as a holiday gift option? Let me hear your feedback.
Tags: charity, Good Card, holiday gift, Network for Good
This is a terrific idea, thank you for bringing it to my attention. I also like that there are ample charities to choose from, not just the major NPs.
I love the choice element – it involves the recipient in a way that genuinely makes the card a gift.
A couple of months ago, I dropped a s–tload of $ at Crate & Barrel and was pleased to receive a DonorChoose.org “gift certificate” in the mail a few weeks later to thank me for my business. I went to the site, reviewed the participating non-profits and selected one to receive “my” $25 contribution. Nice move by Crate & Barrel — even nicer that it wasn’t tied to the holiday season. These groups need our support all year long, not just when it feels festive.
Outstanding idea! And yes, all year round is best.
Thanks for your comments! Good to see it’s being received positively. I especially like the cause marketing program at Crate & Barrel you describe, Patricia. I believe that cause marketing is going to continue to proliferate over time. And I agree:
“These groups need our support all year long, not just when it feels festive.”
I have already sent out queries to my bosses about using this service for Holiday gifts to clients.
For myself, I’m going to purchase a bunch for stocking stuffers.
The gift baskets are very reminiscent of Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/) which I’ve used for years.
Both are great resources when trying to avoid giving yet another scarf to Great Aunt Martha.
Thanks for the info.
Shelly
What a brilliant idea. Afterall, Christmas is all about giving, and what better way to give than to those that need it most.